To the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor and the Representatives of Labor Associated With Them, at the Executive Office, March 21, 1906 702 To the Members of the National Playgrounds Councils at the White House, April 12, 1906 708 To the German Veterans, at the White House, April 12, 1906 709 [Illustration: _PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT ADDRESSING THE CITIZENS OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA_ _October 20, 1905_ ] Homeward Bound Edition PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS _May 10, 1905, to April 12, 1906_ BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT [Illustration: colophon] PUBLISHED WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR THROUGH SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT VOLUME IV =NEW YORK= THE REVIEW OF REVIEWS COMPANY MCMX The Publishers desire to make clear to the readers that Ex-president Roosevelt retains no pecuniary interest in the sale of the volumes containing these speeches. He feels that the material contained in these addresses has been dedicated to the public, and that it is, therefore, not to be handled as copyrighted material from which Mr. Roosevelt should receive any pecuniary return. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS MAY 10, 1905 TO APRIL 12, 1906 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS AT THE LUNCHEON OF THE MERCHANTS’ CLUB, CHICAGO, ILL., MAY 10, 1905 _Mr. President and Gentlemen_: This country of ours is pre-eminently a business country, and we can succeed only if as a country we carry on the national business as the typical member of this association carries on his business; that is, in an entirely practical spirit, in a spirit which desires and commands success, but which desires it and commands it as an incident to acting with decency toward all our fellow-citizens. No business community can permanently succeed if the average member of it does not possess a certain quantity of high ideals; and, gentlemen, there is not a business man of large experience here who will not agree with me when I say that. Permanent success will come to the business community where the average man’s word can be trusted, where the average man himself can be trusted in dealing with his fellows. Just as that is true of the average business community, so it is true of the Nation as a whole.