The San Francisco call., 1910-12-04

w Francisco, 1915 was the battle
cry at both ends of Pennsyl~
vania avenue today
Twenty-Five Californians were re-
ceived by the president at 10 o'clock,
an dan hour later the party visited
Speaker Cannon at the capitol. They
were cordially received at both places
Neither the president nor Uncle
Joe" made any declaration in favor of
San Francisco as against New Orleans
and neither was asked to do so, but
both spoke in the highest terms of
San Francisco's enterprise and ex-
pressed the opinion that if the ex-
position were held in San Francisco
1t would be conducted on scale that
would bring great credit to the nation
as we'll as to California. The delega-
tion was presented to President Taft by
Representative Kahn, and each member
received hearty handshake.
Taft Like Man on Fence
A general conversation ensued in
which the president told his visitors
that while he was in the position of
the man on the fence, he though San
Francisco was an appropriate place for
holding an exposition intended to cele-
brate the joining of the two oceans.
The talk turned upon the Panama
canal and the president outlined the
conclusion he had arrived at as a result
of his visit to Panama. He haid that
the canal probably would be completed
and opened long before 1915. He has
already gone into the question of tolls
and the management of the canal
The president felicitated his callers
upon the SO per cent increase in Cali
fornias population in the last decade
and spoke of the greater growth that
could be expected as result of build
ing the canal.
Complete data were left with the
president, and he assured the Cali
fornians that he would take a sym
pathetic interest in the Forthcoming
battle in congress.
Cannon Promises Dance
Uncle Joe" Cannon was in a happy
mood when the Californians arrived.
He joked with Theodore Bell, who had
campaigned against him in the Dan
vile district
He promised that he would dance the
Virginia reel in San Francisco if the
exposition were held there
California always seems to get
whatever her citizens want said Can
non. and certainly you boys are dis
playing great determination in this
matter. I am glad to see brother Julius
here returned to congress to look out
for your interest"
One of the Californians made some
remark about the recent avalanche that
struck the republican side of congress.
MY dear friend said Uncle Joe"
throwing his arm over the mans shoul-
der, Il have been here for a good many
years. I passed through the avalanche
of 1894. and, believe me. the recent un-
pleasantness, compared with that of
1894, was as a gentle evening breeze
compared with a cyclone"
Hale Expects to Win
Conferences We're held all day at the
New Willard. The busiest man in
Washington is r. B. Hale, acting presi-
dent of the exposition company. He
is handling his force in mastery
fashion.
In a statement this evening he said:
I'VE are almost in a position to say
that we are absolutely confident of
victory. The situation may be bet
ter described as encouraging. I be-
lieve the work of the delega tion from
California has been very effective par
ticularly so because congressman are
arriving before the opening of con-
gress-they are in receptive mood, open
to conviction and are more easily i'm
pressed with San Francisco's superior
advantages"
After congress convenes Monday it
will be more difficult to get through.
The time will be taken up with impor-
tant matters which will be presented
before this congress.
II feel that our delegation arrived at
Washington at the psychological mo-
ment to accomplish the most effective
results, which, up to the moment, have
been entirely satisfactory.
THE arrival of our delegation be-
fore that of our competitors has given
us another advantage Every mem
Der of the delegation is earnestly at
work along organized lines, and their
united efforts are making a splendid
impression, not only upon Washington.
but also upon the members of con-
gress already on the ground"