Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1908-01-04
and HAS RESUMED DUTIES
e AT WASHINGTON.
He Scouts Any Idea of War With
Japan-Says They Are Too InteIIi-
gent to Attribute Any False Motive
to Cruise of Atlantic Fleet to Pacific
waters-Tells Of the Trip.

has returned from his trip around the
world, bringing renewed assurance of
Japans 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:
well, Secretary, tell us who is your
choice for president"
Amid general laughter, in which he
heartily joined, the secretary replied
81 guess I will have to leave that to
inference"
Looking exceedingly well, the secre-
tary said he had taken daily fivetmile
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
\. failed to find the slightest note of It,.
Everywhere there was talk of con-
tinued peace. l speak very confidently
about this. Our trade relations with
Japan are extensive and constantly
growing. Japan's exports amount an
nually to about s160,000,0 900, of which
we take about one-third. The exports
-s<~t 10. e
broideries and other fancy work, in the
production of which many people are
interested. We, in turn, ship vast guam
titles of -four, oil and such commodi-
ties to Japan. This sort of trade is a
great pacifcator."
What about the Pacific fleet?"
1.-The sailing must have been a mag
nifcent 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 l see no reason why
! we should not send our ships there on
a practice cruise. The Japanese are
too intelligent and high-minded to at
tribute any false motive to the move
ment
THE trip through Russia was made
partly to save time and partly because
had crossed the Pacific six times anC
was rather anxious to see the terri
tory. My visit was in no sense official
So many courtesies were shown me
from the moment I put foot on Rus
sian soil that l could not have re
fused, even had l desired to do so, the
invitation to an audience of the EN-
peror. l was much impressed by the
emperor's personality, and his entire
familiarity with current affairs, es
pecially American politics.
"At Moscow / had the rather move
experience Of dining one day with al
official who next day was made tn,
target of bomb. This was Governor
General Guerschelmann. Inc ride
through Siberia was most enlightenini
and gave one a different idea of tina
country from what it is generally con
ceived to be. Especially is this tru,
as to agriculture, minerals and popu
lation Western Siberia will probabl,
undergo the same process Of develop
ment as our middle west, and believ,
in time it will be the center of popu
lation of the Russian empire.
Il was much pleased with conditions
in the Philippines. They we're mucl
better than 1 had hoped for. The mi
tial proceedings Of the first Philippine
assembly and its tendency to conserva
tism, despite the supposed radical ma
jority. were most gratifying.
In China the American resident
we're anxious for reinsurance as t,
Americas intention toward maintain
ing the open door policy. At the ban
quet in Shanghai l endeavered to Civ,
this assurance"