The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-11
He is HOME AGAIN
President Taft Returns to Wash
ingtOn From His Tour
OF $4,000 Miles, Both Feeling
and Looking Well.
HE ENJOYED 1T ALI
And Could Have Gone on Some
Time Longer.
Gained Some Flesh, Which He
Will Try to Play Off.

Washington, Nov 11-Presidcnt Taft
arose this morning apparently none the
worse for his $4,000 mile swing around
the circle. This morning he delivered
the principal address at the opening
session OF the laymen's missionary
movement. He leaves this afternoon
for Middletown, Conn. and Hartford,
Conn, but will be back by noon Sat
urday and on Monday expects to plunge
into work.
The presidents reception on his re-
turn last evening was all that he could
desire. AT the station he was met by
a score OF friends and number OF
frock-coated and silk-hatted commit
tees. Mr.. Taft said smilingly:
I'm glad to get back. I'm back again
feeling just as well as when 1 went
aN ay-or even better
Eight cabinet members were await
ing Mr.. Taft. The ninth member, Sec
rotary Meyer. had accompanied him
from Richmond where Mr.. Taft made
the last speech of the tour. The presi-
dent entered the White House automo-
bile and was Whirled home, the crowds
cheering him Justify.
Mr.. Taft did not waste time in join
ing Mrs. Taft, who had been in i'll
health. Although the new executive Of
fees were lighted and furnished for his
inspection he did not so near them but
dashed up The steps of the White House
as soon as the footrnan opened the door
of the automobile. He shook hands
with both doormen, who grinned their
welcome.
The president is in the zenith of con-
dition. 1t IS generally reported among
lis intimates, however, that he has
gained several pounds and that he IS
planning a vigorous campaign at golf
to reduce his girth
Much Work Ahead.
Richmond, Va. Nov 11.-"During my
so days travel there has been mo-
ment or two of elaboration and during
that tine I have been studying what Ii
is the duty of an executive to recon-
mend to an incoming congress in re-
spect to future legislation, and when l
think of the number Of things congress
ought to do, L am staggered lest it may
not find time to do them.
In the final speech of his 1900 mile
trip before an immense audience here,
President Taft thus prefaced pre-
liminary statement of some of the rec
onn endatIons his first annual message
to congress would contain.
In the first place there is the con-
seryation of our resources and the re-
clamation of arid lands,'' said the presi-
dent I'VE have reached a time now
where a great many people in the west
are counting on an immediate supply
of water for the land upon which they
have settled, which is not forthcoming
because the money applied to the re-
clamation fund does not come in as
quickly as expected and I am strongly
in favor of anticipating that fund
which is fund raised solely by the sale
Of public lands, by the issue of bonds.
the payment of which shall be charged
to the same source of revenue"
He added that the demand for the
products of the soil is greater because
of the growing population than the
supply is. We must enlarge our acre
age and the plain way seemed by re-
clamation through the application of
water to land heretofore a desert and
by draining those lands which have
heretofore been swamp. These lands
when brought into productivity would
yield, he said, far more than the lands
already under natural tillage.
Then we have great deal of valu
able coal land owned by the govern
ment," he continued. I'VE have a great
many water power sites, the water
power of which will furnish an i'm
mense amount Of power for use by
electrical appliances. Then there are
millions of acres of phosphate to be
used in the fertilization of the soil. I'm
der existing laws these lands are likely
to be parted with merely under home
stead settlement. They are of such
value that it seems wiser that the gov
eminent should reserve some control
over the water power sites and the coal
lands and the phosphates so that they