The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-10-01
PRESIDENT SAYS HE Will URGE
CONGRESS TO ENACT SHIP
SUBSIDY LAW.
WAS LOUDLY CHEERED
When This Statement Was Made
Taft Also Speaks Mind Against
Granting Alaska Territor-
lal Government.

Seattle, Sept 30.-Speaking before
the largest audience since his trip
began-a crowd that overflowed the
natural amphitheatre of the eXposi-
tion with seating capacity Of nearly
20,000--Taft today announced that
he would urge in his coming message
to congress the enactment of a ship
subsidy law. His utterances on this
subject were received with great &C
claim.
The presidents statement declaring
a territorial form of government was
received with silence, out as the pres,
ident outlined his policy for the up
building of Alaska, recommending
that the government aid in the con
struction of railroads OF local gov
ernment by a commission appointed
by the president cooperating with
the governor. and when he reviewed
Alaskas graet possibilities, he was
loudly cheered.
Later, when he was admitted to
membership in the Arctic Brother
hood, and organization of Canadians
and Americans interested in the de
velopment of Alaska the president an
nOunced that he intended to visit
Alaska next summer and go far into
the territory as time would permit
in order to come in contact with the
people, and see for himself what was
best to be done for their welfare
The president frankly told the broth
erhood he did not believe Alaska was
ready for selfgovernment, and said
81 am as much in favor Of popular
government as anybody, but | favor
popular government only when the
conditions exist which make popular
government a success for the people
governed and the people at large.
When there are limitations to this
we must take other means until pop
rlar government Is possible"
In his speech in the amphtheatre
this afternoon, referring to subsidies,
he said:
There is no subject on which con.
gress can better devote the attention
of the coming session than the regu-
lation of our merchant marine in such
way as to establish American lines
between New York and other ports
and South American ports and be-
tween our coast ports the Orient and
the Philippines.
I'VE earn profit from our foreign
mails of six to eight million year.
An appropriation of that amount
would be quite sufficient to put on a
satisfactory basis two or three Orient
al lines and several lines from the
East to South America. OF course
this would be contribution to pri.
vate companies, but we are thus con,
tributing in various ways on similar
principles in effect, by the tariff laws
by the river and harbor bill, by the
reclamation service. We are putting
money into the pockets of the shiI
owners, but giving them money, witt
which they can compete with the mer
cfidIt UldI1Ie Oh tUb WOTiu,
The president pointed out the peril
GUS position of the United States in
the event of foreign war, when We
have to buy vessels from other coun
tries to use as collers for our fleets
Concerning the proposal to givf
Alaska regular territorial form o
government, the president said
1T would be great mistake, be
cause the territory has not population
sufficient stability or permanence Il
warrant delegation to a locally elect
ed legislation of such authority Lo
cal self government in country sc
large with scattered nomadic poi
ulation and intense local sectiona
feeling should not be given seriou.
consideration until political division
Of the territory into more limite,
areas warranted"
Taft suggested that local legisla
ton be vested in a resident commits
sion of five, acting in conjunction
with the governor.
HS pTtSiuSHp Sdiu' koinSC id2
visited the coast the Philippines ha'
extended to them in the tariff laws
message of justice, which had beel
adopted nine years ago. If 1t ha
been in Seattle or San Francisco
the Pacific coast would have profitea
Free trade with the Philippines, q
now established. will develop in a
exchange of business greatly to tn
advantage of both countries.
The Panama Canal will be con
pleted before 1915 and trade betwee
the eastern and western coasts (
this country will be reyolutionizec
for the carriage OF heavy bulk me
chandise between the Pacific and th