The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1908-03-24
RESULT OF CONFERENCE
With Representatives of CONNER
Cial Bodies
Program Agreed Upon
Zach OF Measures Proposed Invol-
yes Perplexing Differences-Will
Have l. ar Reaching Effect Upon
Business Conditions OF the Country

Washington, March 21.-President
Roosevelt has determined on legls-
lative program, the enactment o.
which will be urged upon congress
| in a special message which he sa1o
today will go in next week. Each or
the measures to be proposed involves
perplexing differences and each will
nave far-reaching effect on the busi-
ness and economic conditions Of the
country. The program is the product
of important conferences through
which the president has been put in
possession OF the views of all in
terests concerned. Likewise the atti-
tude OF the leaders in both branches
of congress has been made known.
The program includes: A declara-
ton in favor of a revision of the
tariff in a special session to be held
after March 4, 1909.
An amendment to the Sherman
antitrust law so as to make impor-
tant concessions to combinations or
both labor and capital
Limiting the powers OF certain
courts in the use of the Injunction
in labor disputes.
Passage of an employers liability
bill
Passage of the Aldrich financial
bill
The support of the business and
financial interests of the middle west
vas pledged to the president on this
program, following an extended con-
ference held at the White House last
night. most satisfactory conference
was held at the presidents offices to-
of ha fxro
Of congress. The details of last
night conference were purposely
withheld pending the morning con-
ference At the conclusion OF the lat
te" statement was made public by
Secretary Loeb:
'At conference with the presi-
dent held at the White House last
evening with the following !epresen-
tatives of commercial bodies of the
middle west:
Richard c. Hail, chairman. presi-
dent Chicago association Of COM
nerce; J. v. Farwell, Sr., member of
the Chicago association of com
merce; Charles H. Wacker, member
OF Chicago association of commerce;
James e. Smith, president st. Louis
business mems league; TeEtus L.
Wade, of executive committee, st.
Louis business mems leaguo; H. 3.
Topping, president of the Kansas
City commercial club; C.. B. Parker,
ex-president Kansas City commercial
club; E. M. Glendenning, secretary
Kansas City commercial club. The
following address was presented TO
the president and there was full
expression of views both on the part
of the president and the committee:
MIR. President:
The organizations we represent
have a membership of about forty
five hundred business men, corpora
tions, firms, and individuals, engaged
in the development of the agrlcui-
tural resources, and the manufactur-
ing commercial and financial inter-
ests of the middle west. In the pur-
suit of our various lines of business,
we come in contact with almost every
portion of the country, but especial
ly of Mississippi Valley. We neye:
were in a more prosperous condition
than prior to the panic Of last fall
Our labor was all employed, our cap
ital profitably invested In a short
period these conditions have changed
Certain businesses are almost stag
nant, brought about by fear Of peo-
pie as to the stability of some of our
institutions. Money has been boarded
instead of flowing into tie ordinary
channels of investment, securities
AZ dthe various commercial interests
Two primaries causes are responsible
for the condition First the gross
violation Of law by some corpora
tons and grating by some public
officials, and, secondly, a deficient
currency system wholly incapable OF
responding to needs OF commerce
when fear and uncertainty are en-
gendered into the minds OF the
masses.
- To you Mr. President, we ac-
cord the credit due for compelling
respect of the law by the great and
the small alike.
We believe the business integrity
/ OF the average merchant in this
country is Of O higher standard than
ia any other; we therefore appre-
ciate- and command all the more.
yonr fearless activity which has TO