The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-27
Dimes With Governors on Their
Boat, Going Down.
HE BALKS AT BONDS.
But Cannon Approves of Every
thing Else President Says.
Taft to Cannon: eff You Catch
Anybody Bluffing.9

four hours on the Mississippi river
with a mile or so on the Ohio thrown
In, President Taft arrived here shortly
after o'clock and made an address
from stand erected on the Ievee. This
being Mr.. Taft's only stop in the state
on his present trip people came from
ali parts of the state to greet him.
President Taft is finding the river
trip bit resting and enjoyable on the
lighthouse tender Oleander. He is sur
rounded only by a few members of his
own party and is the guest of Com
mander E. H. Tillman of the United
States navy, in charge of the light
house district. from Cairo to New Or
leans
Commander Tillman knows the Mis-
sissippi rivers possibilities, its difficult
ties, it's disappointments and its vaga
ries.
The president is hopeful that some
plan can be devised -by-which at least
ten feet of water can be Secured at all
seasons to the gulf. He saw, however.
many caving banks, evidences of how
the channel is constantly undergoing
radical changes and. how the piecemeai
work of improvement in the past has
gone for naught. In the three brief
speeches he delivered with husky voice
at Cape Girardeau, Mo-. Cairo, Ill, and
here Mr.. Taft reiterated his position in
be demonstrated that the plans for inn
provement are feasible, are necessary
and can be carried to completion with
out too much expenditure of money.
Guest of the Governors.
At Cairo, the president was followed
by Speaker Cannon. who declared that
he approved President Taft's declara-
f10nS nrfi nr1l
wished he could approve them in all.
He still balks, however, at the presi-
dents proposition to issue bonds to
carry out the work of improvement
once it has been decided upon. He de-
clared the work should be carried on
only as rapidly as it can be paid for out
OF current funds in the treasury.
The president last night was the
guest of the governors who are making
the trip down the river on the steamer
St Paul which Immediately follows the
Oleander He had been invited to din
ner Monday night, but was so fatigued
that he begged to be excused. The St.
Paul was brought up in midstream
aiongslde the presidents boat and LASH
ed there while he and his party were
conducted on board The same pro-
ceeding was gone through shortly after
the fleet left Cairo and the president
was presented with a possum, already
cooked ready to be served at his lunch
con table.
Postum Meat Not Regular Diet.
Although the impression has gained
ground, since the Atlanta dinner of last
winter, that the president was fond OF
possum meat, this was only the third
time he has eaten it. Although enjoy
Ing the novelty of the dish. Mr. Taft
mas admitted to his most intimate
friends that he does not altogether
hanker" after it as steady article of
ulet. Leaving Cairo. POSTMASTER Gem
eral Hitchcock and Secretary Nagel of
the department of commerce and labor,
who had made the trip from ST. Louis
to this point on the steamer Erastu
Wells, Joined the president on the
Oleander. They also were guests of the
governors at dinner. Secretary Dickin-
son will rejoin the presidents party at
Memphis.
Mr.. Hitchcock nearly got left at
cape Cfrardeau. He had started for
the normal school where President
Taft made a speech Just as the sun
was rising and had about reached his
destination when the party with him
whizzed past him in automobiles on
the return trip to the, boats.
When the postmaster general
reached the river bank all of the boats
were out in the stream. His plight
was quickly discovered however and
the ErastuS Wells put back to nick
him up.
Speaker Larger Than Himself.
The president said he enjoyed the
novelty at Cape Girardeau of being
escorted to the speaking stand by 8
man larger than himself, attributing
that distinction to Eugene Regen-
hardt, chairman of the reception com.
boat passed point of the river neal
a settlement, the banks were lined
with people who shouted a greetine
to him over the waters. The zig-zae
course taken by the Oleander in fol
lowing the channel which leads from
one side of the river to the other
often took President Taft within
speaking distance of those gathered
on the banks.
Two boats of the fleet. the ST. Pau
and the Erastus Wells. touched sane
bars but slid over them with but lit
tie delay. u %a
Passing the congressional boat
which it was stated in st. Louis, haC
been provided with nine poker tables
President Taft called out to Speaker
Cannon on the hurricane deck:
HoIlered Taft to Cannon:
eff you catch anybody blufing
Uncle Joe, take the money s-1 -
The president was introduced her,
by Governor Wilson, who extended
him hearty welcome to the state
The presidents voice was still in bat
shape and he spoke but a little NOR
IMAM lMO minutes MI. 1dll 7doCldEes
that Kentucky was as deeply in
terested as any state on the subject o
waterways and he hoped much goo'
to this cause would be done by tn
present trip down the Mississippi
The president said although his vote
had failed, he was In the land o
oratory and was surrounded b.
orators and the audience should no
be disappointed,
Senator Bradley. Representativ
Ollie James and R.sT. Taylor of Hick
man, then spoke. ee~A e
After the ceremonies of welcome a
the river bank as the president de
parted, he was presented. with a hi
kentucky possum and barrel o
ducks.
Nicaragua Minister Resigns.
washington, Oct. 27.-Senor d.
Don Rocolfo Espinosa. munster froI