Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-21
TAFT HOME;
WON'T TALK
OF POLITICS
SAYS RUM0R or WAR WITH
JAPAN is FOOLISH
SECRETARY HAsTENs TOWARD
WASHINGTON
appears in Good Health After Round-
the-WorId Tour-Not Ready to
Discuss Presidential
Race

BY Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Dec 20.-William H. Taft,
secretary of war, returned today from his
trip around the world. bringing renewed
assurances of Japan's friendliness toward
the United States, but declining to say
anything with respect to the political sit
uation In this country.
He said he had been too long out of
intimate touch with political affairs at
home to discuss them in any way.
One of Mr.. Tafts interviewers had the
temerity to ask:
''Well, Mr.. Secretary, tell us who is
your choice for president"
Amid general laughter, in which he
Joined, the secretary replied:
''I guess 1 will have to leave that for
inference"
Mr. Taft left for Washington on an
early afternoon train, saying that accu-
mulated matters in the war department
would keep his nose to the official grind
stone for some time to come and that
preparation Of his special report on the
Philippines, which would be in book form,
would also require much of his time in
thu near future.
Chased bJ Reporters
During his two hours stay in New York
Mr.. Taft was aboard the army tug Cen
eral Johnston, which had taken him from
the liner President Grant at quarantine.
Newspaper men who had gone down the
bay to meet the returning secretary
reached the steamers side after he had
been transferred, and then followed
lively chase in an endeavor to overhaul
the army boat with the crested and four
starred flag of the secretary OIL war ny
ing at the masthead.
The Johnston mad been placed at the
disposal of Henry W. Taft the secre-
tarys brother, by Gen. F. ID. Grant, COM
manding the department of the east, VINO
also went down ,ca the Johnston to pay
his respects. -
First the secretary was carried to Jer-
sey City to find out about trains, ana
there 1t was announced that he would re-
ceive the newspapermen at West Twenty
third street, New York, at given hour.
The small army of reporters who gain
cred at the pier found they were again
few minutes late. Away went the re-
porters again, and the secretary was
finally overhauled just as was about to
take the train for Washington, ne was
most cordial in manner, and laughingly
remarked. that he was sorry to have been
o1ost" so long In the harbor and tnat ne
had caused so much trouble.
Looking exceedingly well, the secretary
said he had taken daily five-mile walks on
the decks of the Grant during the thirteen
days trip from Hamburg.
Talk of War Foolish
.It is the height of foolishness to talk
of possible war with Japan declared the
secretary. Japan does not desire war
with us, and we certainly do not desire
war with Japan. If there was any war
spirit anywhere in Japan l failed to hnd
the slightest dot of it, Everywhere there
,,,os tallr nf continued DeaCe.
.T speak very confidently about this.
Our trade relations with Japan are ex-
tensive and constantly growing Japan
exports amount annually to about $780,
0Oo,O0O of which we take about one-tniru'
The exports consist largely of mattings'
lace goods embroideries and other rancy
work. In the production of which many
neonIe are interested. We, in turn, ship
vast quantities of flour, oil and such COM
modities to Japan. This sort of trade is
great pacificator-
.eWhat about the Pacific fleet!
"The sailing must have been a mag
nificent sight We have fine ships ana
fine personnel, and as long as the Fa-
cific ocean belongs to us as much as to
antoine else / see no reason why we
should not send our ships there on
practice cruise. The Japanese are too
Intelligent and high minded to attribute
any false motive to the movement.
sMy trip had as it's only definite OBJ
iect a trip to the Philippines. My trip
to Japan was only incidental. travel
ing by commercial steamer, we hau TO
stop there and it was only courtesy Tor
me to pay my respects to the emperor.
The trip through Russia was made part
ly to save time and partly because
had crossed the Pacific six times and
was rather anxious to see the territory.
My visit was in no sense official.
$50 many courtesies were shown me
from the moment I put foot on Russian
soil that I could not have refused even
had desired to do so the invitation to
an audience with the Russian emperor.
was much impressed by the emperor's
personality and his entire familiarity
with current affairs especially Ameri-
can politics.
Host Target for Bomb
"At Moscow l had the rather novel
experience of dining one day with an
official who next day was made the
target of a bomb i his was Governor
General Gurschellman. A ride through
Siberia was most enlightening and gave
one very different idea, of that coun-
try from what it is generally conceived
to be. Especially is this true as to agri-
culture minerals and population.
western Siberia Will probably UNDER
go the same process OF ueVelopulenl az
our middle west. / believe that in time
it will be the center of population Of
the Russian empire
II was much pleased with conditions
in the Philippines. They were much
better than had hoped for. The initial
proceedings of the first Philippine as
sembly and its tendency toward conserv-
atism despite the supposed radical ma
jority was most gratifying.
China the An1aricap raeidApts
were anxious for reinsurance as to
Americas intention toward maintaining
the open door policy. At the banquet