The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1909-04-23
TAFT WOULD
he IS ANXIOUS TO VISIT TIE
NORTHWEST STATES.
But Says Congress Must Provide Fund
Of About SIS, Ooo-would Visit Alas
ka, g. A. R. Eneampment at Salt
Lake, National Irrigation Congress
and Seattle Fair.

and Seattle Fair.
President Taft, who believes that the
chief magistrate of the nation should
keep as close in touch with the people
as the duties and requirements of the
oHce admit, is planning a notable trip
during the late summer and early au-
trmn, provided conress decides to con-
tlnue the annual appropriations of $685..
OOO for travelling expenses allowed dur.
ing the closing years of the Roosevelt
administration.
MI. Taft will devote most of his
vacation to golf and motoring, and
perhaps will take a short cruise along
the northern coast. The reassembled
Atlantic feet of 10 battleships will
maneuver off the New England coast
during the summer and the president
undoubtedly will want to see some of
the work of the i~ronclads.
The trip the president desires to
make to the west during the late sum.
mer will be entirely too expensive to
be paid for out of his own pocket. An
outline of the proposed itinerary has
been given to a high railroad official
and an estimate requested.
1t is said the cost will be in the
neighbOrhOod of $4,000 to $17,O 900. If
he goes west at all, the president will
include Alaska in the journey, sailing
from Seattle, probably on a vessel of
the navy and revenue cutter service.
Visit Alaska.
No president has ever visited the far
northern territory which for so long
has been part of the United States. The
president has been invited and is par.
tleularly anxious to attend the follow.
ing gatherings:
The annual encampment of the G. A.
R. at Salt Lake City.
The transmississippi conference at
Denver.
The national irrigation congress at
Spokane and the Alaska Yukon-Pacifc
exposition at Seattle.
In addition to his proposed visit
to the Rocky mountain states aud to
the Pacific coast, the president s ten.
tative plans for the trip include a long
swing through the southwest and the
heart of the south itself.
Many of the vessels of the Pacific
fleet, which includes eight fine armored
cruisers of the type of the North Caro-
lima and Montana, which Mr.. Taft
used on his recent trip to Panama, will
be stationed in and about Puget sound
during the exposition, and 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 there the
journey along the southern border line.
Mr.. Taft has often spoken of an Alas
kan trip, but it has not been definitely
known until now that he has decided
positively to make it a part of any trip
he may take to the Pacific coast.
Mrs. Taft Fond of Travel.
Mrs. Taft, who is as fond of travel
as her husband, would accompany the
president on the tour.
Western Men Anxious.
Western and southern senators and
representatives are particularly anx
ious to have the president visit their
sections and will do all in their power
to provide the necessary funds. They
believe with the president that such 8
tour as he proposes to make should be
regarded as an essential factor in tn,
universal desire to keep the people in
close touch and sympathy with the cen
trail government.
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 arrived
at the White House garage, making
three machines in all now at the presi
dent s disposal. The president and Mrs.
Taft both are looking forward with
pleasure to motoring long distances
over the splendid New England roads.
Available Grain Supplies.