Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-04-01
Turns Down Proposition
of Manufacturers
Association.
POSITION is DEFINED
No Reason to Change What He
Has Previously Said on
Railway Question.

Washington, April l. - President
Roosevelt, in declining the invitation
of the Illinois Manufacturers associa-
tion to make an address at Springfield
next week on the railroad and finan-
cial situation, wrote a letter to C. II.
Smith, president of the association eX-
planning such an address from him ut
this time would be useless, as his posi-
tion was well understood and as he
stands by his previously expressed
views.
Quotes from Addresses.
The president outlines at length his
position on the railroad and financial
questions, by means of COpOus eX-
tracts from speeches he delivered at
Raleigh, n. c., and Washington in Oc-
tober and November. 1905, and from
late messages 10 congress- His posi-
tion since the time of his addresses
and messages the president declares to
have been amply justified by the course
of events. Its wisdom is obvious, he
adds, and there is no occasion or rea-
son for amplification at present.
Hits Public Ownership.
The president calls attention to his
belief that the government should own
nothing which can properly be left in
private hands, but that such regula-
tions should be exercised against rail
roads as to insure their operation in 4
spirit of fairness to all concerned
Whatever power the government wields
must be with wisdom. caution and self
restraint Railroads, he declared, must
be protected from public clamor, no
matter how violent, when the roads
were in the right.
Rates Not Too High.
The president says railroad rates are
not as a whole too high, but that the
evils that exist are due TO unjust dis
elimination, and this should be pre-
vented by law.
The president outlines again his well
known views favoring effective govern
ment supervision over corporate organ
izations. holding any effort to prevent
all combination would be useless and
vicious. He also justifies the new in
terstate commerce commission law.
Writes to Aurora Man.
Washington, April 1.-Presiden
Roosevelt wrote yesterday to c. H
Smith of Aurora. H.. president of The
Illinois Manufacturers association
formally declining the invitation of tha
organization to speak at Springfield or
the industrial situation.
In his letter to Mr.. Smith the pres
ident says that the more he ha!
thought over the associations repT
sentations the stronger is his conclu
sion that there is nothing for him 4
say. That being the case, he does no
intend to make a special occasion o.
which to deliver a special address
which would be merely a repetition 0
what he has frequently said in tn
past. The president refers Mr. Smit'
to the speech he made at Raleigh \
c., on Oct 10, 1905 and that he deliS
cred TO a delegation of railroad en-
plOyes' orders at the White house y
Nov IA following, and to his annua
messages of Dec. 5, 1905, and De;
Z, 1906.
Borne Ont by Events.
Since | made these speeches an
wrote those messages" the preside
observes, "the matters that have II
CURED in the financial world merei
show the wisdom of what then adv
Gated, and have at the moment not
ing TO add to what was contained
the speeches and messages
1t has been only after serious CO..
sideration that the president determi
ed to decline the invitation of the II
nois Manufacturers association.
was learned yesterday afternoon tn:
he had gone so far as to dictate
speech to deliver at Springfield. b.
when he sat down 10 revise it the tor
was familiar, and turning to- T.
speeches and messages referred to
his letter to Mr.. Smith he found TIL
everything he wanted to say had be-
stated therein.
May Not Mention Again.
Nor is it at all certain now that
will discuss railroad affairs in II
speech he will deliver at jamestown ,
April 26. Indeed, it was stated el
phatically that the president will n
discuss present industrial condition
and if he does refer to the railroad S
uation it will be as an indication
what he proposes to put in his ne
annual message and will have no