The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-02
Has Relied Off 5000 Miles Of
the $4,000 Trip.
HE WILL COME AGAIN
He Promises to Attend the C0le-
bration at San Diego
In 1915 When the Panama
Canal Is Completed.

Tacoma Wash, Oct. 2.-After spend
ing two days in and about Seattle Pres
ident Taft came to Tacoma and re-
ceived from an audience that thronged
the big armory one of the most cordial
greetings of his trip. The president
was entertained at dinner at the Union
club after making the trip from Seattle
on board the yacht Ell Primero, owned
by Chester Thorne.
President Taft promised to attend
another exposition to be held on the
Pacific coast in 1915 in celebration of
the completion of the Panama canal.
Mr.. Taft said the date was beyond his
term of office, but that his interests in
the Panama canal and in the extension
of trade on the Pacific had been so
great for so many years that he would
readily give a promise to attend. The
invitation was extended by officials
of the Panama. California exposition,
which is to be held in San Diego. Cal,
the nearest western coast city to the
Pacific entrance of the canal.
No More Set Speeches.
President Taft'S unqualified state
nent in his speeches delivered here
that the Panama canal would be COM
pleted in 1915 aroused great en-
thusiasm as the entire Pacific coast is
expecting to profit greatly by the short
aH-water route from the eastern sea-
board and the opening of the European
markets to this section.
The extension of trade between the
United States and South America, the
president declared, was another feature
of the exposition which ELECTED his deep
interest. When the president left here
at midnight and headed to the south he
had completed 5000 miles of his $1,000
mile journey. In the matter of elapsed
time, however his journey was less
than one-third completed. During the
time he has been ION the road" the
president has made eight speeches of
first Importance, which have clearly set
forth his views on nearly every ques-
ton of Importance and he announced
that he had completed the list of set
addresses which he had planned before
leaving Beverly. The presidents
speeches during the remainder of his
trip will be entirely extemporaneous in
character and will consist largely of
reference to and amplification of those
he already has made.
In making his set speeches the presi-
dent selected in the different cities Wis
tied the subjects which he believed to
be of greater interest to his hearers
Subjects Discussed.
Starting from Boston. for instance.
he made there the first of his set
speeches in finance and currency legis-
lation. At Chicago he discussed labor
and injunctious: at Milwaukee he dis
cussed and approved the establishment
Of postal savings bank system; at
Winona, Mimi. he made plain his po-
sition with reference to the Payne tar
if bill and the new tariff commission;
at Des Moines, Iowa. he outlined his
ideas of needed amendments to the in
terstate commerce and antitrust laws;
at Denver he devoted his remarks to
the corporation tax and dwelt upon
what he deemed it's advantages in
preference to a direct income tax; at
Spokane the president discussed the
of natural resources and
the reclamation OF arid lands, and last
Iy at the Alaska Yukon-Pacific expo
sition he gave his views regarding the
future government of alaska by a COM
n. ission and came out fiat-footed in ia
vor of a shin subsidy law.
The presidents outspoken opposition
to self government for Alaska unques-
tionably created something of a sensa-
ton in this section and came on the
heels OF the dispatch of a monster pc
tition from Alaska asking his support
in favor of home rule in that terri
tory.
The speech has been widely discussed
and has attracted great interest in view
of Mr.. Taft's announcement that he
would personally visit Alaska next year
to see conditions for himself. It is I'M
derstood the president will make no
specific recommendation to congress for
affecting the territory until
after his visit.
The president will spend two days
in Portland and then will continue his
journey to the southwark. The turn
toward the east will be made at Los
Angeles the night Of October II.