Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-11-17
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NEW LIGHT ON MuLLEN's
INTERVIEW WITH ROOSEVELT
Subsequent Misunderstanding Over
What Had Been Said

What Had Been Said
New York, Nov. 16.-New light on
Charles S. Mellen's famous interJ lew
with President Roosevelt over the
question as to whether the New York,
New Haven and Hartford Railroad
company should sell it's steamship lines
to Charles W. Morse was switched On
by the government today at the trial
of the eleven former directors of Inc
road on the charge of criminal viola
ton of the Sherman law.
Misunderstanding with Roosevelt.
The government introduced letter
written by Mellen to William Loeb,
Jr., the presidents secretary, by which
it appeared there was a subsequent
misunderstanding between the rail- Dad
president and Mr.. Roosevelt over what
had been said at the interview.
According to Mellen's testimony tie
president had told him that ne would
give the New Haven no immunity If
it violated the law, but that he prom;
ised that there would be no action
taken against the road during mis- ad-
ministration if it should retain its
steamship lines.
The government maintains that the
New Haven not only retained the lines,
but proceeded to acquire others TO
strengthen it's alleged monopoly.
Please do not forget" MelIen wrote
in the letter introduced toJay. The
promise you made me that the presi-
dent should send for Herbert Knox
Smith and read over carefully the
memorandum he prepared of our in
terview of early last spring on the
steamship matter.
Rates Upon Crude Products.
UNLESS my memory is faulty out :.
lined to the president in that interview
that if l did not trade with Mr.. Nurse
it would be necessary for ne to ga
farther for the protection of the ter
ritory we serve and / have it strong
ly in my mind that 1 suggested there
would be further acquisitions to ex-
tend our influence south to enable US
to control the rates upon crude pro-
ducts, which were so important to the
manufacturing interests in our partic-
ular territory
81 fear he has forgotten the full in
terview. / am not at all surprised that
it is SO, but inasmuch as we have
come to a better understanding thar
for long time back, and as I am very
pleased at the result Of my last in
terview with him, ! am more than
anxious that he shall disabuse his
mind of the thought I fear he may
have had that have taken advantage
of his good nature and kindness toward
me to go further than 1 was justified
in doing as the result of our inter
view.
should deplore very much and 1t dis
turbs me very seriously"
MelIen Desired to Discuss Sherman
Law.
The letter was dated Jan. 81. 1903,
nearly a year after the interview re-
ferred to and meantime the New Ha-
ven had bought the Windsor line and
obtained an interest in the Merchants
and Miners. The occasion for serdin :
+ ,S,oo% t.,
terview with the president by COM
mittee of railroad presidents which
Mr.. Mellen desired to arrange to dis
cuss the Sherman law
Il have called meeting of the rail-
road presidents in New York tomor >
row. Mellen wrote in the Introductory
part of the letter, regarding the mat
ter | spoke to the president about, viz:
that of having a conference with him
by which the railroad interests can be-
come more tractable through a bet
ter understanding of his policy regard
ing them.
Most All Corporations Liable to Attack
There is hardly any railroad cor
poration in the country but that is IL
able to attack under some section OF
| the Sherman law and that If such a
menace, that, if it is possible it is
most desirable that the president
| great influence shall be .exerted to
4
| provisions that will insure a reason
able degree of safety for the past
even if the provisions contained there
| in shall obtain for the future and re-
garding this, if understand correctly
from various interviews 1 had with
the president, he is not at all averse-
on the contrary, is disposed to help
| to the extent he can
| 81 am going to arrange for Mr.. New.
man (then president of the New. York
CentraD to be one of the commission
of railroad presidents to see the pres
ident and above all the matter will be
arranged quietly and with no publicity
and certainly with every desire tc
avoid embarrassment to anyone
| 1T is my firm conviction IL a bet.
ter understanding can be had with
the president and of his policy, it will
go a long way toward amelioratins
conditions in financial circles an;
bringing about the support of tn,
president in those quarters I do earn
estIy seek and which L believe is alb
solutely necessary to the successful
outcome of his wishes regarding tn,
coming political campaign
Dispute Over Political Letter.
] One paragraph of the letter was no
read by the government. Attorne,
J aBtSs omitted it. after the defense ha.
made vigorous protest against tn
admission Of the letter on the groun
! that 1t was purely a political matter.
This is injecting politics into tn
case. said Delaney Nicoll. ~and /
) you're going to read it, we can injec
J indictment in this case was based o,
J politics" szass
TT was not interrl1pted Mr. Batf.