The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-20
TAFT PRAISES JAPAN'S RULER President Meets Oriental
 Merchants. SCOUTS IDEA OF HOSTILITY Exeeutive Drinks Toast to En-
 perofs Health. UrEes American Manufacturer To Make Bid For Trade Tn Far East
 --Luncheon In Twin
SCOUTS IDEA OF HOSTILITY

dent Taft today met the fifty members of the Japanese commercial mission to the United States. bale them a hearty welcome to the country, assured them of the lasting friendship of the Ameri- can people, paid a tribute to their qualities of industry and patriotism and in conclusion drank a toast to the Emperor of Japan as ''the warm and sincere friend of America" amid great enthusiasm of both his Japanese and American hearers.
 The President and his party left for Des Motnes. Iowa. over the Chicago and Great Western Railroad at ( p. m.
 The meeting with the Japanese was at . luncheon at the Lafayette, Club. on the shores of beautiful Lake Min netonka. twenty miles out of the city, rendered by the Commercial Club of Minneapolis
 President Taft secuted the idea that there had ever been the slightest dan ger of trouble between Japan and Ann erica. He paid high compliment to the military valor ot/Japan when the country was lighting in defense of her rights and the maintensncs of her prestige on the field of battle
 But" he declared, Japan today is fighting for victories of peace and we all hope she will succeed. We are not going to yield our interest in that contest. however. if We can help it."s
 Praises JaRanese Ruler.
 President Tafts address, which throughout was filled with expressions of the warmest admiration for the Japanese emperor and the Japanese people followed a speech by Baron Shihsawa. Q prominent banker of To- kio. and chairman Of the visitinE com- mission. in which. speaking in his na- tive tongue. he referred to President Taft as "one of the foremost men of the age and . warm and true friend of Japan"
 Kojiro Matsukata. president of the Kobe chamber of commerce and . shipbuiIder was nut one of what the President remarked as being n. grGt- lttyinE sprinkiins cf Yale men all Mir. Matsukata in response to . ] question from the President said he graduated from Yale In 'ss.
 You ought to know He6elnnger then" said Mir. Taft. M "oh. yes, sir, remember him, he played such football >@
 "Come here .Hef,,.. called the Pres ident and the big Yale guard. tower ing above the throng on the club house porch came forward to greet his old class mate.
 Baron Shibusawa In the course of his address said: ~"
 I've do not come in any onicial ca- pacity and so we are not charged with any official message to you. We may. however, safely claim that in broad sense we come as runaccredited enyoys of peace sent by the people of Japan to the people Of the United States.
 Emperor HOnored Them.
 "On the eve of our departure on the present mission His Majesty, the Elm peror, honored us In a way quite unique in our history. He graciously invited us to a banquet at one of his palaces. an honor never before given to any private individuals, however dis tinguished. going abroad without any official capacity. On that memorable occasion. the Emperor was pleased to express to us. through the Minister of his household. his approval of our visit to America and gave us to understand that the success of our mission was A matter of deep concern to him. Scarcely less deep was the interest manifested in our trip by the people at large. From ministers of state down to the very man in the street, the whole nation united in giving us a send of such as given only to the men go- ing to the front In defense of home and country.
 May the strong ties of friendship that now bind together the two na- tions grow still stronger as years roll on. and may their friendship be for ever based on mutual respect and on common regard for justice and peace. for the good of humanity at large"
 The President said:
 "I say only what Is In the heart of every one who hears me, that we are all delighted te welcome this infiuen- tial, highly intelligent and charming company of our Japanese friends. They have in this company of fifty men, bus mess men of acute intellect: men of ar-seeing commercial experience, and I warn the American merchant and the American manufacturer that what they | show these gentlemen, these gentle | men will we'll avail themselves of 1t in this friendly community and this l friendly commercial test between the | two nationA
 Can Learn From Japan.
 T am not one of those who believe | that it is wise to keep back the pro- | gress of your neighbors in order that | you 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 l in commerce and in business, we shan grow to be great customers. each of the other.
 
 got to run our newspapers. We have | to have at times emotions stirred In or- | der that the newspapers shall have cir | oulation and we cannot always do that | with a statement of the facts. There | fore we have to draw on our fmagina. | tions and therefore we have to make | that appear which in fact is not true. | just in order that there shall be a cirs | culatIon of intelligence among people l Now. in times past we have been stir | red up, that is. some of us have | been, those of us who knew the facts were never so stirred up, by announce mentR of trouble between Japan and | America. believe that even the | newspaper have not given up any such | idea. Those of us who were in Japan | who knew what her aims and ambi. | tions were, who came into contact with 1 all of her freat men. and talked with them personally. had no trouble on that score" Japan, said the President. iE engaged in a contest for tho development Of her resources and the making of her people a great successful and eommer cial people. We are entering the con test and I hope will strip ourselves n' some nonsensicai ideas that wa have had heretofore in that contest iu order