The Republican journal., 1907-08-01

9th contains valuable contribution,
in political sense, by Forrest Crissey,
under the caption of rs Roosevelt an
Opportunist? What he wrote about
the trusts and said about the railroads
in 1909" 1t has been said of Roose-
welt, by his political opponents, says
Mr. rissey, that he is ''temperamentally
devoid of well settled convictions, that
he goes off at half-cock.' that he acts
on impulse instead of Judgment, that
his policies are Matched on the instant,
Particularly has the President been
lampooned on his attitude toward the
trusts and the railroads." This charge
is etfectually disproved by letter TO
II. H. kohlsaat of Chicago in August,
1899, when Mr. Roosevelt was Governor
of New York. In this letter, repro
duced in fac-simile in the Post, he says:
Now about trusts | know this is a
very large question, but more and
more it seems to me that there will be
a great deal of Importance to the trust
matter in the next campaign, and |
want to consult with men whom |
trust most as to what line of policy
should be pursued During the last
few months have been growing ex-
ceediugly alarmed at the growth of
popular unrest and popular distrust on
this question. 1t is largely aimless and
baseless, but there is very unpleasant
side to this over-run trust development
and what | fear is. if we do not have
some consistent policy to advocate then,
that the multitude will follow the crank
who advocates an absurd policy, but
who does advocate something. Have
you thought enough about the matter
to say whether any legislation and if
SO, what, should be undertaken, or
whether there is any other remedy that
can be wisely applied"
This letter carries its own proof
that Mr.. Roosevelt was carefully study
ing the trust question as far back as
1899, before his nomination for the
Vice Presidency and while he was Gov
ernor of New York"
In June, 1899, Mr.. Roosevelt invited
Mr.. kohlsaat to join his party at Chi
cago and attend with him the reunion
of the Rough Riders at Las Vegas,
New Mexico. Mr.. Paul Morton, then
vice president of the Sante Fe railroad,
rendered the party the use of his pri-
vate car from Chicago and accompanied
the party. The special had hardly
started on its way to New Mexico"
says Nh Crissey, "before Governor
Roosevelt warmed up to the tall, blond
official and began to probe him with
keen and intelligent questions on the
relations of thedailroads to the Govern
ment and the8 eope." The railroad
question was the ruling topic of the
trip and as it neared It's close Mr..
Roosevelt made this declarations:
Il believe the time has come when
we must have Federal supervision or
Federal control of the railroads | am
utterly opposed to the Government
ownership of railroads. However,
believe that, if we do not get Govern
ment supervision or control, the radical
demand for Government ownership
will come with force and, perhaps,
sweep the people away with it.
1t is worth recalling here that in his
speech in Madison Square Garden, New
York, after his return from Europe
Mr.. Bryan declared unequivocally for
Government ownership of railroads.
This brought strong protests from his
own party, and recently Mr.. Bryan has
abandoned that idea and declared for
Government supervision, the position
aiken by Mr. Roosevelt in 1899.