The Colorado statesman., 1909-09-25
PRESIDENT TAFT IN HIS DENVER
SPEECH DECLARES GREAT
WORK is JUST BEGUN.
AUDIENCE TAKES PART
GREAT AUDITORIUM is PACKED
TO ITS FULLEST CAPACITY,
AND ALL HAPPY.

Reclamation must go on" declared
President Taft in his Introductory re-
marks at the auditorium in Denver
September 21st, and this sentiment
was joyously cheered by one of the
most magnificent audiences that has
welcomed the chief executive on his
tour of the country.
Never was the chief magistrate in
happier mood than at the auditorium
meeting and. when he spoke on the
subject of reclamation he seemed like
CHEEKY Kris Kringle arrived ahead of
time to tell of the good things in
store for Coloradans.
President Taft's remarks on recla-
nation evidently were quite apart
from what he had made up his mind
to say in his auditorium speech, but
the secret was too good to keep, and
when he told the news his face was
wreathed in the familiar smiles that
are famous from Manila to London,
and from the North pole to Cape
Horn.
The Introductory sentences were
evoked by references to reclamation
by Alfred e. Bent, who introduced the
President. Bent's experience on the
rostrum was to him most trying Or
deal, for the audience was impatient
to hear from the chief executive. The
former state treasurer was first in
terrupted by the insistent squall of
an infant A little later, while he was
dwelling with emphasis and eloquence
r,, ha . ir,i fhn
began to applaud and cheer. 1t soon
became apparent. however, that the
cheers and plaudits had not been elic-
tied by the topic or the eloquence, but
were meant as a suggestion that it
was about time for the President to
take the rostrum.
If Bent was yearnign for solace he
received it in some small measure
when the President took the rostrum
End experienced fleeting instant of
surprise and embarrassment.
President Taft opened his speech by
some happy illusions to the infant
whose wall had punctured Bent's first
words.
81 have heard the spontaneous out
burst of Colorado spirit from one of
your youngest citizens" he said, and
the audience burst into a roar of
laughter. The President smiled-or
should it be 'grinned"?-and con-
tinued:
you seem disposed to take more
part in the proceedings than the audi
ences usually do where l come from. "
81 heard the early protest of a
young citizen of Denver" said Presi-
dent Taft, land demonstration from
the adults that makes me hesitate to
perpetrate the speech had prepared.
But you know you are dealing with
the President, who is ON tour of
some fifty one-night stands, and you
know he is expected to discuss every
thing under the heavens that has any
reference to his administration. Mr.
Bent has alluded to the subject of ir-
rigation. I have pledged my admins
tration to carry on that work. Posi-
bly, we have made mistakes in the rec
lamation work, but they are not Sc
rious and can easily be overcome. The
whole country, think, is back of us
on this proposition, because of the abb
solute necessity of finding new lands
to cultivate, and, therefore, l say to
you that reclamation must go on"
After a succession of thunderous
cheers from the audience the Presi-
dent began the reading of his pre-
pared address, which was an explana-
tion of his corporation tax and a con-
demnation of the graduated income
tax. which was declared unconstitu-
tional by the United States Supreme
Court. The President, however, main
tanned that his excise on corporation
earnings was in reality an income tax
devoid of what he conceived to be the
Objectionable features of the direct
tax.
In conclusion, the President advo-
Gated a constitutional amendment that
would permit the levying of an income
tax by the federal government.