The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1909-10-01

hA1 iLE' wash, Sept. 30.-Speak-
ing before the largest audience
he has faced since his trim he
gan-a crowd that overflowed the NAT
ural amphitheater of the Alaska-Yu-
kon-Pacific exposition with its seat
ing capacity of nearly 2O,0OO-Presi-
dent Taft today said that he would
urge in his coming message to CON
gress the enactment of a shin subsidU
| law
his utterances on this subject were
received with great acclaim.
When the president turned to Alas
ka, however, he declared that he was
opposed to granting territorial form
OF government to that far off possess
sion, tn setaemtent etaoinS cmfwym
sion the statement was received in 81
lence. AS the president proceeded.
however, and outlined his policy for
the upbuilding of Alaska, of govern
ment aid in constructing railroads, Of
a government commission of five or
more members appointed by the presi-
dent, and cooperation with the gov
ernor, and when he told of the pos
sibilities that lie in Alaska, he plainly
caught the favor of his hearers and
was loudly cheered.
Later in the day, when he was adj
mitted to membership in the Arctic
Brotherhood, an international organ
lzation made up of Canadians and
Americans interested in the develop
ment Of Alaska the president an
nounced that he intended to visit Alas
ka next summer and to go as far into
the territory as time would permit in
order that he might come into con-
tact with the people and see for him
self what might best be done for their
welfare.
The president frankly told the mem
bers of the brotherhood that he did
not believe Alaska at this time is
ready for entire lf-government.
The president had an interesting
and busy day which ended tonight
with a banquet in tho Washington
building on the exposition grounds.
Early this morning be motored out
to the fair grounds and his first func-
, tion of the day was to review a parade
Of the nations in which Americans,
Japanese, Filipinos, Chinese, Igorrotes
and Eskimos took part He then spent
two hours in going through the vari-
Gus buildings and exhibits. This was
followed by a luncheon in the New
York state building.
The address in the arnpitheater was
made at p. m. He returned to the
city for a period of rest and to dress
for dinner Returning to the fair
grounds, Mr.. Taft reviewed for the
first time the wonderful illuminations.
The president Witnessed flag drill
by 400 public school children who
themselves formed living flag He
also listened to the rendition by a
glee club of a new patriotic song or
j anthem, "In God We Trust" written
and composed by Joseph B. Glider OF
New York.
In his address in the natural am
phitheater President Taft said in
part:
| "We maintain a protective tariff to
encourage our manufacturing, farm
ing and mining industries at home,
but when we assume to enter into
competition upon the high seas in the
trade between international ports our
| jurisdiction to control that trade as
| far as vessels of other nations are
concerned, of course, ceases, and the
question which we have to meet is
how with the greater wage that we
pay, with the more stringent laws
that we enact for the inspection Of
our sailors, and with the protective
system making a difference in the
price between the necessaries to be
used in the maintenance of a mer-
chant marine we should enable that
merchant marine to compete with the
marine of the rest of the world.
"This is not the only question, Ell
ther. for it will be found or an ex-
animation of the methods pursued in