Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-21
TkFT E HOME AGAIN
Says His Choice For President Must Be ''Left to Inference"
ASSERTS JAPAN IS FOR PEACE
Enthuses Over Conditions In the Phil ippines, Where He Found Things Much Better Than He Had Hoped For-Approves Dispatch of Fleet.


 ippines, Where He Found Things
 Much Better Than He Had Hoped
 For-Approves Dispatch of Fleet.
 Washington Dec. 21.-Secretary of War William H. Taft, accompanied by his son., Charlie Taft, arrived in Washington over the Pennsylvania railroad.
 At the station to meet the secretary were a number of the officials of the war department and other depart ments, who gave him hearty well come. Secretary Taft in reply express ed his great pleasure in reaching home again. When Secretary Taft alighted from the train his friends in official life and number of newspaper men gathered around him, and an impromp- tu reception occurred.
 Pressed for statement concerning his trip and on the subject of politics, the secretary gaZed at the new Union station for moment and jocularly re- marked, That there is a subject I am prepared to discuss" Further than that the secretary could not be induced to talk. explaining that he was some what tired out and was anxious to get home
 In New York MT. Taft was asked what he thought of the political sit uation.
 q have not had sufficient opportuni- ty to acquaint myself with the facts," he replied. You must remember that I have been away a long time-120 days. I have seen the newspapers, but you would not ask me to talk about politics now, would you? I shall have to have little time to think the situa- tion over"
 "Who is your favorite candidate for the presidency?'
 The secretary laughed. q leave that to inference" he said.
 He was informed of MT. Bryan's ar ticle in the Commoner to the effect that if Mir Taft was nominated he would ''straddle the issues and would be un- able to keep both wings of the Repub- lican party together" This seemed to amuse Mir. Taft very much. He threw his head back and laughed for full minute before replying. Then he said:
 "I am not running newspaper"
 In regard to the situation in Japan Mir Taft said:
 ''I found that the feeling of both the people and those at the head of the government was all for peace. speak of this with great confidence. think that the trade existing between the United States and Japan would act as paciticatOr. The annual Japanese exports amount to $160.000,000, of which about one-third goes to the United States. In return the United States sends to Japan flour. oil and such commodities. These are dealt in by large companies. The exports of Japan are principally embroideries, mating and artistic goods. In the manufacture of these many small traders are engaged and a great many people interested. The prevailing senti- ment everywhere seemed to be one of peace"
 What was their feeling about the restriction of emigratlon!" Their interest in it was chiefly on sentimental grounds. Only q small proportion of the people were affected by it. As for the California difficulties, I told them that there was nothing in that matter which could not be satis- factorily adjusted"
 Secretary Taft said that the Japanese were proud people, who ask to he treated on the same basis as other na- | tions."
 "They are too intelligent and high minded" he remarked. ito attribute any false motive to the dispatch of our fleet to the Pacific. Why should Amer ica spend hundreds of millions of dol. lars in establishing and maintaining a navy unless we find in practice what can be expected of the ships in au emergency:
 My trip had as its only definite ob ject a report on conditions in the Phil ippines. My visit to Japan was only incidental. Travelling by commercial steamer. we had to stop there. and il was only courtesy for me to pay my respects to the emperor. The triT through Russia was made partly to save time and partly because I had crossed the Pacific six times and was rather anxious to see the principal his ! tOricaI places in Europe. ! "I was much pleased with conditions in the Philippines. They ware much better than I had hoped for. The ini tiaI prOceedings of the first Philippine assembly and its tendency tO conserva tism. despite the supposed radical ma i jority. was most gratifying
 'In China the American residents were anxious for reassurance as tC Americas intention toward maintain ing the open door policy. At the ban auet in Shanghai endeavOred to giv' this aSSurance hy restating America position as to the maintenance of tn, integrity Of China and the fostering Oi ! American trade interests there"