Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-29
HELPS GROWTH
OF TOLERANCE
TAFT DISC0URsES ON Y. M. C.
A. INFLUENCE
Bears Testimony to Moral Elevation
Of American Manhood Brought
About by Association
In Islands
~ Associated Press

of War William II. Taft delivered the
principal address here today at the
laying of the corner stone of the new
building of the Y. M. G. A. He also
handled the trowel al the stone was
lowered into it's place. and smeared
the mortar around like a master ma
son.
The secretary, in company with his
brother, Charles Taft of Cincinnati, ar
rived here at noon. His friends had
planned a parade of civic societies, but
by the wish of the secretary this was
dispensed with. The corner stone exer-
cises were preceded by luncheon. At
the association building Secretary Taft,
who was given a flattering reception
by about 5000 people, spoke In part as
follows:
1.-THE great advantage of the Y. M. G.
A. is that after long experience 1t has
come to be conducted on the most ap-
proved business principles, and while
it furnishes. on the one hand, an op-
portunity for the contributions of those
who love their fellow men, it furnishes
on the other hand an opportunity to
give assistance that does not discour-
age self help and does not create
spirit of dependence in those who en-
joy the benefits.
Another characteristic of the asso-
citation is it's non-sectarian religious
quality. 1t believes in the Christian
religion, is tolerant and liberal in its
scope, knows no denomination, no race,
no politics. The truth is, the growth of
the Young Mems Christian association
has been an evidence of and at the
same time an assistance to the growth
Of tolerance among all denominations.
Helps Philippine Problem
"I never was so fully conscious of
this fact as when the question arose
which had become acute is the Philip
pine islands in regard to the continued
ownership of agricultural lands by GER
tain orders of the Roman Catholic
church. The solution which offered
itself was that the government should
buy these lands from the friars and
then sell them on easy terms to the
present tenants. In order to bring this
about, however, it was necessary to Sc
cure the consent of the head of the
Roman Catholic church and it was
thought wise therefore to send repre-
sentative to Rome to confer with Leo
XIII.
But it was seriously objected that
the Protestant denominations or the
country would resent deeply the eStaD-
lishment even temporarily of what
seemed to be diplomatic relations with
a church.
"The president, after consulting with
the representatives of the leading
Protestant denominations, counted upon
the good sense and the religious
!, tolerance of the people of the United
VStates, and concluded to follow the Or
binary business method when one
wishes to accomplish result-to deal
directly with the person having the
power effectually to agree upon the re-
suit desired and a representative was
sent.
1.-THE business, after much negotiation
both at Rome and Manila, was finally
concluded, and some persons were more
considerate of the difficulties presented
than the Protestant denominations
whose opposition had been feared.
Then and Now
"I venture to think that fifty years
ago such a result would not have fol-
lowed and that the motives Of the gov
ernment and of the president would
have been misunderstood or miscou-
strued. 1 regard that as one striking
instance of greater brotherhood be-
tween the great Christian denomina-
tions-a brotherhood that finds no more
eloquent proof than in the continued
prosperity, influence and power of the
Young men SIlTlSlldH eSSOCltIlOu
which dedicates this building"
Secretary Taft said that in the canal
zone the canal commission mad con-
structed four club houses, one each at
Culebra, Empire, Gorgiana and Cristo-
bal, and that a plan had been devised
whereby the commission working with
the Y. M. c. A. will manage those and
other similar buildings in labor CEN
ters. The commission furnished the
nd will oi thnro
libraries.
In closing he said:
"Some question has been raised as
to whether the expenditure of this
money will be within the authority of
the commission. 1 have not the
slightest doubt of it. The authority of
the president is to build the canal, and
he has therefore the right to expend the
money in any way necessary for that
purpose.
This is a great enterprise, involving
the movement to far distant tropics of
a colony of from 10000 to $4,000 persons.
To render the personnel efficient 1t is
absolutely necessary that they be sur
rounded with the influence to keep them
in moral and physical state which
will make them efficient laborers. And
/ have not hesitated, therefore, not only
to authorize the construction of these
club houses under the auspices of the
Y. M. C. A., but also to confirm the
action OF the commission in the pay
ment of chaplains of different denomina-
tions who officiate at church services
In the buildings.
For these reasons, have 1 now. 10
bear testimony of the greatness of the
association whose strength and useful
ness this beautiful building typifies. 1t
is only one of many evidences to be
found all over this country, in the far
distant Philippines, on the isthmus OF
Panama, in Cuba, and in Porto Rico,
of the great work the association is
doing in the moral elevation of Ameri-
can manhood"
Today at Cincinnati