The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-17
UNDER new FLAG.
President Taft Passes Out of
q. S. Territory.
Attends a Banquet in the City
of Panama.
EASES THEIR MINDS.
He Tell the Citizens of the
Isthmian Republic
That They Need Have No Fear
of Annexation.

sail for home today delighted at the
progress being made in the construc-
ton Of the canal and with the cheers
of Panamans ringing in his ears. The
presidents speech made last night at
the dinner given in his honor by Pres
ident Arosemana and in which he ridi-
culed the report that the United States
was contemplating the annexation or
Panama was published this morning
and excited earnest appreciation. of
the people here.
Mr.. Taft will embark on the cruiser
Tennessee at Colon at 6 O'Clock tonight
for Charleston. He will stop at Guam
tanamo, Cuba, Saturday afternoon for
a brief inspection of the American ma
val base.
This morning Mr.. Taft looked over the
Pacific division of the canal and from
a tug examined the completed section.
This is the presidents fifth visit to the
Isthmus, and his popularity among the
natives and the canal workers is every
where manifested.
Just to show him special honor the
men turned in yesterday and broke all
division records for the laying of con-
crete at Gatun dam. At the Gatun
locks 4,435 cubic yards of concrete were
placed and at the spillway $40 cubic
yards were laid down, making total
was conveyed to the president in
message signed THE Men," and which
stated that the record work was done
in appreciation of Mr. Taft's visit.
On the way home the president will
dictate his general message for the ap-
preaching session of congress, having
read the reports of all departments
during the voyage.
At the Banquet.
Panama Nov. H.-President Taft has
effectually disposed of the report that
the United States was likely to annex
Panama. At a dinner given in his honor
by President Arosemena and attended
by 200 officials, diplomats and mer-
chants, Mr.. Taft aroused the greatest
enthusiasm when he declared the Amer
lean people would feel utterly dishOnOr-
ed in annexing Panama unless some
conduct on the part of the Panama
people left no other course. This con-
tingency Mr. Taft was sure would never
arise.
The president arrived at Panama
from Culebra, after spending the day
in the great cut, where he was sur
rounded oftentimes with giant shovels,
putting drills and hurrying dirt trains,
while occasional distant blasts sent up
tons of rocks. The recent landslides
We're visible but they were in no wise
disturbing to the president or to Colonel
Goethals, the latter saying they will be
taken care of as they occur, until the
degree of~wall slope prevents a re
CurFence.
at Camp Elliott, later hearing griev-
ance committees who asked for an in
crease in pay. This, however, is not
likely to be granted because the wages
of the men are already higher, and the
cost of living much lower than in the
United States.
Immediately on his arrival in Panama,
the president proceeded to the American
legation where he was called on by
President AroSemena. Mr.. Taft return
cd the call q tha n9lapa nd
ceeded to the banquet.
After an address of cordial welcome
by the Panama president, President
Taft said:
The Presidents Speech.
president Arosemena and my friends
of Panama, L am glad to accept your
hospitality. AS once in the case of
Mexico, so now in the case of Panama,
1 ventured to violate the customary
limitation upon the movements of +ba
president of the United States by Ieav-
ing the soil of my own country to come
beneath the flag and protection of a
friendly neighbor.
The birth of the republic of Panama
and the peculiar interest which the
United States has had since that birth
in Panama's welfare and prosperity.
have found a common cause in tho
construction of the Panama canal The
treaty between the two countries mako
the United States the guaranteer Of
sense, the guardian of the liberties
of her people secured by it's constitu-
ton.
Our responsibility therefore. for
Your government requires us closely to
observe the course of conduct by those
selected as the officials of your gov
ernment after they are selected, and
to insist that they be selected accord
ing to law.
"All this makes us especially inter
csted in what is done in your govern
ment but this relation neither calls fer
nor permits annexation. We are here
to construct, maintain, operate and de-
fend the world canal which rms
through the heart of your country and
You have given US the necessary soy
ereignty and jurisdiction over that
part of your country occupied by the
canal to enable US to do this eff
feCtively.
Enough Responsibility.
we do not wish any further re-
sponsibihty in respect to your govern
ment than is necessary in the carryfn.r
out of our purpose to construct and
maintain this canal We have no de-
sire to add to the territory under on
jurisdiction, except as the operation of
the canal may require it.
we have guaranteed your INTEGRITY,
as Il republic, and for us to annex fer
ritory would be to violate that euar
antee and nothing would justify it on
'Ui part so long as Panama performs
her part under the treaty.
Il wish to make this statement nc
emphatic as possible, because irra
sponsible persons without the slightest
foundation in fact. have started a rn-
nor that my visit to the isthmus is for
the purpose of promoting annexatian
when nothing could be further fror,
the truth.
Panama cannot be too prosperous
too healthy, too strong a government
Tor tOe United States. and I know 7
speak the unanimous voice of the Deo-