The Washington herald., 1907-05-31
ROOSEVELT TALKS ON CORPORATIONS

alike Of the wage-earner and the general
public. which is concerned in the rates
paid in by shippers: IT damages the small
investor, discourages thrift. and puts 4
premium on gambling and business
trickery.
No State, OF course can do for the
railways what the national government
has already done for the banks. and that
government should do something analO-
gous for the railways. National bank
stocks are bought and sold largely on the
certificate of character which the govern
ment, as a result of its examinations and
supervision. gives toi them. The invest
ing public was ready to back with un-
limited confidence the Institutions on
which the Federal government had set
the seal of its confidence and approval.
The railways have not been given this
certificate of character, under the seal of
the national government. and. therefore.
many people who invest freely in the
shares of banks are reluctant 10 Guy rail
road secur. ties. Give them the same
guarantees as to railroad securities which
We now give them as to national bank
shares, and we would presently see these
people investing in railroads.
Tip TO Railroad Lobbyists.
Let US never forget that this Is not
merely matter of business. but also
matter Of morals. The success Of our
whole system of government depends
upon our discriminating between men. not
with reference to whether they are rich or
poor whether they follow one occupation
or another but with reference solely 10
whether they act as honest and upright
citizens should act Let the local attOr-
neys Of the big roads keep out Of politics;
and when they have 20 appear before the
national or any State legislature, lei
their names be put on. a special register
and let their business be aboveboard and
open.
Hunt Down Corruption.
What we have to demand i'm ourselves
and in our public servants Is honesty
honesty 20 ali men; and if We condone dis
honesty because We think il is exercised
in the interests Of the people, we may rest
assured that the man thus showing it
lacks only the opportunity 10 exercise it
against the interests OF the people The
man who on occasion will corruptly do
what is wrong I'm the interests of a big
corporation is the very man eager TO
blaCkmail that corporation as the Opp0r-
tunity arises. The man who is on Occa-
sion a cOrruptonist. is apt. when the gust
OF popular feeling blows hard against the
corporations he has cOrruDtly served, 10
be the loudest. most reckless. and most
violent among those who denounce them
Hunt such a man out of public life
Hunt him cut as remorselessly if ne is a
blackmailer as If he stands corTUptly for
special privilege. Demand hOnesty-ab-
solute unfiinching hOnesty-together with
courage and common sense, In public
servant and in business man alike
The Presidents remarks occupied more
than an hour. land his train was sched-
uled 10 leave for Lansing AT s O'Clock
He took time. however. 70 depart from
the prearTanged programme by driving
out 10 Crown Hill Cemetery with the Vice
President. where he placed a wreath Of
flowers on the grave of the late President
Benjamin Harrison.
The President left indianapolis at
o'clock for Lansing. Mich, where he viii
deliver an address Tomorrow, on the oc-
casion of the fiftieth anniversary Of the
establishment Of the agricultural college
in America
AS the train was leaving the railroad
Yards a serious accident was narrowly
aNfIieu- a EdttN1an az "A crossing nad
closed the gates while a buggy. occupied
by a man and a woman. was on the track.
The tram was stopped suddenly, or there
would have been "A collision.
stops ON Way to indianapolis.
The President consented to stop long
enough at Bellefontaine this morning on
the way from Ohio to make an early
speech ~ that place There was a large
crowd al the railroad station, and the
President stepped out on the rear plat
form Of his car and made a brief informal
address. Further stops were made at
Union City and Muncie. and at the former
place the President made brief remarks.
At Muncie he did not speak. but be shook
hands with about nifty men and women
during the few minutes that the train
waited. He first warned the crowd that
they must pass slowly by the platform
of his car, and not expose the women and
children 20 danger
Did YOU ever see cattle on the plains2"
he said. Sometimes they mill That is
the way you would look if you should
crowd around this car. Every man who
| is a decent American will look out for the
wome.
Then be began the handshaking.