The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-21
SECRETARY RETURNS HOME Taft Back from Worlds
 Tour. RETIcENT AS TO POLITICS Says There Win Be No War Win
 Japan. The Secretary Had Lively 1sae DedsisE Newspaper Reporters n New York, but, Was Finally
 Run Down.

New York, Dec. 20--Wtlliam 4tN5. Secretary of War. returned tods his trip around the world. b bp&ine renewed assurance of Japan's ientlt- ness toward the United States. hvt 3he clining to say anything regard pEs the political situation in this country He said he had been too t1g o,.k of intimate touch with poiiti caf slr fairs at home to discuss them in sT way. One of MT. Taft's inter viewers had the temerity to .asS:
 MT. Secretary. wfio Is your choics for President?''
 Amid general laughter. in which he heartily joined. the Secretary replied: to inference"
 Mr. Taft left for washington on an early afternoon train, saying that ac- cumulated matters in the War De- partment would keep his nose 10 the official grindstone for some time to come. and that the preparation of his special report on the Philippines, which would be in book form, would also require much of his time In the near future. ek Reporters Chase Secretary. During his two hours stay in New York. MT. Taft was aboard the army ttug General Joseph F. Johnston which had taken him from the liner | President Grant at quarantine. News. paper men who had gone down to the q | reached the steamers side after he had been transferred and then followed a lovely chase in an endeavor to over- | haul an army boat with the crested and four starred flag of the Secretary | of War flying at it's masthead. The | Johnston had heep placed at the dts- posal of Henry W. Taft, the Secretary'b 1 brother.
 Fred. D. Grant commanding the pe@ pertinent of the East, also went down on the Johnston to pay his respects- First the Secretary was carried to Jer- | sey City to find out about trains. ana | it was announced that he would re- ceive the newspaper men at West | Twenty-third Street. New York; at q given hour. The small army of re- pcrters gathered at the pier found that ] they were again q few minutes late Away went the reporters again and tie l Secretary was finally overhauled just | as nc was about to take the train for l Washington. He was most cordial III manner and iaughingiy remarked that he was sorry to haze been lost so ! long in the harbor and that ne nad | caused so jnueb trouble.
 1T is the height of foolishness to | talk of possible war with Japan" de- | declared the Secretary. Japan does nor | desire war with us and we certainly do l not desire war with Japan If there | was any war spirit anywhere In Japan I I l Eyerywhere there was talk of contin- l ned peace. I speak very confidently | ahout this Our trade relations with | Japan are extensive and constantly l growing. Japan's exports amount sn- | nually to about $2eo.0o0.0Oo or whieh
 we take about one-third.
 But what about the Pacific meet
 Only Practice Cruise.
 "The sailing must have been mag | nificent sight. We have fine ships ana | a fne personnel and as long as the Pacific coast belongs to us. as much as to anybody else. I see no reason why | we should not send our ships there on l n nractice cruise. The Japanese are lt foo Intelligent and high minded to att
 tribute any false motive to the moves 1 ment | feet, a report on conditions m me
 fine Philippines. My visit to Japan was | only incidental. Travelling by com
 morcial steamer, we had to stop there 1 and it was only courtesy for me to l nav my respects to the Emperor. The l trin through Russia was made partly to save time and partly because had | crossed the Pacifc SIX times ana vas rather anxious to see the new territory
 My visit was in no sense cffici1 "a l many courtesies were shown r -sg | thA moment put foot on Russ sl tfis ! that | could not have refused. e'1 Ai
 I desired to do so, the invitatio ! aa I audience of the Russian Empft7i
 was much Impressed by the En 1Noi | personality and his entire fam t5
 with current affairs. especially 9iss
 q was much pleased with con ,,nns
 in the Philippines. They were better than l had hoped fora The 3l-
 tial proceedings of the nrst Phlt
 assembly and it's tendency to couserv'
 atisrn. despite the supposed radical ma
 iority, was most gratifying.
 The Visit to China.
 on China the American residents
 were anxious for reassurance as tc
 America's intention towards maintain'
 ing the open door policy. At the ban l duet in Shanghai enueaVoreo to sN' 1 this assurance."
 Secretary Taft presided at the ships
 concerv on Monday evening last and
 was warmly toasted at the captain's
 dinner the night before reaching port
 Arrives i'm WashingtOn.
 l Washington, Dec. 20.--Secretary of
 War William H. Taft, accompanies by his son, Charles Taft, arrived in Wasn-
 ington over the Pennsylvania Railroat this evening at 6:25 o'clock.
 At the station to meet the secretary
 were a number of the officials of ths
 WaK and other departments who gave
 him a hearty welcome. Secretary Tar
 in reply expressed his great pleasure
 fin reaching home again.
 The Secretary looked the picture oi
 health and spirits. MT. Taft was con
 siderably tanned from his long ocean
 voyage. Mrs Taft and Miss Helen Taft remained in New York. where they
 will be the guests of the Secretary's
 brother. Henry w. Taft. for several
 days.