Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-04-04
PRESIDENT CAN SEE NO REASON
FOR EXPRESSING VIEWS ON
RAILROAD SITUATION.
Declines Invitation to Address Illinois
Manufacturers Association and at
the Same Time Reiterates His For
mer Declarations in Speeches and
Messages Favoring Effective Gov
eminent Control of Corporations.
ernment Control of Corporations.

Washington, April president
Roosevelt. in declining the invitation
of the Illinois Manufacturers associa-
ton to make an address at Springfield
next week on the railroad situation.
writes a letter to C. n. Smith, presi-
dent of the association, explaining
Ouch an address from him at this time
Would be useless, as his position Vas
we'll understood and as he stands by
his previously expressed views. To
hhe different men, friendly and UNI
Friendly. who nave visited him or writ
ton to him, he has answered verbally
or in writing that his words and acts
spoke for themselves and needed no
explanations whatever and that he
should not in his future course devi-
ate one hairs breadth from the
course he has pursued in the past and
was now pursuing.
From an authoritative source 1t is
learned that the president has not the
slightest intention Of taking any &C
fion which would invalidate railroad
aecurities. The president holds, on
the other hand, that every executive
action of his administration regard
ing the railroads has furnished it's own
ample justification. Neither has the
president, 1t is pointed out, made IN
reference to the physical valuation of
railroads, holding the roads capable OF
working out that problem for them
selves. Attention is called TO the fact
hat the Northern Pacific and Great
Northern roads already have submit
ted figures regarding such valuation. 1t
is also we'll understood that the pres
ident again will ask congress for
nower to deal with overcapitalization
of railroads, which request vas de-
uisd at the late session.
Reiterates Former Position.
The president, in his letter to Mr..
Smith, outlines at length his position
On the railroad question by means of
copious extracts from d speech he de-
Iivered at Raleigh, N. c., Oct. 10, 1905;
another from a speech delivered in
Washington Nov. IA. 1905, and from
his late messages TO congress. His
position since the time Of his ad
dresses and messages, the president
declares. have been amply justified by
the course of events. Its wisdom is
obvious, he adds. and there is no oc-
casion or reason for amplitication at
present.
Quoting from his Raleigh address
the president calls attention to his
belief that the government should DO
nothing which can properly be left in
private hands, but that such regula-
tions should be exercised against The
railroads as to insure their operation
In Il spirit OF fairness to all con
ment yields must be with wisdom.
caution and self-restraint. Railroads,
he declares. must be protected from
any public clamor, no matter how vic.
Lent. when the roads were in the right.
Referring to his Washington add
dress the president says railroad rates
are not as a whole TOO high, but that
the evils that exist are due to unjust
discrimination and this should be pre-,
vented by law.
In quoting from his messages to
congress the president outlines again
his we'll known views favoring effec-
tive government supervision V e o
g>orate organizations, holding any eff
tort to prevent all combinations would
{Da useless and vicious He also iuSti.
;des the new Interstate commerce law.