Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-07-02
VISITS PRESIDENT TO
DISCUSS BUSINESS coNoi-
T,oNs.
WASHINGTON SURPRISED
CONFERENCE is HELD
Not Known Whether Morgan Was Bid
den to White House or Was Self In
vited-eelieved to Be First Of Series
Of Conferences With Representation
Of Big Business.

Washington, July FL. P. Morgan
had an engagement at the White
House today to discuss general busi-
ness conditions with President Wilson,.
1t was the first of informal confer
ences the president plans to have with
industrial and financial leaders within
a short time.
1t was said at the White House that
Mr.. Morgan had asked for the engage
ment, and it was explained that the
two men are personal friends. Another
version of the meeting was that Mr..
Morgan had been invited thru friends
TO give his views to the president.
Next week the president will have
an informal conference with Henry
Ford, the Detroit manufactures, VINO
will be entertained at luncheon at the
White House 1t was said the presl-
dent had invited Mr. Ford. Officials
close to the president said that Mr..
Wilson would take such an opportunity
to outline his views to the heads ol
big business in person.
Moraan's Visit Surprise.
Mr. Morgans engagement was more
or less of surprise to those VINO nave
observed the course the president mas
taken since he entered the White
House, in having conferences with cap
tains of industry. 1t has been pointed
out that Mr.. Wilson was receiving the
big business men OF the country less
frequently than his predecessors. IN
fact had not been asking their adVlce
at all on legislation affecting business
ho q.
When the currency bill was in passage
thru congress. the president even de-
clined to receive some members Of the
Morgan firm.
By a series Of informal conferences
with leaders of industry and finance.
Of which those, with MIR. Morgan and
MIR. Ford win be the first. 1T Is the
idea to show that the president Is ap-
preaching tia subject with an open
mind willing to. hear the views OF big
business first, hand and outline his own
views in return.
New Haven May Have Been Discussed.
Altho there are other subjects in
teresting Mr.. Morgan at present IN
which the government has part, 1t
was said todav's talk was to pe per-
sonal one ON business. The interstate
investigation of financial affairs of the
New Haven railroad is nearly ready tos
submission TO the senate and the time
is drawing near to July l5, the date
which President Wilson and Attorney
General McReynolds have agreed on
| filing the anti-trust suit for the dis
solution of the New Haven merger un-
less the Massachusetts legislature
l i,h ta c a
! to solution and which has been rec
commended by the attorney general and
4, Chairman Elliott, of the New Haven
board Whether these subjects wege
TO enter into today's conferences was
not known.
Conference "cordiai."
! White House officials said the con-
| freence between the president and Mr..
Morgan had been just friendly dis
cussion Of the subject. Mr.. Morgan re-
] fused to disclose what had taken place.
/ AS he stepped into his carriage he
said:
MY. visit with the president was
! very cordial. You will have to ask MIN
what we talked about
Morgan Withho!ds Vows.
President Wilson told inquirers later
| that in his talk with Mr.. Morgan busi-
ness conditions generally had been dis
cussed and that Mr.. Morgan had ex-
pressed no opinion of whether busl-
ness was good or bad He added thai
he has known Mr.. Morgan a long time
and that their talk was largely remin-
| iscent.
! Speaking of business conditions gen
orally, the president said the attitude
Of business men seemed to be growing
in favor OF the administrations trusl
program. In all of his correspondence
with business men. he added. he mac
heard of no specific objection to the
anti-trust program.
The President compared the opposi-
ton of the antitrust bill to the op-
position which preceded the passage o
the currency bill. He said he conJec
tured that probably the objections tt
both bills resulted from the failure o
the opponents of the measures to reat
the bills