The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-09-27
TAFT JUNKET IN DISFAVOU
Original Purpose of Excur-
sion as Planned by Sec
retary Miscarries.

Washington. :. c.. Sept 27--It
would be useless to deny that public
sentiment in Wash ngton no longer
takes the form Of admiration for the
Taft excursion to "far Cathay" Il
would be extremely ignorant and un.
sair, however 20 assume that secre.
tary Taft himself IS responsible IN any
way for this change Of opinion.
The fact that the whole characteS
and purpose Of the expedition as orig.
inally proclaimed, has been destroyed
IS no fault Of his. The object was to
take to the Philippines a certain mum
ber Of congressman occupying import
ant and influential positions in both
houses in order that the men who real
ly control legislation might inform
themselves by ac-ual experience and
observation for intelligent and useful
action
II is important that new laws shall
be enacted and old laws amended. If
our Asiatic possessions are to be set
upon the high road to prosperity and.
as 50 few of the leaders in congress
are personally familiar with the condi-
tions. IT is naturally difficult to inter
est them in measures which are really
indispensable to the successful conduct
of our new adventure in expansion.
Tart Would Educate on Issues.
Mr.. Taft's idea. therefore. was to
equip the administration propaganda
by recruit ng a powerful missionary
force. educated TO the needs of the oc.
casion and qualified to speak with au-
thority to the law-making body. The
original prospectus, as made known to
the public, justified the belief that the
secretary had planned wisely Many
names OF influential men appeared
upon the list of the excurs onists. The
most important committees were rep
resented in considerable strength.
1t looked as If the enterprise would
be a serious affair snd lead to results
OF great public value. AS Il turned out,
however. the big men changed their
minds and didn't go The senators and
representatives whom it was important
to impress. or at least to educate
finally decided TO stay at home. so tha,
when the expedition at last embarked
1t consisted chiefly of junketers sight
/ A..r4a... .,..t-..-
That all this was a cruel dlsappoint
ment for Mr. Taft there can be no sort
of doubt. They were delightful travel
Ting companions. of course. and helped
to crown the journey with grace and
pleasantness. but few Of them were
animated by statesmanlike interest in
our schemes Of government and still
fewer in a position TO promote then
even if they should gorge themselyes
with information
Made a Holiday Excursion
1t Is easy to understand. therefore
that Secretary Taft offered little, Il
any. objection to the enlargement and
variegation of the itinerary He could
see no good to result from an inter
ference with their junketing inclina
tions and no reason why he should
restrain them without the slightesi
prospect Of accompl shing any usefu
Iresultsl That the whole thing has de
generated into typical holiday triI
lis obvious.
/ Congress IS not likely to know more
about the Philippines than it did be
fore, at least for any purpose of en-
lightened leg station. But it was no
Mr.. Taft's fault. He did what he ooul'
to organize and launch an expedition
of useful education. and il has turne'
out TO be a mere idle pageant of pleas
IRE. AT all events, as we are given &
understand. the revelers paid their Owl
expenses. Perhaps it was because o
this expense that the statesmn stage