The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-12

& sf
welt in Hearty Sympathy With the
Purpose Of oruanization-says Can.
not Tolerate Wronodolns.
Washington, May 11.-A committee
from the National Prosperity Associa-
tion Of st. Louis called on President
Roosevelt today to urge his aid In
furthering their plans for encouraging
the return Of prosperity throughout
the country. Il
The committee found the president
cordial In his treatment and frank In
his expressions Of willingness to aid
them in every way possible.
A speech was made by =. G. Sim
monds, chairman Of the executive
committee Of the association. who was
responded to by the president. Mr..
simmonds upon behalf Of the associa-
tion urged that a halt be called upon
radical, hasty and experimental leg
islation, designed to regulate indus
try" Explaining the purpose of the
association, Mr.. simmonds said:
The association has been designed
in the first place to promote conf
dence among our business men, and
second, through cooperation with It,
to impress the confidence upon all
our own people and the world at large.
The association will facilitate inter-
change Of opinion among the one hun
died nonpartisan business organiza-
tions. s*
Do Away With Agltators.
Business has suffered too much al
ready from agitation; therefore the
association will seek relief from CON
ttnued agitation by professional agi-
talors. It will depreeate the unworthy
spirit which arrays class against class.
IT will seek that unity Of brotherhood
which you have proclaimed
Mr.. sfmmonds continued:
"a national political campaign Ia
opening. Platforms are to be adopted.
The National Prosperity association
win ask for fair-minded consideration
Of business conditions BY both parties.
But the association does not believe
prosperity depends upon politics; It ID
convinced that business may revive.
that the unemployed my ind work:
that the normal volume Of trade may
be reached without waiting for the
November elections. To that end the
association will address ITSELF"
The president responded as follows:
President Responds.
'I am in hearty sympathy with the
avowed object Of the National Pros
perity association. tits excellent. We
have gone far in uprooting abuses
which threaten our national life
Taken as whole the standard OF hon
esty in our business life has been
high, and today the standard is. I be
lieve, beyond what is has been, and
this has made determined war on the
auuses that lowered 1t.
'As you have said, the depression
and stagnation from which our coun
try is now happily beginning to re-
cover was not caused by reform leg
islation, but by that revelation o.
shocking conditions In certain Of oul
corporations, by reckless operations
in high finance, by calamity and BY
certain striking. though I believe e1
ceptional instances Of business and
civic dishonesty. OF course. all good
men must agree with you in your con
demnation Of unwise agitation. The
passive acceptance Of abuses in oul
governmental and business administra
tions Is no more dangerous than the
demagogic appeals Of professional agi
g { 4 y . \
tators to class hatred.
National Conscience Awakened.
"Our national conscience, firmly
believe, has been awakened. We will
not and can not go back to the con
ditions which tolerated wrongdoing
Neither can we afford to be led astray
by those who would embark US in 9
visionary and twisted crusade against
corporations and all business methods
We should address ourselves to thu
faithful and honest observance O
laws of civic righteousness. The wei
fare of all Of us can be best obtained
by striving for q policy which vii
promote the welfare Of each Of US
We must all cooperate in order tha
benefit may be derived by the entire
nation. iif s4jI
"Good laws make for good govern
ment, but laws are of no value unless
vitalized by the people who mad
d -A-aA -.