The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-02
TAFT CAPTURES
 JAPAN AUDIENCE Makes Address AtiBanquet In
 His Honor WAR WOULD BE A CRIMEn He Declares That Neither Country Wants It and His Statements Are Received With Wild
 Enthusiasm.
WAR WOULD BE A CRlMEn

Tokio October 1-Secretary of War Taft aroused the widest enthusiasm and loud cheers when, in the course of his speech at the banquet given in his honor by the municipality of Tokio and the chamber of commerce, he declared that war between the United States and Ja- pan would "be crime against modern civilization and as wicked as it would be insane" adding that neither people desired it, and that both governments would do their utmost to guard against such an awful catastrophe. The secre tary spoke with intense earnestness, after careful delberation and preparation.
 The banquet took place in the assem- bly, room of the Imperial hotel, Viscount Shibusawa presiding. and was attended by prominent officials and many of the leading business men of Tok!o Mir Taft sat on the right of Vscount Shibusawa and MT. O Brien, ...e new American ann bassador to Japan was seated on his left The decorations of the hall were mag nifcent and a good band furnished the music. Among those present were many ladies, including Americans.
 Viscount Shibusawa, in welcoming Mir Taft. paid a glowing tribute to the great ness of the nation which the secretary represented, the friendliness which the United States had always displayed for Japan, and the influence which America exerted throughout the world.
 Speaks With Feeling.
 Tn replying, MT. Taft spoke with deep feeling and positiveness. He asserted that the talk of unfriendiness between the United States and Japan was due en- tirely to the commerciallsm Of the news papers in America
 The secretary declined to discuss the immigration question. saying he would not trespass upon the field of the state de- partment. MT. O'Brien would say that the entire matter was "easy of sensible arrangement between sensible men"
 Why should Japan wish for war? It must stop or seriously delay the execu- ton of her plans for the reform of Ko- req.
 "Why should the United States wish for war? It would change her in year CT more into military nation. Her great resources would be wasted in vast equipment which would serve no good purpose, but would tempt the nation into warlike policies Why should she wish for war, in which all the evils of society flourish and all vultures fatten? She is engaged in establishing a government of law and order in the Philippines. fitting those people by general education to gov ern themselves.
 'It has been suggested that we might relieve ourselves of this burden by the sale of the islands to Japan or some other country. The suggestion Is absurd. Japan does not wish for the Philippine islands; she had problems of a similar nature nearer home. More than this. the United States could not sell theislands to another power without the grossest violation Of it's obligations to the Philippine people.
 War Is Wicked.
 "Under all these circumstances, then, could there be anything more wicked. more infamous than the suggestion of war between two nations who have en- joyed such time honored friendship, and who have nothing to fight for?
 Some one asks why such reports and rumors of war? The Ss ,rity of certain members of the moda ss by sensa- tonal dispatches to git to unfonnd- ed reports has grown the improve ment of communication between distant parts of the world. The desire to sell papers. the desire for political reasons to embarrass the existing g0 srnment. or