Perth Amboy evening news., 1908-03-24
Together With The Japanese Am
bassador and Gov. Fort He Is Cord
tally Received at State Capital.
ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATURE
Following Reception at the State
House The Party is Entertained
by the Chamber of Commerce.

TRENTON, Mar. 24:-There was
nothing on the surface to indicate te
Secretary of War William H. Taft
In his invasion of New Jersey, las
night, whether he can count the
states delegation to Chicago in hi,
column. To be sure he got an ova-
tion. That was foregone conclu
sion, for the members of the legis
lature, without considering political
lines, know him as a man who has
done things and as a man to be
admired az foremost American; but
even the secretary, with his future
presidential possibilities, must have
been keenly sensible of the mark OF
esteem accorded him by the great
crowd of people assembled in the
state house and In Masonic Temple
at the dinner Of the Trenton's Cham
ber of Commerce.
Nor was Baron Takahira, the
japanese ambassador, permitted tC
gain anything but a favorable i'm,
preston of Americas feeling toward
his country, so far as the gathered
Jerseymen were able to express IT.
The baron was made as much a lion
as the secretary of war, who isn't al
all warHke in mien.
From the minute they ste1ced or
Jersey soil from the Washington ex-
press till their Wallets brushed the
mud-spatters from their black
breeches they were forced to con-
clude that Jerseymen, democrats and
republicans alike, were pretty good
sort of American patriots. OF course
there's no denying that the big secre-
tary's Presidential boom, which
knocked the tar out of the nights s
legislative session, received a healthy
boost. That's what he came for
Warns State TO Defend its Rights.
Nor were many prepared for the
surprise they had on the real physi-
cal proportions Of the possible Presi-
dent. He wasn't near big enough to
meet expectations Nor was there
anything in the several speeches he
made to show the presence of big
stick concealed in his clothes, nor
anything to show that he is a candi-
date before the people for the high
est Office in their gift. He did warn
the legislature against shirking re-
sponsibility as state law-making
body and depending upon the federal
government for the regulation OF
those public affairs which the several
states must care for. At this the
lawmakers took particular notice, for
it seemed as though he were drifting
perilously near the doctrine of his
strenuous patron.
II tremble to think about what
would become of this great country y
exclaimed the secretary, ''if the gov
ernment were centralized on the Po-
tomac."
Many of the republican state lead
ers shook hands with the secretary
and the baron when they reached the
state house, about o'clock, but
there wasn't ripple of politics on
the placid surface of the situation
Governor Fort, who may, in the
course Of events, be the secretary
running-mate, was happy, mighty
happy. AS recognized leader of the
Taft forces in New Jersey, he was In
entire command of the historic event
But there were former Governor
Murphy, who is counting upon being
one of the "big four" and who is not
a Taft boomer, and other recognized
leaders, and whose cordiality could
not be discounted by the lustiest Taft
shouter.
The secretary and the baron were
received by the governor in the exec
utive chambers, where the governors
wife and several other ladies had
gathered. The senate held a short
session at O'Clock, and then adj
journed to the assembly chamber
which had been prettily decorated
for the occasion and which was
crowded with spectators.
President Hfllery, of the senate
was chosen to preside and he appoint.
ed committee, composed of Speak
er Jess, Senator Robbins and Assem-
blyman Sullivan to escort the dis.
tinguished guests to the legislature
The speaker and governor led the
way into the chamber and the guests
were given seats at the clerks desk
amid long and hearty applause
Speaker Jess presented them and
Governor Fort, with no effort tc
make a speech, first introduced
Baron Takahira. little man with q
big head and shrewd eyes, whose
English is trifie shaky. but who
quickly demonstrated that his heart
was right.
Taft Gets Roar of Applause.
The baron said it was scarcely
necessary to tell the people of Amer
ica how he felt regarding the rela-
tions between the two nations, but
he did hope to impress his hearers
upon the great good to be accom-
plished by maintaining the present
bond of friendship and sympathy by
every means possible. He spoke oi
the commercial interests of the two
countries as we'll worth preserving
and he seemed to regard this as an
obstacle to a physi-
cal clash between the two countries,
though he did not say SO in words.
When the applause following the
baron's short af f5ress had subsidized,
the governor briefly presented the