Arizona republican., 1909-09-23

Mr.. Taft Declares in Speech
at Colorado Springs Will
Not Be Permitted to
Lapse to the Lower Level
of a Few Years Ago

Taft tonight is crossing the Conti-
mental Divide and tomorrow morning
will find MIN west of the Rockies.
All day the president has travelled
with the panorama of the white
capped peaks of the Rockies in view
and at one time his train ran for a
mile or more through fields of snow
Tonight at Tennessee Pass the climb
to the top of the divide carries the
chief magistrate to an altitude of
1920 feet.
For the first time the president is
travelling to the west through the
Royal Gorge of the Arkansas. where
at one place the half mile deep can
yon is so narrow that there is not
room for the track and the river and
the former has to be carried over
the rushing waters of the stream by
means of hanging bridge. suspended
by cables embedded in the rock walls
of the chasm. The eleven mile ride
through the gorge was made by
moonlight tonight, the presidents $
train having left here at GAS o'clock
and reaching the hanging bridge two
hours later.
The president did not feel the alti-
tude at all today. and at the end of
his first week of "one- might stands"
he is in splendid health despite the
efforts of the hospitable west and its
elaborate and never ending break
fasts, lunches and dinners
Secretary Ballinger joined the pres
idential party at Denver and will go
through to Seattle with the presi-
dent. He win assist Taft tomorrow
afternoon in the formal opening of
the Gunnison tunnel at Montrose,
Colo, the greatest irrigation project
the government has ever undertaken.
Mr.. Taft announced today that he
win not make a speech upon the sub
ject OF the conservation of natural
resources, a topic Of supreme interest
in the country through which he will
pass during the next two weeks, until
he reaches Spokane on September 2S.
II was at Spokane that the contro-
versy between Ballinger and Pinchot
arose and Mr.. Taft regards it as
probably the best place to discuss the
issue. In the brief reference he has
made in his speeches so far, Mr.. Taft
declared that the reclamation work
must go on, but that il must be done
in conformity with the law, and that
no project viii be undertaken until
the money for the work is on hand.
1t was learned some time today
that at the same time President Taft
wrote his letter to Ballinger sustain
ing him in, all he has done at the
head of the interior department, he
also wrote letter to Pinchot. Fur
ther than to say he had frequent
correspondence with Pinchot and that
they had always been the warmest
of friends, Mr.. Taft will not comment
upon the matter.
The presidential tour took its first
picturesque coloring of the west today
when thirty-two sheriffs of Colorado
counties, in the costumes of the
plains. Joined the party in a special
car to act as an escort or guard of
honor to the president during his
stay in the state. In khaki trousers.
blue flannel shirts, peaked hats, car
fridge belts and pistols projecting
from holsters, they surrounded the
president at every stop. Advance ar
had been made for
mounts for the sheriffs and they
found a bunch of broncos awaiting
them. in each city visited.
In his speech at Colorado Springs
this afternoon the president said:
We are entering upon an era of
that l hope will be ex-
ceptional, even in the history of our
but in doing so We must
be careful not TO forget the obliga-
ton there is upon us to adopt such
legislative measures in the state and
that shall prevent a recurrence
of abuses which were brought so
plainly to the mind of the people by
my predecessor, Theodore Roosevelt.
1t is easy when you are comfortable
and when your income is coming in
to think everything is all right, but
it is just about that time when sap
pers and miners begin their work
upon the foundations of society with
reference to the abuses to which Il
have referred.
And this administration is pledged
with the aid of the people to put
upon the statute books such addition
al legislation as shall clinch the ad-
vance standards of business and in
the management of railroads and in
dustrial corporations which were set
up by my predecessor in his talks to
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