Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-26
Proposed Bonds Are Not to Re
turn congressman, or Benefit
Particular Sections-Will Be-
gin River Trip in Afternoon.
GETS GREAT OVATION
FROM ST. LOUIS PUBLIC
Meets Senators and Congressman,
And is Guest at Luncheon-Win
Meet Vice-President Sherman
and Speaker Cannon.
(sy Associated Press.)

CBy Associated PrCss.)
ST LOUIS, Oct. 25.-One the eve OF be-
ginning his journey down the Mississippi
river TO New Orleans, as part of the ex
ploitation for a system of deep inland
waterways, President Taft declared In
an address at the coliseum here today.
that his stand in favor of the issue Of
bonds for carrying out approved water
way improvement projects does not mean
the opening 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. s.
Mr.. Taft said he opposed any such gem
eral bond issue of $500. 900, 900, or $780,
O00, 600, for waterways improvements, the
money to be cut up and parceled out 70
different sections. His idea of bond is
sue is to secure sufficient money to carry
out quickly such projects as may b. APP
proved after careful investigation ana
which can prove their worth to the entire
country.
Postmaster General Hitchcock and Sec
rotary of Commerce and Labor Nagel are
to accompany the president down the
river. Mr.. Taft has given no thought yet
to a successor for Supreme Court Jilstlce
Peckham-
The presidents voice was very husky
at the coliseum, but he managed to make
himself heard throughout the structure
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH
I'VE are on the eve Of great Jour-
ney down the Mississippi river %
said. '.and cursed be he who calls il :
junket. The journey, as Governor
Hadley has said, has reference 20
the problem of transportation ana
railways and waterways. 1t is now
ever only a part OF a still greater
movement inaugurated by Theodore
Roosevelt and properly called by him
the conservation Of our national re-
sources"
The. mention Of Mr.. Roosevelt's
name called out prolonged cheering.
The president said the people OF the
Mississippi valley were particularly
interested in the improvement OF In
land waterways and the preservation
of the forests as a means Of put
ting an end to the foods, which were
Carrying so many of the farnas in
Missouri, Iowa and other states down
to the delta of the Mississippi.
GOVERNMENT TOO GENEROUS.
The president said the government
of the United States had been ex-
ceedingly generous in parting with
it's lands in the past and that the
time had come for the adoption OF a
new policy in that regard. He spoke
of the necessity for new legislation
regarding water power sites to prevent
n1onopolies from gaining control.
Mr.. Taft declared there was no
denying that the Improvement of wat
erways had been carried forward in
haphazard fashion.
And right here" added the president,
81 want to clear away a superstition
which I am afraid has lodged in a good
many minds"
He then made the pork barrel state
ment already quoted. He continued:
1--WE should take up every comprehen-
sive project on it's merits and determine
whether the country where the project 10
to be carried out has so far developed as
to justify the enormous expenditure of
money and if 1t will be useful when
done When we decide in favor of a pro-
ject believe in issuing bonds to carry
II to completion as rapidly as possible.
Y 1T has been proposed that we issue
bonds for s500000,000 or 5000, 10000 ana
cut il UP and parcel the money out in
this and that section of the country.
am opposed to any such proposition, be-
cause It not only smells of the pork bar
REL but would be a pork barrel 4"
CANNON HEARS SPEECH.
Speaker Cannon, of the house OF repre-
SenLaLlNeS,
that he was opposed to any issue Of
bonds to improve the waterways, sat
just beside the president while ne was
speaking.
President Taft divided his time
today between two cities, giving
eighI hours to st. Louis and one
and one-half hours to East st. Louis. He
arrived here this morning at 7:27 o'clock
on the Iron Mountain railroad from Texas
l. t1-sr
afternoon on 1.z00-mile voyage down the
Mississippi river to New Orleans.
After greeting the reception committee
of the Commercial club of ST. Louis at
the union station, the president proceeded
by automobile 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 a few feet apart.
Mounted policemen led the automobiles
which contained the presidents party.
Only members of the reception commit
tee were allowed in the midway Of the
station. but when President Taft appear
ed at the 10th street exit, he was greeted
by the cheers of thousands Of sightseers.
GIVEN STREET OVATION.
Sixty-f1ve Commercial club members
and the presidents party were at the
breakfast tables. The president conyersed
and rested q short time, after which no
drove to the coliseum His ride through
the streets was a continual ovation. Az
the col ,eum before making his address.
he greeted 2OO congressman, 80 governors
and a score Of United States senator's
who arrived this morning as guests o.
the Business Mems league. for the trip
down the Mississippi river. Seven for
eign ministers were seated on the plat
form