New-York tribune., 1908-03-03
MR. TAFT IN BAY STATE.
Speaks at MiHbury, His Mothers
Home. and at FitchburS.

Fftcbburg Mass, March Am enthusiastic
greeting from old friends in Millbury- and a mill
tary reception at the state armory in this city
followed by a banquet at the Stare Normal School
building, where he the guest of the Fitchburg
Board of Trade and Merchants Association, were
the features Of the second day OF the New Eng
land trip of William II. Taft, Secretary OF war
The Secretary addressed large audience THIS fore
in Millbury, where his mother, Mrs Louisa
D. Taft. spent her last days. and where he has
himself been frequent visitor from boyhood In
his remarks he recalled memories of early expert
ences in the village and furnished review OF the
work of President Mckinley and President Roose-
Welt in their administrations, both of which he in
dorsed
Secretary Taft came TO Fitchburg in a special
trolley from Millbury by of Worcester,
arriving at p. III. He escorted Immediately to
the state armory, where Colonel George H Priest,
commanding the 9Th Massachusetts Regiment, and
staff. assisted in a public reception. which was at
tended by thousands of the people OF Fitchburg
and neighboring towns.
Mr.. Taft, Lieutenant Governor Eben S. Draper
and Winston Churchill. of New Hampshire, were
guests of the Fftchburg Board Of Trade and Mer-
chants Association at its twenty second annual
banquet this evening. This was held in the Nor
NAL School building. William {. kimbal!, pFesi-
dent of the association POSTMASTER.
Lieutenant Governor Draper was the first OF the
after dinner speakers. his topic being Some Of the
Business and Social Changes of the Last Twenty
five Years"
Winston Churchill. who followed Lieutenant Gov
ernor Draper, expressed the opinion that "Willa m
H. Taft will be the President OF the United
States because it is written"
Lieutenant Governor Draper led the cheering
when Secretary Taft introduced. The latter
said he glad to be here under circumstances
that seemed to show why his hearers were here
He then took up the topic Cuba Porto Rico and
the Phppines-A Study in National Altruism."
Why does nation Develop ne asked. ''Is
it for own webeing and advancement moral
ly. materially and spiritually. is il try and
give somewhat of these things TO other people,"
The Secretary said he had given this question
careful study.
We went into the Spanish War he continued
because believed it national duty. Our loss
of ia officers and 400 and the expenditure
of S3GO,0O,00 in treasure were assaied by many
then Now it down the perspective of a
decade, and none says it nay. We freed Cuba and
ended a world scandal. We paid s2O,0O0O0O TO Spain
to recoup her for the debts she had contracted in
trying to maintain her dominion in Cuba. Porto
Rico and the Philippines and to free them from the
yoke of oppression. This the beginning
The Secretary then related in review the pro
gressive and successive steps by which Cuba was
put her feet.
Mr.. Taft continued:
We see written on the pages of to-day how we'll
work has been done. and We are going to get
in the course of year and be able to turn the
islands over TO legal and sound government Ihs
i call nelShborly act, an act sprung OF d desire
to do something for some one else besides our
Take Porto Rico. They began with with a
cyclone that destroyed years crop, ana we took
our money feed them. Their regiment gives them
a national feeling Order, harmony education, 49,
pupils. five hundred miles OF macadam read
have come from the lazy germ that held Them
bound complete free trade and -sustainment are
theirs to-day balance of trade is in their favor:
and along all lines teStifes again to our national
altruism They have citizenship III Porto Rico; now
they want They want to be on the way 10
statehood. That is question on which the Amer
can people will have to make decision, ana IL -
a serious question. They d happy island, made
so bv the generosity of the American people
We got into the Philippines because we had 20:
and doing
iIstifies possession and our acts. We got oTd'
first and what If ii diO cost US S'o"np"' We So'
the first thing needed-order.
When the glance of perspective goes down ile
PhiIipuiue vista the historian is bound 70 say mat
our expenditure has been wise and Justlfed