New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-16
NOT TO SEE PRESIDENT.
RAILWAY MEN HESITATE.
Large Conference of Managers 10
Be Called Soon.

After an all-day secret conference in this city
yesterday tho four railway presidents VINO were
recommended by J. P. Morgan to President
Roosevelt last week as best fitted TO present
comprehensive statement Of railway proplehs'
separated and went to their homes wlthout ue-
Gliding to make any statement to the president
They will have another conference, proDaOlS
next week and will invite to it other presiueI'S
of railways.
The hasty departure OF Mr. Morgan for Europe
after his talk with President Roosevelt left the
four railway presidents he had named without
matured plans for conference President New
man of the New York Central and President
Mellen, of the New Haven were said to be in
favor of going to see President Roosevelt at the
earliest date that could be arranged. AT their
suggestion. President Hughitt of the Chicago
& Northwestern and President McCrea Of the
Pennsylvania came to this city to join in the
conference. Mr. Hughitt arriving on Thursday
evening
According to the understanding of Mr.. Nor
gan's plan the four railway presidents had not
been invited go to Washington and confer
with the President. but there was an intlmation
that the President would receive them and hear
their statement II they could agree on one show
ing the technical railroad conditions when
would be affected by legislation for government
tion CLEANED in advance of yesterdays confer
ence il was the understanding that Presidents
Hughitt and McCrea were not inclined to fall In
with Mr Morgan's plan.
Great secrecy marked the long conference of
yesterday The four railway presidents met at
a designated place uptown. where they could
not he reached by newspaper men. When they
were in conference in the afternoon a message
was sent 10 them by reporters. requesting in
terviews The presidents returned reply thai
they would not talk to any representatives or
the press.
The conference ended about p. m. and the
four presidents still declined TO give inforra-
tion except through an agent. 1t said
that they had decided not 10 go 10 Washington
FOR the present. because they did not feel that
they had proper authority TO see the President
as the representatives OF the railroads OF the
country They felt, It was said. that they could
not assume the position Of a self-constituted
commission 10 formulate and present the views
Of hundreds OF railway corporations of the coun-
try which have millions Of stockholders Thev
also recognized the fact that the railroad man
ayers OF the country were not in accord, and
that until some means could be found to obtain
a general conference OF the managers and
representative expression OF views 1t would be
idle 20 lay any statement before the President.
II said last evening that no time or place
for a larger conference OF railway presidents
had been fixed, 1t is probable that the con-
venience of many Of the presidents will have to
be consulted before a call for the general con
ference is sent out.
Thomas F. Ryan. when asked yesterday what
he thought OF Mr.. Morgans plan for meeting
between President Roosevelt and the railway
presidents said Il believe that II Mr. Morgan's
visit 20 the President Is followed up II should
be by all OF our great business interests il Will
do much good. l also believe that the Presi-
dents attitude toward corporations Is much
misunderstood by the general public. 1t is un-
fair 10 assume that IL Is his desire 10 hamper
the business interests of the country am. how
ever. convinced that he purposes to enforce the
think the sooner the business men Of the coun-
try conclude 10 go 10 work 10 aid the President
in solving the difficult problems that confront
him every day. the sooner confidence will be re-
stored and the business of the country move on
without interruption. So far as general busi-
ness is concerned. the only fault 10 be found
with II is that It is too active"
E II. Hartman. when told late in the after
noon that Messrs Mellen. McCrea. Hughitt and
Newman had decided not to go TO Washington
for the present, but would have a larger con-
ference. declined 10 make any comment. He
merely shrugged his shoulders and smiled