The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-20
TAFT WELCOMES
 JAPANESE PARTY
 OF BUSINESS MEN
tcONTINUED FROM PAGE ID

in giving us a sendoff such as is given only to men going to the front in defense of home and country.
 May the strong ties of friendship that now so happily bind together the two nations grow still stronger as years roll on, and may their friendship be forever based on mutual respect and on common regard for justice and peace for the good of humanity at large"
 Taft Extends Welcome.
 The President said "I say only what is in the heart of every one who hears me, that we are all delighted to welcome this influential, highly intelligent and charm ing company of our Japanese friends. They have in this company of 50 men business men of acute intellects, men of far-seeing commercial experience and warn the American merchant and the American manufacturer that what they show these gentlemen, these gentlemen will well avail themselves of in this friendly community and this friendly com mercial test between the two nations
 "I am not one of those who believe it is wise to keep back the progress of your neighbors in order that your own pro- gross may be great We have much to learn from Japan and they much to learn from us, but as we improve both lessons and as we grow to be greater in com- merce and in business, we shall grow to be greater customers each of the other
 Spreading Intelligence.
 We are a curious people. We have got to run our newspapers. We have 10 have at times emotions stirred in order that the newspapers shall have their cir culation and we cannot always do that with a statement of the facts There fore, we have to draw on our ina gina tions, and therefore, we have to make that appear which in fact Is not true just in order that there shall be circu- lation of intelligence among people. Now Tn times past we have been stirred up, that Is some of us have been, those of us who know the facts were never so stirred up, by announcements of trouble between Japan and America. I believe that even the newspapers have now given up any such idea. Those of us who were in Japan who knew what her aims and ambitions were; who came into contact with all of her great men and talked with them personally, had no trouble on that score"
 Japan, said the President, is engaged in a contest for the development of her re- sources and the making of her people a great successful and commercial people
 We are entering the contest and I
 
 sensical ideas that we have had here- tofore in that contest in order that we may make little greater strides than we have made heretofore in the Orient and in those far distant countries.
 Success In Trade.
 'rhe truth is, if I may say so, being an American, our business men are lit- tie bit concerned over their tremendous success with the trade they have at home and, therefore, they have not given as much attention as they might and as other countries give to the wishes and tastes of customers in far distant lands. They are a little disposed to say, Well, these are the sizes that we make and these are the patterns that our looms turn out and now if these foreigners have not sense enough to take them as we make them, why they can leave them That is all right, gentlemen, when the foreign CTS cannot get any other than those looms and that kind of goods, but if they can and do find other countries that are will ing to manufacture to suit the tastes of these foreigners. why the Americans gre going to be second or third or fourth in the race, and we are coming to recognize that. l can see ourselves growing up to 1t. We are. acquiring sense in the ad- vance of our business interests and I warn our Japanese friends that while we may be little slow in getting to work and in understanding what we have got to do, we will be stripping ourselves in while and they must look
 Tt gives me now great pleasure to propose toast to a parsonage who in his life and service to his people has shown devotion and remarkable ability for selecting the men with which the won derful advance of Japan has been mado possible, and in government there is no ability higher than the power to select the right men to do the right things. l propose a toast to a warm and sincere friend of America; to a monarch whom 1t has been my high honor to know per sonally and to be entertained in the most hospitable manner to ruler who has devoted all his life long to the benefit of his people and to their success-His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan. Banzai."