Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-03-21

pairing to make in opposition to the
presidents tentative program Of bring
ing the railways exclusively under fed
eral control, and wiping. out state lines
TO that extent, is one which almost
threatens TO wake the dead. If main
tanned the presidents position will re-
vive the old bitterness of antebellum
days, when states rights f1ourished in
connection with slavery, and awaken a
struggle which the country has not I'M
dergone since that memorable time.
Prominent democrats from the old
south have been din washington the
past few days, and without exception
they are denouncing the presidents
view and saying that If he should at
tempt to make it effective they will go
their full length in resisting it and
bringing him to grief personally.
Half a dozen radical southerners are
publicly saying that If the president
should favor any such consolidation OF
authority in the federal government as
his railroad policy seems to contem-
plate, and hold conferences for the
purpose of seeing how that consolida-
ton may be accomplished, he will lay
himself liable to Impeachment of the
charge of conspiracy to commit trea-
son. The constitution Of the United
States, say these men. recognizes the
constitutions of the several states, and
the president has taken an oath to
support the federal constitution. Should
he hold conference with railway
presidents for the purpose of develop
ing his theory they contend that he
will be open to impeachment and the
railway presidents to indictment for
treason.
These southern gentlemen profess to
have learned that the quartet of rail-
road presidents who failed to make an
appointment with President Roosevelt,
hold to the same view with him regard
ing the desirakility Of exclusive federal
control over the railways and that had
the conference been held it would have
been conducted along the lines Of as
that control.
IFOIIlIIGHl IIlelIIDeIS VI GULF COS II OiIA
the southern states have been fully adj
vised as to the presidents tentative
position and they have promised GER
tain prominent constituents of theirs
that they will bring the matter to the
attention of congress at the earliest pos
sible moment with view to impeach-
ment, should the president offer to I'M
dertake I'd carry out his theory, or even
confer seriously in regard to it with
either cabinet members or outsiders.
There is no Disgusting the fact that
the south is preparing to grow red
headed at the slightest provocation and
that IL the president is ultimately to
expand his theory with view to max
ing it operative he will run up against
the biggest bunch of states rights pre-
JUDGE any president has encountered
since the civil war.
President Roosevelt received Govern
or Johnson's letter yesterday afternoon.
1t came first to Secretary Loeb, who,
being aware that it was expected,
opened and read it and later laid it on
the presidents desk. 1t was there dur
ing the conference the president had
with Mr. Mellen of the New Haven
road.
Late in the afternoon it was an.
nounced that the president had given
the letter careful consideration and
had made up his mind that there was
no public good to be subserved thru
such a conference as the governor sug-
gested.
In due time a letter to this effect
will be written Governor johnson and
this will close the incident.
1t was also stated yesterday at the
White House that the governors argu-
ment in favor of a conference was
based on an erroneous premise, name
ly the premise that the president is
already committed to federal control of
all railroad traffic. AS president, he is
not thus committed. AS all individual
he has gone into the subject at some
length, and his study of it will continue
during the months that are to come.
AS far as he has gone, it is under
stood that he believes that exclusive
federal control is the only practical
solution of the problem. and that he
will so recommend officially, provided
subsequent investigation OF. decision
which the supreme court will undoubt-
edly make covering the question, with
in the next six or eight months, does
NOT compel him to change front. When
he gets ready to announce his position
on the new railroad issues as president
it will be thru public address or q,
message to congress.
President Roosevelt is more firmly
hat host
to restore public confidence in railroad
securities. which will enable the roads
to dispose of their stocks and bonds
to raise funds with which to increase
their facilities and to stop the attacks
of the state legislatures upon trans
portation lines, is to enact a federal
license law
His idea in this direction has been
strengthened greatly as the result OF
his conferences with j. Pierpont Nor
gan. James Speyer, the New York
banker; President Stickney, of the
Chicago Great Western railway:
President Mellen, of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford President
yoakum. of the Chicago, Rock Island
& Pacific, and Governor Deneen Of IL
linois.
No statement of his position will be
issued by President Roosevelt. but he
will confer with railroad officials. the
governors of states and ether persons
familiar with railroad matters, and
when he reaches conclusion on some
specific branch of the comprehensive
railroad plan he Is working out, he
will announce it in public address. or
in his annual message to congress.