The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-28
PRESIDENT BOXES
. ON ship WITH TAR

Said in Washington that He
Donned Gloves on Panama
Trip.
: Washington, Nov. 20. - President
Roosevelt on his trip to and from Pan
anna, on the battleship Louisiana mixed
freely with the officers and men, Of
whom ne speaks in the highest com
lmendatlon. He participated in the
chief petty officers mess and visited
the branch Of the Army and NAVY
union, which has about fifty members
on the Louisiana, and whose meeting
place was down in the hold of the shin
The president returned to Washing
ton hubbling over with enthusiasm for
the American navy. He declared that
there IS no navy on the sea which can
match 1t, ship for ship or man for man.
while ne IS proud of the vessels. he. is
prouder of the men, and he stated with
enthusiasm that it, would be impossible
1or any other nation to assemble such
Ia force of high-grade men. He talked
about the wonderful rapidity with
winch the men fred the large gums.
and complimented the officers and men
highly Oh their achievements in this
direction. -. b.. : = -.
While the president was on the Louis
lana a theatrical performance was given
test. Only two, fights were on the pro
gram, but. three took place. Someone
asked the president if the contests were
TO a finish and he said they were not
but that they were first class scraps, Tt
was suggested that the third ring contest
was participated in by distinguished
visitor on the battleship Louisiana. The
DID not enter the roPed arena. It is
SAID IN Washington, however, that the
president put on the gloves and demon
strated how certain blows should be de-
| lvered. ;. ,.
President Roosevelt talked with great
freedom to a group of Washington cor.
respondents on his visit to Panama
and Porto Rico.
He declared that he had a delightful
and profitable trip and had learned
many things about the canal zone,
Porto Rico and the United States navy.
Many important achievements will be
the outgrowth of this visit. -
The president stated that the Panama
canal project is the greatest enterprise
IN the history of the world; that he was
greatly impressed by it, and that with
but two exceptions he is completely
satisfied with the conditions Of affairs
during his three days. inspection of
the work in progress there.
|: One, of the exceptions, the president
told his callers, related to the sanitary
feature OF the quarters for bachelor
negro :laborers, and this, he pointed out,
under ordinary circumstances will have
been adjusted within very short time.
ME- Roosevelt IS not yet certain
whether he will recommend any special
legislation in connection with the 18TH
milan work in the special message which
ne is to send to congress on the sub
| ject. This will depend on full considera-
| ton of the matter between, now and
next week. However, he will .smake his
Investigations on the isthmus a leading
subject OF his message, rough draft
OF which IS already prepared This mes
SAGE VIII be sent to congress within a
President RooseVeit Viii r rece@mend
that the Porto Ricans be granted Amer
lean citizenship. He will send a. special
message to: congress on this subject.
The: president does not contemplate rec
ommending any change in the form of
government OF Porto Rico, or that it
be- given form Of government core
spending with that Of organized terri
tories Of the contine entail United States.
He declared that it is unjust: to the
Porto Ricans that they are denied
American citizenship, and he pro
nounced the inhabitants Of the island
a high class and Intelligent people. They
have tirst-class government at pres
emit, according to President: Roosevelt,
and it is administered in a manner
highly satisfactory TO the people of the
island. An era of prosperity exists in
Porto Rico which it has never before
enjoyed in it's history and the people
are well pleased with existing condi-
tions -. -, ;. =, ,tls -. 800. :
+: AS the ship was passing Hatteras on
the way home the president had the en-
glneer department steam up, and for
three hours the: vessel. made run of
knot in excess Of the contract REQUIRE
ment. go. -, -,
Sunday as the, vessel was nearing the
Virginia capes the president delivered a
speech to. the men assembled on board
the vessel in which he told them Of
what he had experienced and gave them
some advice.
His remarks were as follows:
| 'Captaln and Officers and Enlisted
Men of the Louisiana: -
II wish to thank you for as pleas-
ant and interesting a trip as any presi-
dent ever had on land or sea, and a
profitable trip, too. Not only I do not
see how any president, but I do not see
how any good American can fail to be-
| lieve with ali his heart in the United
States navy, can fail to do all that in
him lies for the officers and men of
that navy in order that the navy itself
may be brought to constantly increas-
+ ing state Of perfection as formidable
fighting machine. I am very proud of
the ships: / am even prouder of the
men aboard the ships. :
! Il have been astounded and morti-
fed at the attitude Of certain of our
people ashore in declining to allow
Uncle Sam $ men when they have their
uniforms on to come into places of
amusement. Outside of Washington
I have no control over these places of
amusement; in Washinginton T. have,
and any place Of amusement to which
admission is denied to reputable men
who are behaving themselves, who wear
the uniform Of the army or the navy,
will lose its license, if it is in my
power to cause the loss, and I think
it is. sE.- -, 49,
~ hope every man here. officer and
enlisted man: alike, will remember that
his profession sets him apart from all
other men in the country not in the
army. or navy, by putting upon his
SHOULDERS peculiar responsibility. You
enlisted men, if you stay in the service
thirty years and have taken reasonable
advantage Of your opportunities during
| that time, can then, perhaps at the age
OF 81 or 80, retire on what is practically
q pension Of in the neighborhood Of
O. Il O. -.