The Washington herald., 1907-02-04
KNOCKOUTFOR HANKS.
President Writes a Letter to
His Old College Friend.
CONTENTION OVER STATISTICS
The Only Man who Ever FlOOred
Mr.. Roosevelt Is 10 Get m
ciaI Railroad Statistics Are De-
fended-Spent Evening with Them.

The President has written a letter TO
Mr. Charles stedman Hanks, whose fame
until the other day, when Senator Cul-
berson made him the subject of resolu-
ton of inquiry. was limited 10 his success
in a boxing bout with Mr.. Roosevelt. 1t
is q letter that viii not make a welcome
addition 10 Mr. Hanks reputation. 1t
bears upon the claims of Hanks. who is
now in the city, that the statistics OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission are all
wrong. and that railroad rates can be
reduced 10 per cent without doing the
railroads any Injustice.
This communication from the President
consists of three typewriter pages. which
will be embodied in the report the Inter
state Commerce Commission will to-day
make to the Senate in response TO the
Culberson resolution.
The Culberson resolution recited that
Hanks, in a public address. had stated
that he had spent n lot Of the good
money Of the government" in an inquiry
which had disclosed that railroad rates
in the United States could be reduced 10
per cent without affecting the earning
capacity Of the carriers, disturb stock
values. or the wages paid railroad en-
pioyes. The resolution directed that the
commission inform the Senate if said
Hanks" was an employee Of the commits
sion. and for what purpose he had been
employed.
The Presidents letter mentions the ref
erence of the charges made by Mr. Hanks
. r. a Chi .F g.f Il.Fr. .fHH
Of statistics. who reported that the views
of Mr. Hanks and OF Mr.. George w. r.
Hartman, who was associated with him
in his work fer the commission, were
erroneous. The President further says
that he then referred the charges regard
ing the commissions figures to Messrs.
Garfield. NeilI and Starek. all govern
ment officials, for thorough investigation.
spent an Evening ON Them.
Mr. Hanks and his friend. Mr.. Harri-
man. were also invited to the White
House, the letter goes on TO say. and the
President devoted an entire evening 10
them, trying 20 verify their contention.
but was unable to do so. or 10 get any
thing at all satisfying from them. The
government officials named likewise failed
TO md anything favorable TO Hanks and
Hartman, and the President declares
that he was astonished that Hanks
should have made such statements. The
President uphOlds Mr.. Henry &. Adams,
the statistician OF the commission. ia every
respect, and mentions him by name in
the letter. The letter, according to those
who have seen IT, scores severely the
Presidents former college mate. and TO
use the fdceti0us language Of one OF
them, "evens up the old-time Knockout
with the gloves"
The commissions report will show that
both Hanks and Hartman were connected
with The commission for several months,
that they were engaged at the direction
OF the President 10 work out "a theory
that the records of the commission would
demonstrate that railroad rates could be
materially reduced; that MessTs. Hanks
and Hartman had been unable 10 mako
their work square with their words: that
the names Of Hanks and Hartman were
finally detached from the commission pay
roll. and that they have no further con-
neetiOn with the body.
il is understood the report viii show
further that the President is entirely
satisfied with the work OF the commits
sion. and that ne strongly disapproyed
of the attack made by Messrs- Hanks and
Hartman upon the statistical work OF
Prof Henry c. Adams, the commission
statstiCian.
Omcidl Washington knows all about
Hanks connection with the Interstate
Commerce Commission, but it Is not sen
orally known how il came about that
the gentleman from Boston was given
temporary government job by PTesi-
dent Roosevelt
Hanks Knocked Him Out.
It should be stated at the outset that
Hanks was "a classmate of the President
at Harvard, and that he has written
book. a few years ago the President
was travelling in New England with
some friends He saw a familiar form.
and suddenly it came TO him that Hanks,
his old college chum. confronted him.
How are YOU. old man." he exclaimed
in his impulsive way How are you? Glad
to see you, indeed
Mr. Hanks was then introduced to the
Presidents friends as the only man who
ever knocked me out"
It appears that Roosevelt and Hanks
engaged in one-round bout in their
college days. and the latter, measuring
y
the future President on the chin. 1t
took several minutes. so it is said to
bring Roosevelt back TO Harvard.
Engaging in conversation the Presi-
dent asked Hanks what he was doing.
Il am devoting myself to golf. high balls.
and leisure" he is said to have replied.
You ought to do something serious
in life," the President told him. Go 10
work. old man; go TO work
Maybe 1 WILL replied Hanks. win
you give me government jOb?'
Il will" said the President.
Soon thereafter Mr.. Hanks met George
". r. Hartman from whom he acquired
his theories concerning railway manage
ment
Mr.. Hanks. when seen last night, de-
clined to discuss the Presidents letter. A
friend of his said that he did not resent
the Presidents treatment of him IN the
scoring he gives him in the letter But
Hanks is credited with saying that he
does not like it to have Mr.. Roosevelt go
for his friend Hartman, upon whom the
odium seems to be placed somewhat
heavier than on Hanks. Hanks says that
he and Hartman were together in the
matter. and that he will stand by his
partner.
Last night the two were busy preparing
statement which they propose to put
out after the commissions report goes to
the Senate. They claim that this state
ment together with facts now being
gathered, viii prove more convincing TO
the general public than they were to the
President and his officials
Plan for Republican Banquet.