Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-18
TAFT WILL TAKE
EXTENDED JAUNT
IF CONGRESS PAYS PRESIDENT
WILL TRAVEL
CHIEF EXECUTIVE WISHES TO
VISIT ALASKA
VIII Leave Washington as Soon as
Matters Can Be Arranged, Follow
ing Adjournment of Lesis-
IatlVe Body
rRy Associated Press.l

WASHINGTON, April 17.-President
Taft. who believes that the chief mag
istrate of the nation should keep in as
close touch with the people as the
duties and requirements of the once
admit, is planning a notable trip during
the late summer and early autumn
provided congress decides to continue
the annual appropriations of $4,000 for
travelling expenses allowed during the
closing years of the Roosevelt ADMINS
tration.
The plans for the summer as far into
the heated term as August 10 have been
completed. Mr.. Taft will leave WASH
ington as soon as he can arrange mat
tiers after the adjournment Of congress-
and he has been told the extra session
will end June l.
The president will go direct from the
White House to his summer home at
woodbury. Point, Beverly, Mass, and
will pass two months or more there
quietly and as free from Official worry
as possible Mr.. Taft will devote most
of his vacation to golfing and motoring
and perhaps will take a short cruise
along the northern coast.
teen battleships will maneuVer on the
New England coast during the summer,
and the president undoubtedly VIII
want to see some of the work OF the
ironciads.
The trip the president desires to make
to the west during the late summer VIII
be entirely too expensive to be PAID LOT
out OF his own pocket. An outline OF
his proposed itinerary has been given 10
a high railroad official and an estimate
required. 1t is said the cost will be
approximately $4,000 to $4,000. II he
goes west at all the president Will IN
clude Alaska in the journey, salllng
from Seattle probably on vessel OIL
the navy and revenue cutter service
No president has ever visited the Tar
northern territory which for so long
has been part of the United States. The
president has been invited and is par
ticuIarly anxious to attend the follow
ing gatherings:
The annual encampment OF the q. A.
r. at Salt Lake City.
The Trans Mississippi conference AT
Denver.
The National Irrigation congress at
Spokane and the Alaska Yukon-Pacihc
exposition at the same city.
In addition to his proposed VISIT TO
the Rocky mountain states and TO the
Pacific coast the presidents tentative
plans for the trip include long swing
through the southwest and the heart
of the south itself.
VIII Use Armored Cruiser
Many of the vessels of the Pacific
fleet, which includes eight t1rst-class
armored cruisers of the type of the
North Carolina and Montana, which
Mr.. Taft used on his recent trip TO
Panama, will be stationed in and about
fIaa
the president undoubtedly would make
the trip to Alaska on one of these
Returning from the north he probably
would land at San Francisco to begin
from there the journey along the
southern border line.
Mr.. Taft has often spoken of an
Alaskan trip, but it has not been
definitely known until now that he has
decided positively to make 1t part
of any trip he may take to the Pacific
coast.
Mrs. Taft, who is as fond of travel
ing as her husband, would accompany
the president on the tour. Western
and southern senators and represen-
tatives are particularly anxious to
have the president visit their sections
and will do all in their power to pro-
vide the necessary funds. They be-
lieve that such a tour as the president
proposes to make should be regarded
as an essential factor in the universal
desire to keep the people in close touch
and sympathy with the central govern
ment.
President Taft makes no secret of his
fondness for travel. He believes it to
be the only way of obtaining a proper
idea and perspective of such a big
country. Mr.. Taft's stay at Beverly
will be interrupted by a few short
trips to fill speaking engagements he
has already made and others which
he has under consideration.
Two splendid new motor cars, or
dered some time ago, have just ar
rived at the White House garage,
making three machines in all now at
the presidents disposal. The president
and Mrs. Taft both are looking forward
with pleasure to motoring long dis
tances over the splendid New England
roads.