The San Francisco call., 1909-10-01


At the Arctic brotherhood the presi-
dent was elected honorary past grand
arctic chief and was presented with a
costly robe of Office made of purple
velvet and trimmed with furs.
President Taft'S Speech
In his address in the Natural amphi-
theater Taft said:
This great Alaska Yukon Pacific ex-
position was the objective point on my
trip to the west, and am glad 10 nave nave
arrived here after two weeks traVel
from the old Bay state AS l look about
me at this wonderful exhibition OF the
progress of the northwest, OF Alaska
and the Pacific coast | feel great
pride in having urged upon the proper
congressional committee, with ali tne
emphasis of which ! was capable, the
Importance and the utility of the enter
prise. And it is gratifying 20 know
that under the administration OF Seat
tie men the exposition has been great
interest in the growth of the far north
west and in showing profit over the
immense outlay needed in its construc-
tion and maintenance.
When / first planned my visit TO
Seattle 1 had included with 1t q trip to
Alaska, in order that / might, by per-
sonal investigation, make myself better
acquainted with the character OF that
great territory and with the best
method of securing its development |
greatly regret that the time consumed
by congress in the consideration of the
tariff bill prevented my carrying out
the part of the plan embraced in Visit
to this most interesting territory.
Alaska is country of immense ex-
the southeastern portion, near to wash
ington and the northwest, are quite diff
ferent from those of Nome and the
Seward peninsular end of the valley of
the Yukon. Such a territory has need
of local legislation and local govern
ment, which can only be understood by
those who are on the ground, and II is
utterly impossible and impracticable
for congress in its legislation to gov
ern the details by legislation required
for the best development of the terri
tory. There has been no authority in
the territory having an adequate juris
diction to meet the exigencies of such a
young but potentially prosperous terri
tory.
OPPOSES HOME RULE
1t has been proposes tnaI congress
should give TO Alaska the regular form
of territorial government under which
legislature might be elected and a
governor, and between the two they
might be given the powers ordinarily
given to the Legislature ana executive
of regularly organized territories.
think this would be a great mistake
because l do not think that the terri
tory has population of sufficient
number or sufficient stability and per-
manence of residence to warrant the
delegation to a locally erected legisla-
ture of such authority. Many of the
places in Alaska, where there is con-
siderable population, are nothing but
and temporary features of such set
Elements. More than that, the popula-
tion is so small. as compared with the
vast expanse of the territory, that il
would be unwise to provide that COM
paratively small population in south
eastern Alaska should elect representa-
tives and legislate for the enormous
territory reaching from British Colum-
bia clear to the Bering sea and the
Arctic ocean.
My own Judgment is that the onlv
way properly to develop Alaska for the
benefit of everybody in it is to bring
the territory under the management Of
one bureau and department in Wash
ington, so that all the officials in the
government shall have to respond to
one head, and so also that the Interests
or the entire territory shall be centered
in one responsible bureau chief in
be, through his department chief to
present TO congress the needs of the
territory.
DOMESTIC LEGISLATION
Certain general laws, like the mining
laws, the forestry laws, the customs
laws and the land laws, should be
passed by congress and perhaps execut-
ed by national officers, but this would
leave a wide domain for domestjc legis-
lation which it seems to me ought to
be intrusted TO some local authority
on the ground and having a knowledge
OF local needs.
Since l visited the coast am glad to
say that the Philippines have had ex-
tended to them In the matter of a tariff
law measure of justice, which ought
TO have been adopted nine years ago
IL 1t had been adopted the CITY of Seat
tie, the city of San Francisco and the
whoie Pacific coast would have profited
by Its enactment. Free trade with the
philippines as now established between
the islands and this country will de-
x,eIop vel an exchange Of business between
to the advantage of both.
TRADE WITH PHILIPPINES
Trade in the Philippines has long had
one trend, and it will take some time
perhaps two or three years. TO effect a
change. even now that the law is
alton in the islands makes me confident
that the Pacific coast will come to value
more and more highly the trade from
the Philippines which will fall to it.
There are many industries in the Phil
ippines the products of which will sell
well in the United States now that the
tariff is lifted from them, and with SIM
liar relief from burden in entering the
Philippines American manufacturers
will have far wider sale in those dis
tant islands in the Pacific.
The Panama canal will be completes
on or before the 1st of January 1915,
and with its completion the trade be-
tween the eastern ana western coasts
of this country will be revolutionized,
for the carriage of heavy bulk mer-
cha ndise between the Pacific and the
Atlantic coasts is almost certain to be
by water. This will reduce the trans
continental business to the carriage of
the more valuable classes of mer-
chandise which can profitably pay a
higher rate of transportation. More
than this, it will change the avenues of
international trade. will bring the east
ern coast Of America closely in touch
with the western coast of South Amer
lea and will greatly facilitate the direct
transportation from the west coast of
America to European ports.
PROGRESS SHOWN IN ORIENT
China is waking up. She is approach
ing a period of development that can
not but increase her trade and augment
her Importance as a customer and as a
trader with this country, while Japan
and all the other oriental countries are
moving onward with giant steps in the
commercial competition of the world
The many prophesies that have been