The Mena weekly star., 1908-05-14

<Recent Depression and Stagnation fWere Not Caused by Reform Legis- &I Iation-BeIieves Public Conscience EHas Awakened.
 Washington, May 12.-A committee Dm the National Prosperity associa-
 bn of St. Louis called on President bosevelt Monday to urge his aid in
 rthering their plans for encourag-
 the return of prosperity through if the country. The committee found
 e president cordial in his treatment kd frank in his expressions of will
 rness to aid them in every way pos
 ble A short speech was made by 1 c. Simmond. chairman of the execu- <e committee of the association hich was responded to by the presi- knt. Other members of the commit
 were: F. J. Wage, Edward, DeVoy, B. Wiberg, J. F. Smith, w. K. Blk
 Murray Carleton, Geo. A. Meyer
 |d Jackson Johnson.
 kThe president responded to MT. Sim
 bnd's address as follows.
 <I am in hearty sympathy with the Bowed object of the National Pros *rity association. It is excellent. We I've gone far in uprooting abuses bich threaten our national life. Tax
 as whole, the standard of honesty our business. life has been high and Nav the standard Is, I believe, be-
 nd what it has ever been, and this rgely because we have made de- fmined war on the abuses that low %ed it. As you have said, the depres- bn and stagnation from which our Euntry is now happily beginning to
 Rover. were not caused by reform
 kislation, but by the revolution of Booking conditions in certain of our $rporations, by reckless operations * high finance. by calamity and by ntain striking. though, believe ex- <ptional instances of business and Eic dishonesty. Of course, all good 'en must agree with you in your Inflammation of unwise agitation. The Sathetic acceptance of abuses in out Monumental and business admins Btlons is no more dangerous than [e demagogue appeals of professional kitators to class hatreds. Our na- bnaI conscience, I firmly believe, IS been awakened. We will not and knnot go back to the conditions which lerated wrong doing. Neither can {e afford to be led astray by those <ho would embark us in visionary nd twisted crusade against all cor brations, all business methods. We Mould address ourselves to the faith. n and honest observance of laws of EHic righteousness. The welfare of 1l of us can best be obtained by striv. Sg for a policy which will promote he welfare of each of us. We must D cooperate in order that benefit 6ay be derived by the entire nation bod laws make for good government nt laws are of no avail unless vital led by the people who made them )nr recent legislation has been good [nd it is to the interest of the entire buntry, especially of the business in erests that it should be enforced hch further regulatory legislation as ! required is merely building up or he broad foundation that has been lid. It conceals no menace to busi less any more than that Legislation shich has already been enacted. There 3 no need for agitation concerning k there is no excuse for demagogis Excitement about it. It is as mucf (nr duty to conserve the real rights d property as 1t is to conserve tho |eal rights of labor. This we have lone in the past and this we ought tt ao and will do in the future.
 "The country realizes that conf lence is not a matter of law. It Il kn intangible something which exist |n the relation of men. Those relations pave been strengthened in our owi country by the economic reforms tha lave been instituted. Therefore VI Are more powerful today than we hav' ever been. So far as the present ad ninistration is concerned, it will con kinue unchanged the policy of safe suarding the rights of all and of em bracing every possible and legitimat neans to advance the welfare an' prosperity of our country.
 Let there be no misunderstandinl Rbout this. The business and con mercial interests of the country to b Prosperous in any enduring sense mus De administered honestly. With oC easional exceptions they have bee hnd are now so administered as yo pave well-said wherever there is ev Fence of dishonesty 1t must be pun Bued relentlessly and punished; bu laving thus moved forward to a hig plane of business integrity and on tha plane built wisely, let no man seiz 1he moment when we have as a natio plllorized the real malefactors to sa that all American business men, 0 fven any considerable number of ther Are malefactors. 1 welcome your wor hnd shall be glad to cooperate wit gou in any effort 10 establish prospe Aty on right and honest lines"