The Jersey City news., 1906-11-28
PRESIDENT on CANAL
Declares Panama Project Is tilI
Greatest Enterprise In Hiss
tory of the World. u
BUSY WITH NEGRO QUESTION

SaHers at Wnire Rouse Bring Up Masf
ter of Dismissed Soldiers and PIRt
MIR. Roosevelt Standing FIrHs-MaJ
Make Special Statement-Favors Cit,
izenship For Porto Ricans.
Washington, Nov. 20. - President
Roosevelt talked TO a group Of Wash
ington correspondents on his visit to
Panama and Porto Rico He declared
that the canal project is the greatest
enterprise in the history OF the world,
that he was greatly impressed by Il
and that generally be is satisfied with
conditions as he found them, but he
would not discuss the canal In detail
pending his special message to cons
gress on the subject, rough draft Of
which he had prepared. This message
will be sent to congress within Q fort
night.
AS result Of his visit to Porto Rico,
President Roosevelt win recommend
that the people Of that island be grant
ed American citizenship. He will send
a special message to congress on this
subject. The president does not con-
template recommending any change in
The form of government of Porto Rico.
but he considers it unjust to the Ports
Ricans that they are denied American
citizenship He pronounced the inhab-
ltants of the island high class and in
telligent people. They have a first
class government at present, according
to President Roosevelt; unparalleled
prosperity prevails, and the people are
well pleased with existing conditions.
Enthusiastic Over Navy
President Roosevelt returned to
Washington bGbbllng over with enthu-
siasm for the American navy He de-
clared that there is no navy on the sea
which can match h, ship for ship and
man for man.
On the way up he directed the officers
of the Louisiana to "h;t 'er up bit
lust to show what the vessel could do
N the matter of speed. The contract
speed of the Louisiana Is 19 knots an
hour. Captain Oouden cut the Louisi-
ana loose, and she made more than
lS13 knots for three consecutive hours.
This pleased the president immensely.
Before he left the Louisiana the crew
were assembled on deck, and the presi-
dent made them an address, saying:
Captain and officers and enlisted
men of the Louisiana, wish to thank
you for as pleasant and interesting a
trip as any president has ever had on
land or sea, and profitable trip too.
l do not see how any good American
can fail to believe with all his hears
In the United States navy.
Zone thing take this chance to say.
[ have been astounded and mortified
at the attitude of certain of our people
ashore in declining to allow Uncle
Sans men when they have their uni
forms on to come into places of amuse-
ment. Outside Of Washington have
&c control over those places of amuse-
nent. In Washington l have, and any
place of amusement to which admis-
sion is denied to reputable men who
are behaving themselves who wear
the uniform of the army or the navy
will lose It's license If it is in my power
to cause the loss, and think it isl
Negro Question Brought Up.
The first official callers the president
received upon resuming business
brought up the question of the dis
missal of the negro troops Of the Twen-
ty-ffth infantry. They were Charles
Anderson, collector of Internal rev.
enue, New York, and E. J. Scott. pri-
vate secretary for Booker T. washing.
Ton.
Anderson came as a representative
of the colored Republican club of New
York, and Scott was the messenger Of
Mr.. Washington.
Both Anderson and Scott were rather
reticent regarding what occurred, but
It was apparent that they got very lit
tie encouragement from the president.
Mr.. Scott said he presented to the
president petition from Booker T.
Washington, in which a plea was
made for the dismissed soldiers.
It is learned that the president stood
drmly by his last declaration He il
willing to take up the individual cases
Of the men if it is shown that they
were not responsible for the troubles
hat brought on the discharge ordered,
out he has no intention of resembling
Or even modifying his order.
Has Power to Reinstate Soldiers.
President Roosevelt holds that he has
he power to reinstate in the army any
II the negro soldiers if the circum-
stance Of any Individual case Justify
such action Whether he will avail