Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-12-27
SECRETARY THINKS THAT JAPAN
is FIRM FRIEND OF THE
UNITED STATES.
ISLANDS SHOW PROGRESS.
Work of First Philippine Assembly and
Its Conservatism Called
Gratifying.
MRS. TAFT LIKES RUSSIAN WOMEN.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 21.-
One of the first dispatches laid before
Secretary Taft on his return to the war
department today after an absence OF
nearly four months was from Manila,
z. l., telling of the organization under
a new charter of the Banco EspinOl
Filipino and the election of directors.
The dispatch added:
Deem first duty express our deep SYM
patty with you i'll your bereavement and
assure you of our gratitude for your
earnest and successful support We
use our best efforts toward realization
your policy for advancement material
welfare of our country"
Secretary Taft reached the depart
mont before 10 o'clock and at once got
to work on the mass of papers which
were awaiting his attention. He also
Lad conferences with various officers of
the department and made much Roadway
in familiarizing himself with the condi-
ton Of affairs.
To an interviewer Judge Taft said:
1T is the height of foolishness to talk
of possible war with Japan. Japan doesn t
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 find the slightest note of 1t.
Everywhere there was talk of continued
peace.
Our trade relations with Japan are
extensively and constantly growing.
Trade is a great pacificator."
What about the Pacific fleet" was
asked.
cent sight. We have fine ships and a fine
personnel, and as long as the Pacific
ocean belongs TO us as much as to any
body else, / see no reason why we should
not send our ships there on a practice
cruise.
My trip had as its only definite object
q report ON conditions in the Philippines.
My visit to Japan was only incidental.
Travelling by commercial steamer, we
had to stop there, and it was only
courtesy for me to pay my respects to
the Emperor
The trip through Russia was made
partly to save time and partly because
| had crossed the Pacific six times and
was anxious to see the new territory. So
many courtesies were shown me from
the moment | put foot on Russian soil,
/ could not have refused, even had |
desired. the invitation to an audience
Of the Russian Emperor.
Pleased with Islands Progress.
Il was much pleased with conditions
/ in the Philippines. They We're much
better than l had hoped tor. The initial
proceedings of the first Philippine assem-
bly, and its tendency to conservatism, de-
spite the supposed radical majority, was
most gratifying.
In China the American residents
were anxious for reinsurance as TO
| Americas intention toward maintaining
! the open door policy. At a banquet
! in Shanghai l endeavOred to give this
assurance
Mrs. Taft Likes Russian Women.
Nowhere on my entire trip did | meet
/ any women approaching the women OF
/ the United States until / reached Rus
STA. It was in the empire of the CZal
that | met lovely women-lOverS of home
/ family and the niceties of society that
are so pleasant when cOntrasted with
/ the oriental type of wOmanhood."
Thus spoke Mrs. Taft in reference tC
! those of her sex whom she met i'll he1
travels about the world. Although she
was received by the MikadO and his w1ft
/ and spent a great deal of time in Manila
and in Germany and even in gay
! Paris, according to Mrs. Taft, the rea
! ladies are those who live in the domains
of the Gar.
! AS the wife of the direct representative
/ of the President of the United States
! Mrs. Taft was received and banqueteC
! everywhere she went. She had the best
/ opportunity of meeting the most eXclu
! sive of all nations visited and has fallel
! in love with the court life of Russia.