Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1907-04-05
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 Favorinq Effective Gov.
eminent Control Of Corporations.

Roosevelt, in declining the invitation
of the Illinois Manufacturers associa-
ton to make an address at Springfield
next week on the railroad situation,
writes g letter to Q: H. Smith, presi-
dent of the association, Explaining
such an address from him at this time
would be useless, as his position was
well understood and as he stands by
his previously expressed views. To
the different men, friendly and un-
friendly, who have visited him or writ
ten 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 hi> future course devi-
ate one hairs breadth from the
course he has pursued in tho past and
was now pursuing
From an authoritative source it is
learned that the president has not the
slightest intention Of taking any &C.
ton which would invalidate railroad
securities. 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, it is pointed out, made any
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
that the Northern Pacific and Great
Northern roads already have submit
ted figures regarding such valuation. 1t
is also well understood that the pres
ident again will ask congress for
power to deal with overcapitalization
Of railroads, which request was de.
MED 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 a speech he de.
livered 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 amplification 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-
lions should be exercised against the
railroads as to insure their operation
in spirit of fairness to all con-
'cerned. Whatever power the govern.
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 ad'
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 well known views favoring effec
tive government supervision over cor
porate organizations, holding any Of
fort to prevent all combinations would
be useless and vicious. He also justi
f1es the new interstate commerce law.