New-York tribune., 1908-05-12
ASSURED BY PRESIDENT
BUSINESS MEMS PLEA.
Dir. RooseUelt Expresses Sympathy
zcath Prosperity Association UOrk

Washington. May IA committee from he Ma
tional Prosperity Association. of ST. Louis called
en- President Roosevelt to-day to urge his and in
furtherinz the plans for encouraging
of prosperity throughout the country The COM
r1ittee found President cordial in his treatment
and frank in his expressions OF willingness TO aid
in every possible way. He said:
/ am in hearty sympathy with the avowed object
of the National Prosperity Association. 1t is ex-
ceIlent We have gone FAR In TPro0tins S2uses n
the standard of honesty in our business NE mas
beyond What it has ever been. and this largely be
cause have made determined war on the abuses
and stagnation from which country is now
Topn na9Py lessapion but by the revelation o
ing conditions in certain OF our corpor atoas, Dy
and by certain striking-though; believe excep-
OF course, ali good men must agree with you
your condemnation OF unwise agitation Inc apa
and business administrations is more dangerous
tors TO class hs treds Our national conscience.
firmly believe has been awakened We VIII not
s6a a9ed '1 Wronsdding es R Sefher can pc led
and twisted crusade against lSd a oGrses
Of civic righ teousnes. The welfare OF all OF US
best be obtained by striving ing for Or poSy Tnlcn ls
all cooperate in order that benefit may be derived
government. but laws are Of no avail unless vital
gf egislafion a. nh has been good and it interest
Of the entire country, and especially OF Ine oas-
theT regulatory legislation is required Is merely
5pd9g p0n II tes oT0a4 o to Business any
more than that legislation which has already been
it: there is no excuse for demagogic excitement
about It; It is as much our duty TO conserye tne
real hts RToger'y as We IS have 20 doSe in the
The country realizes that confidence is not
which exists in the relations Of men. These reia-
9n5 S the ecenomo o9G SeoTs fhsa have been
Therefore we are nnoTe poWerfuI I soqay Ihan
ton is concerned. It will continue unchanged the
BTacing every possible and legitimate means to
advance the welfare and prosperity OF our country
The business and commercial interests of this
sf K 20 Bs R any R
exceptions they have been and are now so ad-
is evidence of dishonesty @ it must De % pursued ,s Ts
eeT ~ ana bF pan Of Business ntegTitg and
that plane built wisely. let no man seize The
real malefactors to that all American business
men. or even any considerable number or tneIn;
be glad TO cooperate with you In any effort to
ADDRESS TO THE PRESIDENT.
short address 10 the President made by
E C. Simmons. chairman of the executive COM
mittee of the association Other members OF the
committee F. J. Wade. Edward Dewey. F B.
wiberg. J. F. Smith. W. X. Bixby. Murray Carrie
ton George A. Meyer and Jackson Johnson Mr..
Simmons said:
The National Pr9sperity Association has h been
view 10 backward step from reforms which haze aye
wisdom of laws which have been placed upon the
national statute books. 1t applauds the correction
After ten years of great prosperity the body com;
m1ercial enterad upon period OF dep depTessi0a ang
begin to multiply There is promise OF bountiful
lations between capital and labor not strained
The financial strngency has passed Capital is
With such conditions prosperity waits only. on
for business with honorable ideals to get to-
geher. We believe the disposition of business in
terests is in the right direction and should receive
Therefore. Mr.. President the National Prosperity
Association has been formed. designed in the first
place TO promote confidence among our business
YOU. 70 impress confidence upon all our own people
and the world at large. Lae associat2n on VII WI,
hundred thousand nonpartisan business organtza-
much already from demasGgic agitation: therefore
tation by professional agttators II Will deprecate
the unworthy spirit which arrays class against
class; It vii seek tnat UNITY o., OF orotnern2od q
the American business mans standards are high.
To have procIaired that the bulk Of our BUSINESS
is honestly done. II will point out that the dis
turbance Of public confidence was not due to the
enactment of reform legislation or TO the punish
v-oIatfons Of law by some corporations and graft
c r5 9y T0o9 the heels Of the insurance
posures came the earthquake at San Francisco.
hundred million dollars inpoverishing citizens
well insurance companies
ing in OF our large cities the manipulation
Of railroad assets and prosecution Of corporations
violations of the laws Of state and ton. These
revelations naturally shook eonfdence Reforms
them and to-day the country realizes the value
and potency Of the remedy.
OBJECT TO RADICAL ACTION
The association recognizes the debt the busi-
ness interests-indeed. the whole country-owe y0u
for what you have done 1t feels nov that the time
-1l-l SrO, call halt -T
hasty and experimental legislation. designed 10
regulate industry. If the law officers have knOWI-
edge viola tions of statutes let prosecutions pro-
coed vigorously and expediJiOusly before grand
iuries and in courts The dishonest corporation,
ished. But the honest corporation. the honest rail-
road cement. should be protected; and this the
reads particularly. public attention has been fo-
CuSSed other interests have suffered severely
gain is apparent with the railroads than with other
kinds of business. Shrfnkage OF values has been
very great The Hepburn law, for which
responsible. has introduced "A higher standard Of
administration. a but there have been Unwtse state
enaCtments and ag1ta ton for harsh federal laws
harmful TO the properties. from the standpoint Of
the operator and emplOye and the investor
A national political campaign IS opening Plat
forms are TO be adopted The National Prosperity
business issues by both parties But the assoCi-
alton believe that prosperity depends upon
that the unemployed may find work; that the nor
NAL volume of trade may be reached without walt
ing for the November elections To that end the
association VIII ADDRESS itsetr
In seeking your support OF the work of the as
socation. Mr.. President. We are inspired by the
view that your corporation viii z" far to aid in the
restoration Of hopefulness. of confidence and of
right thinking in our land.
FILL DINNER PAIL AGAIN.