The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-10-29

the congressman Are Sailing Is
Legislative Hall So Mock Sessions
OF Congress Can Be HeId-Daily
Newspaper To Be Printed En- Route
Taft Addresses Governors and
Congressman in ST. Louis.
The great waterway parade down
the Mississippi river from st. Louis
to New Orleans is on. The Oleander,-
the government lighthouse tender, on
which President Taft is travelling, was
made "a floating White: House.
To avoid any possible friction w. +.
Kavanaugh, president OF the Lakes 70
the Gulf Deep Waterway association,
placed the steamer st. Paul, carrying
the governors, in the place of honor
next to the Oleander from st. Louis
to Helena, Ark where the Quincy car
rying the senators and congressman,
will take the st. Paul's place in ths
column.
On the congressional boat legisia-
tive hall was installed, so Speaker Cam.
non can hold mock sessions of con-
gFess.
Among the surprises arranged for
the waterway delegates on the trip was
a daily paper printed on one OF the
newspaper boats. A fast launch will
be used by the reporters in gathering
the news from the different boats.
Day Spent in Two Cities.
Dr;ar 20 bo MI Co, flo f,;r> I/xux,
the river President Taft spent the day
in ST. Louis and East st. Louis.
At the Coliseum, in ST. Louis, before
making his address, Taft greeted zoo
congressman, thirty-three governors
and a score of United States sena-
tors, who had just arrived as guests
of the Business Mems league for the
trip down the Mississippi river. Seven
foreign ministers were seated on the
platform.
Governor Hadley introduced Presi-
dent Taft to an audience which filled
the Coliseum. Immediately after de-
livering his speech the president was
escorted to hotel, where after brief
rest he was the guest of honor at a
luncheon given by the Business Mems
league
Nine hundred guests Of the league
were seated at tables when the chief
executive arrived. He was escorted to
his seat by James T. Smith, president
of the league. No set speeches were
made. The congressman, governors,
senators and foreign ministers were at
the luncheon.
Refers to Club Trip to Panama.
In a speech at the st. Louis club
President Taft referred to the trip of
his hosts, the Commercial club, to the
Isthmus of Panama while the presi-
dent was secretary of war. He referred
to the fact that in a previous visit to
ST. Louis he had suggested this trip of
inspection, and he said that he had al
ways felt grateful to the club and to
the other organizations from various
cities that went to the isthmus for the
confidence which they had engendered
in the American people concerning the
work at the isthmus.
The country felt positive, said the
president, that the commercial bodies
that inspected the canal work at their
own expense could not have been fooled
or deceived and they would have
no motive for misrepresenting the
facts. He declared that the report OF
the Commercial club marked the be-
ginning of state of affairs which has
left the administration in a comforta-
bic position with reference to the prog
ress of the canal work
Up to that time, the president, said.
there had been shrieks of scandal and
incompetence, but afterward the work
had been treated as all great govern
ment and engineering works should be
treated--with sobriety, calmness and
criticism of plans on a basis that can
be understood.
He said that the report of the COM
mercial clubs had driven away the
nightmare that had pursued him for
two years after the burden of the canal
work had fallen upon his shoulders.
Opposed to "Pork Barrel"
President Taft declared in his ad-
dress at the Coliseum that his stand in
favor of the issue of bonds for carry
ing out approved waterway improve
msnt projects does not mean the open
ing of pork barrel" to send back
any particular member of congress or
to make any particular section of the
country prosperous during the expendi-
ture of the money.
Taft said he opposed any general bond
issue of $500, 900 or 81 900 ,0o0, 900
for waterways Improvement. the mon
ey to be cut up and parceled out to
different sections. He favors bond
issue for each improvement to secure
sufficient money to carry out quickly
the project after careful investigation
proves its worth to the entire country
Taft Lays Cornerstone.
At $3.50 o'clock President Taft, es.
corted by mounted police. was taken
across Eads bridge to East st. Louis
There he met Vice President ShermaA