New-York tribune., 1909-11-20
BIG VIRGINIA FORT
URGED BY MR. TAFT.
Discusses Water7cdys and Eats
oysters at Norfolk.

OYSttTS az " OrfOfh.
norfolk. Va. Nov. l9-As the feature Of.
the convention Of the Atlantic Deeper
Waterways Association. President Taft
came to Norfolk to-day. lie reviewed a
military and naval parade. made two
speeches In which he bespoke his interest
~ practical system of waterway improve
hleht 10 be carried forward on a business
Hhe oaslS. and advocated the proper gxowth
OF the navy; partook Of an oyster roast
under the shadows of the Cape Henry light
houses and attended a smoker I'm honor OF
large corps Of visiting newspaper men.
me navy Mr. Taft declared. should not
only be worth seeing but should be able
10 night. II il ever has TO. He expressed
MS interest In a proper growth Of the
navy, and aroused great deal of enthusi-
asih by declaring that Hampton Roads and
chesapeake Bay should be protected by an
Nnpregnable island fort erected midway be
tween the Virginia Capes. Mr. Taft said
He had urged this method of defence as
secretary of War. and would continue to
urge II as President with the hope that II
would be an accomplished fact before his
term Of Office expired.
MIS- Taft accompanied the President 10
Norfolk. and while he was reviewing the
big parade and later was making an open
air address. Mrs. Taft and her sister. Mrs
Thomas *. Laughnn. jr.. of Pittsburg.
came ashore and went on a long siGhtsee-
Ing excursion. Mr. Taft was the dinner
guest of Fergus Reid. Of this city. and a
company of Norfolk people. Mrs. Taft
dined aboard the MayfioweT
The President arrived at Norfolk
board the Mayfiower shortly after Q o'clock
lie was Joined here by Andrew Carnegie.
Hello. Scotchman." he callei out in salu-
tation. as the ironmaster made his way TO
the reviewing stand.
American" corrected Mr. Carnegie with
an index finger held up in smiling rebuke
Mr.. Carnegie was accompanied 10y Sir
Horace Plunkett.
reception to the Norfolk committeeman
and the delegates 10 the convention began
the days programme. and then followed
the parade and speech by the President
from reviewing stand erected at the base
Of the Confederate monument Mr.. Taft
was introduced by Governor Swanson. and
said in part:
terest IN the waterways work What I
wish 10 depTeCate Is general proposition
TO raise lot Of money and dump some
here and there and some back here. just
In order TO distribute IL equally over the
country. | am opposed 10 that. | am in
favor of eXpendng the money for an I'M
provement I'm Norfolk. and not spending il
for Improvement somewhere else, II the
Norfolk project is good one and the one
somewhere else Is not.
want 10 say that ! will take up what
Is projected and proposed with all the
what l hope Is judicial spirit, 20 reject
what the evidence does not sustain and to
approve what the evidence does sustain.
The President referred to the battle of
the Merrimac and the Monitor and said;
l want a navy to continue to he MAIN
tained worthy OF this country We are not
knocking anybody's chip off his shoulder,
and we are not having chip on our shoul-
der. but We are "A great nation OF eighty or
ninety millions Of people. and We must. il.
or.sa- ,,r5ar ~ i,rtssnt copdittons ~
maintain the prestige that is proportionate
To our stand before the world. have navy
that is worth seeing and able 10 fight, II II
has to.
The President was taken by special train
to cape Henry for an oid-fashioned oyster
roast. When he arose to speak he de-
clared he felt like an oyster.
The waterways delegates, having praCti-
cally completed the business Of their con-
yention yesterday. gave the day over TO
participating In the welcome to the Presi-
dent.
In order 20 make himself heard in speak
ing at Cape Henry. the President stood
a chair Next TO him sat Andrew Carnegie.
MT Taft said:
am glad to be here where. in spite of
the views of nv distinguished neighbOr
Brother Carnegie. We ought To put for
midable fortreSs-right here Both Brother
Carnegie and ! are working toward the
same end. and We believe I'm peace. though
] am not quite 50 near the millennium a. ne
is But We are working IN the same direc-
tion and with the same principles, and We
don't differ much.
Now, about this waterways association. |
have heard, gentlemen-l think heard our
distinguished speaker intimate that he did
what the necessity OF a water
way when IL was only biscuit throw
over into the ocean, but that IS because he
comes from Illinois. II IN the discharge OF
his duty Il had been his fate as II has been
mine, 10 go around this ncighbOrinS Gaze
Hatteras. he would understand the differ
ence in a biscuit throw. He would know
that there Is something I'm quiet water II
h" does not believe II. let him get on the
Sylph or MayfiOweT and travel up from mere
when there is "A good strong wind blowing
I'm Hampton Roads and tell the difference
between Chesapeake Bav and the Potomac
River. He would tell II In his stomach.
Seriously speaking. my dear friends. /
think IL Is a ripe moment To say that con-
ditions are good and speeches are gooi
Of a general character in stirring up
movement toward result but YOU don
reach the result and you never Will untI
yoI get measurements and facts and de
tails with which those who are respon-
slblc shall become famiiG-, 80 a. 20 enable
them TO make plans draft legislation and
feel confident that the result Of that lrgiS-
lauon when carried out viii bring about
specific benefits.
You have got 10 be specific You have
got 20 come down to facts in order To get
dollars. When You ask millions out Of the
Treasury the bgrd|n is on You To make
your case. but II ought 10 be most salts
factory TO YOU 10 know that the condition
Oi the publ" mind is ripe for such i'm
pTovcmentS II YOU will demonstrate the
practic4hiity of them. the feasibility and
the beneft Of them.
The President retired tonight ON the
naval yacht MayfoWer- The Mayflower
tomorrow morning will get under way for
Hampton. where Mr. Taft will attend a
meeting II the board Of-trustecs If the
Hampton Normal Institute Of which he t.
a member. In the afternoon he viii deliver
address 10 the negro students and then
sail for Washington.