The San Francisco call., 1909-10-26
PRESIDENT NOT TO
Open PORK BARREL
Declares Waterways Policy Will
Not Be Designed to Keep Con-
gressmen in Office
After Notable Day in St. Louis
He Leaves on Trip Down
the Mississippi

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 25.--Just before he
began his journey down the Mississippi
river to New Orleans as a part of the
exploitation for a system of deep in
land waterways, President Taft de-
clared in an address at the Coliseum
here today that his stand in favor of
the issue of bonds for carrying out ap-
proved waterways Improvement pro-
jects does not mean the opening of
pork barrel to send back any partic-
ular member of congress or to make
any particular section of the country
prosperous during the expenditure of
the money
Right here" declared the president
in his address, Il want to clear away
supposition which, / am afraid, has
lodged in a good many minds. The
project is for irrigation and for the
Improvement of waterways in the fut-
ure and not to be for the purpose Of
distributing pork TO every part of
the country. Every measure is TO be
adopted on the ground that it would be
useful TO the whole country. They are
not to be adopted for sending certain
congressman back to Washington or
for making certain parts of the country
prosperous during the expenditure OF
the money. We should take up every
comprehensive project on its merits and
determine whether the country where
the project is to be carried out has so
far developed as TO Justify the enorm-
Gus expenditure of money and II II Will
be useful when done. When we decide
in favor of a project, | believe in is
suing bonds to carry ii to completion
as rapidly as possible.
OPPOSES BLANKET BOND ISSUE
1T has been proposed that we issue
bonds for $500. 200, 900 or $1,000 100000
and cut il up and parcel the money out
in this and that section or the country
l am opposed to any such proposition.
because it not only smells of the pork
barrel, but would be a pork barrel.
The president was introduced at the
Coliseum by Governor Hadley. HIS
voice was very husky. but with the
close attention given to him by the
great audience he managed 10 make
himself heard throughout the structure.
Mr.. Taft devoted his time between
two cities, giving eight hours TO 81.
Louis and one hour and half TO East
St Louis. He arrived in st. Louis this
morning at S:o2 o'clock.
After greeting the reception commit
tee Of the Commercial club Of St Louis.
at the union station. the president was
driven in a motor car to the ST. Louis
club.
His route to the St Louis club from
the union station. where thousands OF
persons had gathered, was guarded by
policemen. who stood few feet apart
Sixtv-fiye OF the Commercial club
members and the presidents party were
at the breakfast tables. The president
conyersed and rested a short time. after
which he was driven to the Coliseum
His ride through the streets was con-
! tinual ovation.
MANY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
At the Coliseum, before making his
address. he greeted zoo congressman, a
score of United States senators and 81
! governors who are guests of the Busi-
nessmen's league. for the trip down the
river. Seven foreign ministers were
seated on the platform.
| Governor Hadley introduced Presi-
dent Taft to an audience which filled
! the Coliseum.
Immediately after delivering his
speech the president was escorted to
/ the Planters hotel for luncheon. Nine
! hundred guests of the Businessmen s
league of ST Louis were seated at the
table. No set speeches were made The
! congressman, governors. senators and
! foreign ministers attended the luncheon
| At $3.50 o'clock President Taft. escort
ed by mounted police, was taken across
| the Eads bridge to East st. Louis. Here
| he met Vice President Sherman and
| Speaker Cannon, who had been guests
! of the East st. Louis commercial club
at luncheon. Speaker Cannon had him.
self declared strongly for bond issue
| for waterways improvements.
Tonight the president, the speaker
the diplomats. legislators and several
hundred representative of commercial
organizations of numerous states start
| ed down the Mississippi river aboard
| a fotilla of paddle wheel steamers
bound for New Orleans. There they
will assemble with hundreds of other:
lin the annual convention of the Lakes
to the Gulf deep waterway association
| the main aim of which is the creation
| of a permanent IA foot channel from
the mouth of the Illinois river to the
Of