The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-20
President Meets SO Members of
japanese Commercial Mission.
Sunday Luncheon on the Shores
of Lake Minnetenka.
GIVE THREE BANZATS
By the Visitors for True
Friend of japan"
Scouts Idea of Any Danger of
Trouble With Japan.


Minneapolis. Sept 20.-President Taft
Sunday met the 80 members OF the Jap
anese commercial mission to the Uni
ted States He babe them a hearty
welcome assured them of the lasting
friendship of the american people
PRAISED their qualities of Industry and
patriotism and in conclusion drank a
toast to the emperor of Japan as The
warm and sincere friend of America
The meeting was at a luncheon al
the Lafayette club en- the shores OF
Lake Minnetonka. rendered by the COM
mercial club of Minneapolis.
President Taft secuted the idea that
there had ever been the slightest oan-
Ger of trouble between Japan and
America. He paid high compliment to
the military valor of Japan when the
country was fighting in defense OF her
rights and the maintenance of her pres
t1ge in field OF battle"
But he declared. Japan today IS
fighting for victory of peace and we all
hope she will succeed. We are not go
Jig to yield ourselves. in that contest,
however, il we can help it.
President Taft's address, which was
filled with the warmest admiration for
tie Japanese emperor and people 1ol-
lowed u speech by Baron Shlbusawa,
q prominent banker of Toxic and CHAIR
which speaking in his native tongue
he referred to President Taft. AS one
@. the foremost men of the age and
warm and true friend of Japan.
The baron proposed the health OF the
president and led his fellow country
1nen in their three resounding ban
zais" Mr.. Taft proposed the health
oe the emperor with Il 'banza'' which
was caught up and re-echoed by the
American guests.
Preceding The luncheon, the presi
dent was introduced to each member
of the commission. His hearty words
of greeting. his quick reelection of
having met many of the visitors during
his several visits to Japan and of little
incidents in which they had part
seemed completely to caDtivata them
and each man appeared reluctant to
reeIase the presidents hand or cGTtail
the informal exchange Of compliments:
Mr Taft also received the ladies OF
the marty declaring to Basoness Shi-
N ore Of the laCies of Japan and to
encourage their coming to this country
with the men.
1T is not fair.' said the president,
that Japan should keep back the most
charming of her creatures.
Baron Kanda, a graduate of Am
herst greeted the president as fellow
member of the Psi Epsilon fraternity.
We'll, WELL" said the president, we
will shake hands again but We'll just
conceal our grip"
To Mr.. Del of Osaka the president de-
clared he was going again to Japan |
some day just to see Osaka.
To DR.. T. Kumagae, physician of the |
imperial university at Toxic, President |
Taft said:
I'VE have a profound admiration for |
the physicians of Japan. They taught
US the way to stamp out the plague. In |
Manila they taught US to label the rats |
and by following them to their holes to |
wipe out the sources of Infection We |
bor a fiTc daht of
When Iwamoto a broker of the
Osaka stock exchange, was introduced |
the president expressed his great in
terest in the Japan market methods
and laughingly remarked: II suppose
you have bulls and bears"
"Oh, yes, SIR" replied the broker |
And the lambs, too?'
The broker bowed low and passed on.
Kojiro Matuskata, president of the
Kobe chamber of commerce and a ship
builder, was but one of what the pres
dent remarked as being "A gratifying |
sprinkling of Yale men all along the
line
He received a most cordial welcome
the resident having met him and his
father, one of the elder statesmen of
japan, in their native country.
Il bring from my father his humble
sincere good wishes" Matsukata said
who later in response to a question
from the president said he graduated |
from Yale in 'SS.
You ought to know Heffelfinger
then?' said Mr.. Taft.
oh, remember him, he played such
football"
Come here Hef,'" called the presi-
dent. and the big Yale guard. towering
above the throng on the club house [
porch, came forward warmly to greet
his old classmate.
With Mr. Otani, president of the
Yokohama chamber of commerce. Pres
ident Taft exchanged many pleasant
recollections of former association in
japan.
Mrs Taft and 1 remember Yoko-
hama especially well,' declared the
president, land We still value most
the chamber of commerce there and |
which we continue now to use at the
White House. Whenever Mrs Taft |
serves tea, that silver makes her the
envy of all the matrons that come to
the White House"
President Taft's Speech.
The president said
''I say only what is in the heart of
everyone who hears me that we are
q IL delighted to welcome this inffuen-
tial, highly intelligent and most charm
i.'g company of our Japanese friends I
''They have in this company of fifty
n en- business men of acute intellects.
men of farseeing commercial expert
ence. and I warn the American mer-
chant and manufacturer that what
gentlemen will well avail themselves
of in this friendly controversy and
friendly commercial contest between
the two nations.
"They are here on a pleasure trip,
but they belong to a thorough nation
and they will carry back with them all
the useful knowledge that on such a
visit couldd possibly be gained and
do not regret that. I hope they will
take back all the lessons possible and
hone