The Washington herald., 1907-03-16
PRESIDENTS TO COME
Expected to See Roosevelt.
Despite Reluctance.
HE WILL NOT INVITE THEM
sIorEan's Statement Shows No In
yitation Was Expected by Him.
Part Played by Taft-POiicy Of
silence Urged-ROOt's Visit 10 New
York May BE Significant.

The matter Of the proposed visit of four
railroad presidents TO President Roose-
Welt is perfectly understood here, al
though New York dispatches indicate that
there is considerable misapprehension on
the part Of the railroad men themselves.
After j. Pierpont Morgan saw Presi-
dent Roosevelt last Monday night he is
sued the following statement,
At the request Of many business men, before leav-
ing fer Europe. I came 70 Washington 10 see the
President 10 discuss the business situation, partcu
laTly affecting railways.
I suggested 10 the President that It would be
greatly 10 the public interest If be would see Mr.
McCTes AiF- Newman Mr.. Mcllen. and Mr.. Hughitt
and confer with them 10 what steps might be
taken to allay the public anxiety now threatening
20 ohsuc1 railroad investment and construction, ard
especially 10 aay public anxiety a. TO the relations
between the railroads and the government
The President said he would gladly see them with
this end IN view
So far as the President Is concerned, the
matter remains exactly as il was at the
time of Mr.. Morgau's cali He viii not
invite the four railroad presidents to see
him. and has never had any idea of do
ing so.
As the above statement shows. the sug-
gesuOn that they be received by the Presi-
dent came from Mr.. Morgan, who seems
10 have sailed for Europe on Tuesday
without fully informing Messrs. McCrea,
Newman, Mellen, and Hughitt of what
he had done. IN view of Mr.. Morgan 5
known inhuehce over at least three of
the four men. it is not believed that they
will act otherwise than in accordance with
his understanding with the President In
deed the opinion in well-informed circles
Is that if Mr.. Morgan had remained in
New York after seeing the President,
there would have been no such indecision
on the part of the four railroad heads
as is indicated by yesterdays dispatches.
Insist They viii Come.
Despite the opinion in New York, as
disclosed by these dispatches. that the
four presidents viii not come TO Wash
ington, persons here who are in close
touch with the situation reiterate that
they viii come. These same persons said
Thursday night that the railroad men
would be here yesterday or to-day. Now
they are inclined 10 think that the visit
may not be made before the early part
of next week. 1t was said at the White
House yesterday afternoon that nothing
was known there about the matter The
President, it was said, win be glad to see
the railroad officials when they come,
which means that his position is exactly
what it has been all along.
While the matter would seem to be
wholly up to" the railroad presidents,
in view of the manner in which Mr.. Nor
gan brought their proposed call to the
attention of the President, it is interest
ing to note that d government of
very close to the White House was laI
instrumental IN arranging for Mr..
gans visit, OF at least for a confer
OF. conferences intended 10 bring al
a better understanding between the
ministratiOn and the heads Of railro
That official is Secretary Taft. who.
the occasion Of his recent visit to :
York in connection with the letting
contract for the erection Of a nc
ment 10 the Prison ship martyrs" 2
certain persons prominent in the finau-
ciai world TO understand that the Presi-
dent would not be unwilling to talk mat
ters over.
Another interesting phase of the situa-
ton Is the suggestion that Robert Bacon,
Assistant Secretary Of State, is informally
repr- enting the railroad presidents at
this end Of the line Mr.. BaCon-s pre-
vious connection with Mr. Morgan doubt
less places him in a position to know
considerable about the financier's posi-
ton in the premises, and IL is not i'm
probable that he has figured TO some ex-
tent IN the negotiations up 20 this time
Urge President Not to Talk.
Close friends Of the President are now
urging him not to talk so freely about
what he hopes and expects TO do
in the matter OF railroad legislation in
the future. Discussion Of this sort be-
tween the President and persons who
may repeat what is said TO them, il is
believed in some quarters. may go far
toward preventing the understanding"
which IS apparently thought TO be so de-
sirable between the big railroad men and
the President
Indeed, il is suggested that whatever
reluctance MeSsrs. McCrea. Mellen. New
man, and Hughitt are manifesting about
coming here, is due to the authoritative
statement given wide publicity in the
press, that nothing which they could pos
sibly say would bring about any change in
int AICSlucll attitude. Following this
came the announcement based on state
ments made by the President TO some Of
his callers Thursday, that he will insist
on legislation providing for Federal rail-
road franchises and appraisement by the
general government for the purpose Of
securing a proper basis for the making
Of rates.
On that same day the President gave
some of his callers to understand that
the general railroad situation. and the
Alton coal in particular, were the prin-
cipal topics for the discussion Of which
Gov. Deneen. Of Illinois. was summoned
70 Washington. Yesterday Secretary Loeb
said that Gov. Deneen was asked to come
10 Washington for an entirely different
purpose. He declined to say what that
purpose was.
Secretary Root left for New York
last night While his visit is ostensibIy
for the purpose Of spending the weekend
at his home IN Clinton, 1t is thought that
1t may have some connection with the
prospective visit of the railroad presi-
dents.