Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-17
Men Do Record Stunt in
Honor OF Presidents
Presence.
NATIVES ARE PLEASED
Glad to Be Assured the United
States Has No Intention of
Annexing Them.

Panama, Nov. 17.-President Taft
will sail for home tonight delighted at
the progress being made in the con-
struction of the canal and with the
cheers OF the Panamans ringing in his
ears. The presidents speech last night
at dinner given in his honor by
President Arosemona and in which he
rldlculed the report the United States
was contemplating the annexation OF
Panama, was published this morning
and excited earnest appreciation of the
people here, who seized upon every
opportunity to show their friendliness
toward the American chief executive
and the government of which he is
head. This morning Taft looked over
the Pacific division of the canal and
from a tug examined the completed
section.
Popularity shown.
His popularity among the canal
workers is everywhere manifested.
Just to show him special honor the
men yesterday broke all division rec
Ords for the laying of concrete at Cat
un dam. At Gatun locks, 4,435 cubic
yards of concrete were placed and at
the spillway $40 cubic yards laid down.
This information was conveyed to the
president in a message sigen The
men," and which stated the record
work was done in appreciation of
Tafts visit.
VIII Dictate Message.
On the way home the president viii
dictate his general message for the ap-
preaching session of congress, having
read reports of all departments during
the voyage here.
Was state Dinner.
The dinner given in President Tafts
honor was attended by 200 Panama
officials, officers of the canal zone, and
citizens
Great interest was manifested in
what President Taft would have to
say about the reports that had been
in circulation here for some time to
the effect it was the intention of the
United States to annex the republic of
Panama What he did say put quiet
us on all such rumors. After referring
to the progress of work on the canal
he continued:
THE treaty between the two coun-
tries makes the United States the
guarantor of the integrity of the re-
public and Panama, and, therefore, in
a sense. the guardian of liberties of
her people, secured by your constitu-
ton. Our responsibility, therefore, for
your government requires us to closely
observe the course of the conduct of
those selected as officials of your gov
ernment and to insist that they be Sc
lected according to law All this
makes us specially interested in what
is done in your government, but this
relaxation neither calls for nor per
mits annexation
Sole object to Maintain Canal.
I'VE do not wish further responsible
fly in respect to your government than
is necessary to carry out our purpose
to construct and maintain the canal.
We have no desire to add to the terri
tory under our jurisdiction except as
the operation of the canal may require.
We have guaranteed the integrity OF
your republic and for US to annex your
territory would be to violate the guar
anty, and nothing would justify that
so long as Panama performs her part
under the treaty.
81 wish to make my statement en-
phatic because irresponsible persons
without the slightest foundation have
started rumors that my visit to the
isthmus was to promote annexation, |
when nothing could be further from
The TRUTH