Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-20
TAFT LANDED TODAY
Comes Straight From New
York to Washington.
WILL NOT TALK POLITICS
Says He Is Quite Satisfied With
Japanese Sentiment.
TRADE WILL MAKE FOR PEACE
Was Received Everywhere With
Marked Cordiality-Enjoyed
the Whole Journey.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. December 20.-Wllliam H.
Taft, Secretary of War, returned to
America today from his trip around the
world. The Secretary arrived here on
the steamship President Grant. which
reached quarantine soon after o'clock
this morning, having been delayed by
rough weather.
Mr.. Taft was accompanied by his wife
and son. All were in good health and
spirits The Secretary was looking well.
Efforts at quarantine to induce the Sec
retary to discuss current political topics
met with no success. He handed out the
following statement: II have been away
12O days and do not feel able to TAX on
any public question at present. While the
routine work of the War Department has
moved along as usual there are many
matters of large importance which require
my personal attention, so that expect to
have my nose to the grindstone for some
time to come.
absence from home has prevented my
keeping abreast of current events
Back to Washington.
The Taft party was taken off the ship
at quarantine by the government tug
Gen. Johnston at 1O:45 o'clock.
The tug steamed to Jersey City and ar
rived at the Pennsylvania station at II As.
Secretary Taft then landed his baggage
there and proceeded Immediately to the
dock at 23d street. where he left Mrs.
Taft. who is apparently not going to
Washington until later in the week. The
Secretary returned to the station again
and caught the ia pm. train for Wash
inRton.
Il found the sentiment in Japan. both in
regard to the public and newspapers, all
for peace" said Secretary Taft, when he
landed from the tug which brought him
10 the Pennsylvania station. Il say with
great confidence that ], believe that the
trade between the two countries alone is a
great influence for pacifcation. The ex-
ports OF Japan amount \to $16O.OOO,OO0 a
year. and one-third of \ this is to the
United States. The trade of the United
States to Japan is also very great. We
export such commodities as oil and flour
and their chief exports to us are en-
bghidsssesand works of art. This bust
ness for MAINE rican ira de alone keeps
a large nuHAper lof factories busy in Japan.
Just Missed Ito.
t.'Do they Understand the fieet?" Mr..
Taft was askA
'.They pay very little attention to IT," he
repSed. The newspapers which mention
it Al all treat it as bare test of our
navy, which it is. The navy will be as
much tested that Nay as it would be in
battle. The Japanese take this practice
cruisesas a matter of no concern to them.
II ma / mentioned i
Did YOU see men like Ito and leaders
of that caliber when getting your opinion
on the attitude of the Japanese" he was
asked
mo. / just missed Ito. but / saw many
other men of prominence. and had an IN
terview with the. mikado. He does not
speak English and our conversation had
to be carried on through an interpreter.
OF course. I cannot tell you what my
talk with the mikado consisted of.
How do the newspapers treat the rela-
tions with the United States?'
Extreme Cordiality.
"Of course there are one or two jingo
newspapers, as there are in this country
but the majority of the newspapers and
all of the better class are entirely friendly
TO the United States.
THE Japanese are a proud people and
demand that they shall be treated on the
but they are not unreasonable. AS to
the immigration problem, there are only
a small number of the japanese who are
affected by IL.
LAS to the San Francisco disturbances
told them that there was nothing there
which could not easily be adjusted.
found only the friendliest feelings toward
the United States everywhere l went In
fact, I was surprised at the extreme
cordiaity with which was received, as !
had been in Japan only two years ago
''One thing I want to emphasize" con-
tinued the Secretary. lis that my trip has
had the Philippine Islands as its objective
point. Everything else was Incidental
The commercial steamers which go to the
Philippines stop five days in Japan and
two in China l stopped where the steam
srs did Ny visits to japan and China were
only incidental ] returned by way of ST.
IBERIA because / have crossed the Pacific six
times and the water looked much the
same each time. ] wanted to see Siberia
which is so much like our wheat fields OF
the northwest and the territory between
the sources of the Mississippi river and
the Pacific. both on this side and the
other side of the Canadian border. Siberia
Is country of great opportunity. l saw
the car in Russia and he was very agree
able and speaks good English.
Would Not Talk Politics.
Secretary Taft would talk on almost
everything except his boom for the presi-
dency. Il have nothing to say about poll
tics" he said II have been away so long
and i have had no opportunity to get in.
formation first hand. OF course. I've read
the newspapers, but ! do not care to com
ment on things which l do not know
about first hand"
The Secretary was told about inter
view attributed to Bryan, in which the
Nebraskan said that If Taft was nomi
mated for the presidency he would not bt
able to hold the two wings of the repub
lican party together and would have tt
straddle the issue.
Il have nothing to say TO tat" replied
the Secretary, with a smile. 81 am moi
running a paper.
Secretary Taft and party will 'arriv,
at the Union station in this city - 6:1,
O'Clock this evening. according to tele
gram received at the War Department
from Capt. NJ. F. Davis of the genera
staff corps. who went to New York cit,
as the representative of Gen. Bell. chic
of STAFF. to meet the Secretary OF War or
the arrival of the steamship Presiden