The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-01
Great Crowd Hears President
Discuss Live Problems
At Seattle
ELF-GOVERNMENT FOR
ALASKA is OPPOSED
President Taft Has Busy Day at the
Great Fair and Winds Up With
Banquet on the Expo
sition Grounds.

Seattle Wash. September SO-Speaking
before the largest audience he has faced
since his trip began--a crowd that over
flowed the natural amphitheatre of the
Alaska Yukon Pacific exposition with its
seating capacity of nearly 20,O00-Presi-
dent Taft today announced that he would
urge in his coming message to Congress
the enactment of a ship subsidy law
Mr.. Taft declared that the country was
ready to make such experiment and that
something must be done to build up an
American merchant marine His utter
ances on this subject were received with
great applause.
When the President turned to Alaska.
however. and declared that he was OPP
posed to granting territorial form of
government to that far-on possession.
the statement was received with silence
As the President proceeded, however, and
outlined his policy for the upbuilding of
Alaska, of recommending government aid
in the construction Of railroads, of a To-
cal government by a commission Of five
or more members appointed by the Pres
iolent and cooperating with the COVER
nor. and when he told of the great possi-
bilities that lie in Alaska, he plainly
caught the favor of his hearers and was
loudly cheered.
Later in the day when he was ad.
mitted to Membership In the Arctic
brotherhood, ~ International organiza-
ton made up or Canadians and Americans
interested in the development of Alaska
the President announced that he intended
to visit Alaska next summer and to go
as far into the territory as time would
permit in order that he might come in
contact with the people and see for him
self what might best be done for their
welfare
Alaska Not Ready.
The President frankly told the men,
bers of the brotherhood that he did not
believe Alaska at this time is ready for
entire self-government.
Il am as much in favor of popular gov
ernment as anybody" declared the Pres
ident. but | am in favor of popular
government only when the conditions ex-
ist under which popular government may
be success and work for the benefit
of the people and government at large.
When there are limitations growing out
of various circums tances we must take
other means until popular government be-
comes possible, and then, of course it is
the best government in the world
In discussing ship subsidy. President
Taft declared that if war should como
at this time the United States would not
have vessels enough to carry coal to its
fleets And it would be doubtful under
the neutrality laws, he added. If the
United States would be able to buy for
eign vessels in the emergency.
The President had an interesting and
busy day which ended tonight with
banquet in the Washington building on
the exposition grounds.
Pride in Exposition.
This great Alaska ukon- Pacific expo
stion" said the President was the OBJ
jective point of my trip to the west, and
| am glad to have arrived hede after two
weeks travel from the old Bay state AS
I look about me at this wonderful exhi-
biton of the progress of the northwest,
of Alaska and the Pacific coast | feel a
great pride in having urged upon the
proper congressional committee with all
the emphasis of which | was capable the
Importance and utility of the enterprise.
And it is gratifying to know that un-
der the administration of Seattle men the
exposition has been a great success both
in arousing world wide interest in the
growth of the far northwest and in show
ing profit over the immense outlay
needed in its construction and mainten-
ame.
when l first planned my visit to Seat
tie had included with it a trip to Alaska
in order that might by a personal inves-
tigation make myself better acquainted
with the character of that great territory
and with the best method OF seeing its
development
Il greatly regret that the time consumed
by Congress in the consideration of the
tariff bill prevented my carrying out that
part of the plan embraced in a visit to
this most interesting territory.
Value of Alaska.
"One of Mr.. Stewards substantial claims
to the gratitude of his countrymen and
to a place among the statesmen of his
country is the broad view which he took
of the value of Alaska and his wisdom
In effecting It's purchase. The cession of
Virginia and the ordinance of 1887 which
gave to the nation the middle west the
purchase by Jefferson of Louisiana ter
ritory. which carried our domain to the
Rocky mountains the acquisition of
Texas and the treaty of Guadeloupe, Hi
dalgo which extended our territory to
the Pacific coast were properly supple
mented by the acquisition of Alaska. and
this exposition may well be regarded q
combination of the foresight of Seward
in his policy of expansion
such a territory as Alaska embraces
has need OF local legislature and local
government which can only be under
stood by those who are on the ground
and it is utterly Impossible and imprac-
ticable for Congress in its legislation to
govern the details by legislation required
for the hest development of the territory
There has been no authority in the terri
tory however. an adequate jurisdiction, to
meet the exigencies of such young but
rotentially prosperous territory.
ut has been proposed that Congress
should give to Alaska the regular form Of
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