New-York tribune., 1909-01-18
TAFT PRAISES Y. NJ. C. A.
IT'S WORK AMONG NEGROES
Rcnefts in Panama and the Philip
mues-Harriman Expected.

--,sta Ga Jan I7.-Introduced 10 a large audi
=. n men comprising the negro Young Mems
,ts,ian Association of this city. to-day the
- n,pular and conspicuous citizen the United
1.u,.e americas great statesman. uncrowred
- for whom wish a successful administra
- and A second term" by DIR. Walker, known
- tfe black spurgeon." Mr.. Taft became greatly
t..-.s-ed in discussing the Christian uplift Of
- Mems Christian Association work and
80 For an unusually long time to his enthusi-
ss,ic listeners
T Walker painted bright present and 2
sb,e- future for the negroes of Georgia. who
- he said 4 million acres Of land in the state
- rafd taxes on s9o000.ooo worth Of property.
-t,s report Mr.. Taft regarded as most encourag-
g.. II gave him an illustration for his oft-ex-
.-sed con rictfon that the race question must be
..,s. hv the negroes themselves becoming indis-
.nsabIe 20 the community in which they live.
-n;s meant industry. information and thrift. ac-
i-ad bv constant individual effort. He dwelt at
80, ,,pon the advantages OF Young Mems Chris
- Association work to bring about this condi-
.icr and illustrated his point by picturing the
.,-,,tatjons and depression Of Americans in the
,;li,nines and the help which the association was
-s,5erinE there 10 afford wholesome ways OF en-
.,-+sfurneut for the leisure hours
,. nss his belief that the Young Mems Christian
.,oc,stiou had brought about in this country more
.,,s-ance between the various religious denomina-
-. ks an example OF this he made det allied
v,lapation of the situation this government found
,.seH IN with respect to the Friar lands in the
obiippnes but psrentheticauy remarked before
-oceeding: 81 think pretty good example OF this
tolerance is the fact that am erected PRESIDENT
=, the United States"
concurrence he said. had been obtained from a
,o5v OF clergy1nen representing the various de-
examinations that no protest would be made by
sbs7 when the government should take up with
fb. Pope the negotiations necessary TO acquire
...s n these lands. Their purchase for S0oo,OoO,
;. said had saved what would have been bloody
-svo,I.ion IN the Philippines. which would have
,os. this government millions in money and many
lives.
...n impossible to have obtained this
There would have arisen among the denominations
., obiectton 10 II the ground that Il was a
recognition Of the Ponlsn Catholic Church, WHICH
Was contrary TO our traditions
After he had described the Endorsement OF Young
mems Christian Association work on the isthmus
~ Panama where four great clubs are running.
each under the direction OF an experienced Young
Mems Christian Association secretary. paid by the
soverument; where ten or a dozen ministers are
ers, er,rloved by the government, with plan in
dorsed 20 establish two or three more clubs, Mr..
Taft remarked:
.eT. Is possibIe we Will be charged with having
Hlched that money from the public treasury. But
II We have We have accomplished a good work
with II I think also the expenditure could be de-
Tended on strictly legal grounds. We have en-
tered the .sthmus CT Panama, and introduced there
some fifty thousand souls Unless we take especial
pains 10 have their morality looked alter, uLieSS
We furnish minister's churches and Christian clubs.
ae are going to have such saturualts OF evils
such Generalization that We VIII never build the
canal Hence, IL we 10 be impeached for spend
ins that money. It will be in e good cause"
His feeling OF satisfaction that Young Mems
Christian Association work had found place
among the negroes OF the South constituted the
concluding thought OF the address. which ended
with the sentiment:
IL the negro would be respected, he must make
himself worthy OF respect"
Ar. Taft arrived here from Atlanta at O'Clock
this morning He went at 10 the Terrett
cottage. He did meet Mr.. Rockefeller, who is
al the Bon Air Hotel. during the day
The etaternent is authorized from Mr.. Taft that
person has authority TO represent the President
eject as taking any attitude whatever regarding
the Senatorial situation in Oregon. The need of
such e statement has been impressed upon Mr
Taft ny information that his name was being
used IN efforts to break down the oregon primary
Law.
H Hartman is expected here tomorrow