Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1907-12-27
TAFT FINISHES TRIP
and HAS RESUMED DUTIES
AT WASHINGTON.
He Scouts Any Idea of War With
Japan-says They Are Too lntelli-
gent to Attribute Any False Motive
to Cruise Of Atlantic Fleet to Pacific
Waters-TeIIs of the Trip.

William H. Taft, secretary of war,
world, bringing renewed assurance of
Japan's friendliness toward the United
States, but declining to say anything
with respect to the political situation
in this country. He said he had been
too long out of intimate touch with
present affairs at home to discuss
them in any way. One of Mr.. Taft's
interviewers had the temerity to ask:
We'll, Secretary, tell us who is your
choice for president"
Amid general laughter, in which he
heartily joined the secretary replied:
81 guess l will have to leave that to
inference"
Looking exceedingly well, the secre-
tary said he had taken daily five-mile
walks on the decks of the President
Grant during the 10 days trip from
Hamburg.
1T is the height of foolishness to
talk of possible war with Japan" de-
| clared 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
failed to find the slightest note of 1t.
Everywhere there was talk of con-
| tinued peace. 1 speak very confidently
about this Our trade relations WITH
Japan are extensive and constantly
growing Japan's exports amount an
nually to about S160,000,000, of which
we take about one-third The exports
consist largely of mattings, laces, en-
broideries and other fancy work, in the
production of which many people are
interested. We, in turn, ship vast guam
titles of flour, oil and such commodi-
ties to Japan. This sort of trade is a
great pacificator"
What about the Pacific fleet?'
"The sailing must have been a mag
nif1cent sight We have fine ships and
a fine personnel, and as long as the
Pacific ocean belongs to us as much
as to anybody else I see no reason why
we should not send our ships there OF
a practice cruise. The Japanese are
too intelligent and high-minded to at
tribute any false motive to the move
; ment.
1.-THE trip through Russia was mad
I partly to save time and partly becaus
$ 1 had crossed the Pacific six times an,
l. was rather anxious to see the terri
a tory. My visit was in no sense officia
T. So many courtesies were shown m
I, from the moment l put foot on Rus
s sian soil that I could not have re
n fused, even had l desired to do so, tn
invitation to an audience of the en-
s. peror. was much impressed by tn
e emperors personality, and his entir
r. familiarity with current affairs, e.
o pecially American politics.
1t cat Moscow l had the rather move
e experience of dining one day with a
n official who next day was made tn
o. target of a bomb This was GovernC
General Guerschelmann. Inc rio
sc through Siberia was most enlightenin
E. and gave one a different idea of tn;
'. country from what it is generally CO
ceived to be. Especially is this trr
lie as to agriculture, minerals and pop
re lation. Western Siberia will probab
st undergo the same process of develo
n ment as our middle west, and BELIEF
in time it will be the center of pop
lation of the Russian empire.
81 was much pleased with condition
in the Philippines. They were muC
MS better than l had hoped for. The il
tial proceedings of the first Philippil
ne assembly and it's tendency to conserV
mt tism, despite the supposed radical m
If jority, were most gratifying
Ia "In China the American residen
r. were anxious for reinsurance as
an Americas intention toward maintai
a ing the open door policy. At the ba
To- quet in Shanghai l endeavered to gt
nd this assurance"