Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-03


matter of fact, when you did come
down to see me you and were both so
engaged In the New York political
situation that we talked of little else,
and finally. that the position | have
taken has not been taken lightly but
after thinking over the matter and
looking at it from different standpoints
for at least two years. and after the
most careful consultation with Nor
ton, Taft, Moody, Knox and Root as to
the exact phraseology / should use.
=" Il do not send you a copy simply be-
cause they have given no one copy,
not even the men above mentioned. 1t
is impossible IL give out copies OF any
portion of my message to prevent the
message being known in advance, ana
the three press associations who nave
now the message are under heavy PEN
atty not to disclose a word of 1t before
the appointed time
ION December he wrote me the fol-
lowing letter on the same subject:
Harrman's Reply
December 2, 19O4.-My dear Presi-
dent: Thank you for your favor of the
30th.
"It was not natural for me to sup
pose that railroad matters would be in
cluded in any discussion you and L
might have before writing your mes
sage. I am of the opinion that an
effective interstate commerce commits
sion could regulate the matter OF re-
bates and absolutely prevent the same.
without any additional power OF any
kind and as you say Paul Morton Is
more familiar with such matters than
any of the other members of your cabi-
net and / believe he will agree with me
in this. fear there has been lack of
cooperation.
During the enormous development
of the last four years the railroads
have found it very hard to keep pace
with the requirements imposed upon
them, and the so-called surplus earn
ings as we'll as additional capital have
been devoted to providing additional
facilities and the bettering and en-
larging of their properties, so as to|
give the increased and better service
required of them.
"'This work of betterment and en-
larging must go on, and is all i'm
portant for the proper development of
all sections of the country. There is
little doubt that during the next de-
cade every single track railroad in
the country will have to be double
tracked and provide for enlarging ter
minals and other facilities. and any
move that will tend to cripple them
financially would be detrimental to all
interests over the whole country.
"I beg that you will pardon my not
signing this personally, as L have to
catch my train for Arden and have
asked my secretary to sign it for me.
" Yours, sincerely
President Doesn't Agree
'I was unable to agree with Mr. Har
riman's views of the matter and left
nv oe tha
interstate commerce law.
"(The rough draft of this portion of
the message was completed in October.
before the election). l had always dis !
cussed with freedom all my proposed |
moves in the trust and labor matters |
with the representatives of the big COM
binations or big railroads as we'll as
with the leaders of the labor men, of
the farmers organizations, the ship
pers' organization, and the like-that is,
had as freely seen, and communicated |
with Mr.. Hartman, Mr.. Morgan, Mr.
Hill and other railroad men as l had
seen and communicated with Mr.. Com
pers, Mr.. Keefe, Mr. Morrissey and |
other labor leaders.
'Mr Hartman, like most of the big
railroad men, always had written me |
very strongly protesting against my
proposed course as regards the super
vision and control over big combinations
and especially over the big railroads.
I'm letter of his of August 10, 1902,
for instance, he expressed the fear
that panic would follow my proposed
action.
''It will be seen that the above corre-
spondence is entirely incompatible with
what Mr.. Hartman now, as you in
form me, alleges as to my having asked
him 20 secure money or to subscribe
money for the presidential campaign
AS for the Depew matter, he professed
throughout to be acting in the interest
of Governor Odell and though Governor
Odell had been anxious that Mr.. Depew
should be nominated as ambassador to
France, at the time when he was sup
porting Governor Black for senator he
had changed his mind shortly after the
last letter to me, above quoted from
Mr.. Hartman, and on December 10 he
wrote me the letter l inclose, which
reads in part as follows:
Wanted Hyde Appointed
My Dear President: A great many
of your friends here in New York would
be very much delighted and pleased if
you could find it possible to appoint
Mr.. James H. Hyde as minister to
France. Large business interests have
given to him splendid executive abili-
ties and his association with so many
prominent business men would be fit
ting recognition of the effective work
done by them in the last campaign.
In addition to this he has behind
him, am sure, the approval of Senator
Platt and Senator Depew and so far
as 1 can speak for the organiza ton. |
believe his appointment would be With
out question more satisfactory than
any that could be made from New York
at the present time.
Personally, should appreciate your
favorable consideration of this sugges-
tion almost beyond anything else you
could do for me. If you so desire, l shall
be glad to come to Washington and
talk with you about it., but L believe
there are others who are close to you
and who feel just as do and l thought
therefore that this letter would be suffi.
cient as showing the attitude of the or
ganizations and myself personally upon
this important appointment.
LAS you know / was obliged to refuse
the request of the New York finaneiers
and of the Republican organizers OF the
state and of the city, not deeming il