Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-08-25
TAFT IS TO TAKE
THE PANAMA TRIP
Orders Two Armored Cruisers to
Be in Readiness for Him
November s.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 23--Prcs!dent Taft
ordered the navy department yesterday
20 put two cruisers In readiness TO carry
him to Panama on November S. This is
the first designation Of the day on which
he will sail, although It has been known
FOR some time that he intended to make
the trip before the end of the year and
that armorcd cruiser would be detailed
rs convoy to the one on which the lrea-
dent will take passage.
This decision seems to have been rea CHI
ed after the President and his advisers
had thrashcd out differences Of opinion
Ss to the wisdom of tho trip In a year
when the fortunes of his party are In
peril. The date chosen inumates that he
may have deferred TO the views of others
by putting off the trip until after the
elections, when the worst will be known
and a brief absence from the country
may divert his mind from the unpleasant
reflections that would certainly beset hin,
st home should the party go down.
Reports that reach here say that Vice
President Sherman and Senator Aldrich
were specially persistent in urging him
not to quit the country at all this year.
Political conditions were the reasons be-
hind their arguments. His replies to
these objections are said to have been
that political conditions ought to havo
no bearing whatever on the trip. and
should not Influence him.
WILL. ENCOURAGE THE MEN.
His own view was that no ought TO
ro to Panama as an official duty. Prob
ably, "the dirt would continue to fly"
he said, whether he went or not but
he believed at tho same time that the
canal officials and men would be cucour-
AGED by visit from tho President, 10
show his interest In their work.
1t is early 10 eny by which cruiser he
will take passage. only the North Caro-
lima, Montana and Tennessee are al
present available in Atlantic waters. HJ
made pre-!naugurnl trip on the Nurtl
Carolina with the Montana as convoy.
That assignment for him is not un
likely to be made again. II fepubh
gan divisions develop as now threatens
bis disposition to DO things In his owl
way will doubtless be strengthened
Those two ships have served only him
self for an official trip to Panama
while the Tennessee was one of til
conveys of the Louisiana when NJ,
Roosevelt made a presidential visit t
tne lStnInuS. fIcHllnUeTS OF roosevelt WI
naturally be excluded at this time.
CHOOSES TO SET OWN PRECEDENT
The Roosevelt trip occurred in Novcn,
Der. 1905 Besides the Louisiana on whic
he sailed, the cruiser Washington wen
along as convoy, as we'll as the Tonnes
see. The decision now to go with tw
ships instead of three follows Presiden
1'a1r's own pre-!naugural precedent. an
is presumed to have no relation to MI
Roosevelt's ampler sense Of the dignit
of the Presidents travels.
Naval officers say that if the import
nnce Of the presidency was gauged fo
such an occasion by the wealth, politict
strength or population of the country
'he order would have been given for NOR
than three ships. In their view the Pres
Gent doesn't choose to look TO Mr.. RooSe
Selt for an example In anything af'cctlu
his office. and he douhtlcss thinks tina
the dignity Of the voyage Will be suti
GENTLY asserted by single convoy.