The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-06

into the tropics. but that is where it
landed me-"
Crossing the bay on the revenue
cutter Golden Gate and eating
luncheon during the trip. the presi-
dent upon his arrival in San Fran
cisco was taken for a three-mile car
riage ride through Market. Mont
gomery and Kearney streets and Van
Ness and Golden Gate avenues He
reviewed on Van Ness avenue nearly
all of the public and parochiaI
school children of the city.
Next the president laid the corner
stone of the new Young Mems
Christian association building in this
he always feels in Y. M. G. A. work.
Mr. Taft has what he calls his 'Y.
M. c. A. speech" He has laid
cornerstones for this class of build
ings in Shanghai. Hong Kong. all
through the United States and In
many other parts of the world.
Being Mason. Mr.. Taft always
works hard when he has the task or
laying a cornerstone, and the cere-
mony here was no exception to the
rule. With a silver trowel he
spread mortar for fully five minutes
before the big block of granite was
ready to be lowered into its place
Visits a Cousin at Berkeley.
Later the president was the guest OF
honor at reception at the Union
League club Last night he was given
banquet ct the Fairmont hotel by
more than 600 residents of San Fran
cisco and was later entertained at the
Press club. The president retired at
midnight at the ST. Francis hotel and
left at o'clock this morning for the
Yosemite valley.
During his stay in Berkeley the pres1-
dent stole a half hour away from the
entertaining committee and visited MS
cousin, Mrs. Charles T. Blake.
One of the most pathetic incidents OF
the presidents trip marked his stay IN
Berkeley. He passed in review the pu-
pills of an institution for the deaf dumb
and blind. The tribute of flags waved
with unseeing eyes. of silent mods of the
dumb and cheers from the blind deeply
impressed the president.
He saw San Francisco for the first
time since the fire. Mr.. Taft mar
veIed at the growth of the city and. in
his address at the Y. NJ. c. A, ex-
pressed the hope that the coming gen.
Grafton would prove as energetlc, as
optimistic and altogether as enthusiast
tic a people as those who have rehabili-
tated the city. In his speech at the
banquet the president reiterated his
views on the subject of a merchant
marine and aroused great enthusiasm
by his declaration that he would urge
the passage of a ship subsidy law as
one of the principal subjects in his
message to congress MT
Taft asserted that the country was
of a subsidy. The extension of the
Pacific trade is one of the objects of his
administration. Mr.. Taft said, and he
added that he knew of no more I'M
portant topic to which congress can de-
vote itself. In his speech at Berkeley
the president said. in part:
1.-The business of government IS not
an easy one when you are In II. IL
has a somewhat different aspect when
YOU are engaged in pulling the throttle
or putting on the brakes than that
which it has from the professors chair
Or the editorial sanctum. There are
obstacles and friction and difficulties
that it is not possible always to ex-
plain, but the existence of which one
who is in the midst of it can affirm
with great emphasis. and 1t is those
obstacles and difficulties and friction
that are not always appreciated by the
critics who do not have the RESPONSE
bility.
Critics Are Useful.
''None the less. the high standard set
by those critics Is of the utmost use IN
lifting up government and lifting up
people The resultant feeling of an
for higher things and being
compelled either to modify or qualify
your ideals in practical results is, AFTER
all, progress.
III like to affirm that I am an optim-
ist and an optimist with respect to
popular government If were not l
should not enjoy being in the business
of government, but in that progress
we Sometimes have to give way in our
theories to the views of the general
public shown in the votes at the poHs
or in the votes in congress and, not |
years after. We have to
admit that, on the whole, the result
which is reached by reconcil1ng and
all the views of differing
people is better than if we followed |
with the literal fidelity the theory OF |
any one person.
popular government is justified and |
indicated on the theory that every |
class-and by that I mean those who |
in respect to a community are SINH
arly situated and affected by the same |
circumstances-is better able in the
long run to know what it's interests |
are and look after those interests than
the members of any other class, how
ever altruistic that other class may be;
and that being the foundation of popu-
lar government and it being impossible
therefore for any one class to give out
laws for all, the necessary result OF (
,ur government is compromises. He
Is a good citizen who recognizes that
necessary result and who, when his
own opinion is not followed out as he
would like to have it, becomes good
loser. He must play the game. He is
in popular government and he has to
AXE what popular government gives
nim until, by his influence with the
people who control, he can lead them
IN the direction which he would, and
f they do not go in that direction then
lie has to play ball with them and fol-