The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-10-10
TAFT HAS TOLD
CANAL SECRET
says to Keep II Quiet Blu. Panama
Canal is to be All Finished
by July 1,
1919
WAY AHEAD OF TIME
Official Date Of Opening ls January 1,
1915, But IT Nothing Happens /,
Time viii be
Cut.

SEATTLE. Wash, Oct 1o.-It
was President Taft's fourth night
ashore since he left Beverly on
September Is to begin his swing
around the circle. In the twenty-four
days he has been out the president
granted himself shore leave" over
night from his private car only at
Erie, Pa, Marquette, Mich; Omaha
and Seattle. In spite of the hardships
of constant travelling. he has stood
the trip well and is looking fit and
trim.
Mr.. Taft spent the day travelling
south from Bellingham, Wash, a lit
tie more than twenty miles from the
Canadian line, to Seattle. He stopped
at Burlington. Mount Vernon and
Everett making brief speeches in
each place Last night he spoke in the
armory here. AS in the eastern part
of the state last week, large crowds
turned out to hear the President. At
Bellingham Taft day had been well
advertised and the folks for miles
around had driven in to see the presi-
dent.
Mr.. Taft's first speech of the day
was delivered at Bellingham He pre-
dicted the opening for traffic of the
Panama Canal by July i, 1918; said
that Canada WAS going to be sorry
that 1t had not adopted the reciproc-
ity treaty, and talked about conserva-
ton.
Speaking of the opening of the
Panama Canal, the president said he
would let the people of Bellingham
into a little official confidence"
IF nothing happens" he said. ''you
can count on the completion of the
canal not later than July /, 1918. II
has only been promised on January l.
1915, and therefore If 1t Is not ready
until then you must not say that
anybody made promise that il
would be completed before. am ex
pressing hope, based on calculation
but of course. man proposes and God
disposes, and it is possible that some
thing will happen down there in the
way of slides or delays to work that
may continue it until January /, 1915
But don't want you to have any un
pleasant surprise. | don't want you te
have heart disease if you learn tina;
the first steamer goes through or
July /, 1913"
Mr. Taft said that it made no diff
ference what policy was adopted II
relation to tolls or management o.
the canal, for the people were Ger
tain TO see that arrangements were
made so as to make it profitable tt
ship goods through the waterway
The presidents reference to reci
procity called out by his proximity t.
the Canadian line was short, bur
brought forth some applause.
There is one topic that / had in
tended to discuss with you," said tn,
president, but our neighbors acros!
the border settled that a week o.
more ago, and seemed to make II pas
history. But think you will agree
with me that in doing so they made ;
mistake, and that had that treaty gon'
through 1t would have been great.
beneficial to both countries.
Now, think we know a littl'
more on this side than they do Oh
theirs, because we are an older coun
try, and after some years of expert
ence 1t is possible they will come t
take the right view, but whether tina
be 30 or not, if they don't grow a
rapidly as we do, and as rapidly a
they might have grown, they can no
say it is our fault
Before leaving the speakers plai
form at Bellingham, Sono Takigama
pretty little Japanese woman. repre-
senting the Japanese society of tn
city. presented the president a bot
1uet of flowers.
Got Big Letter.
SEATTLE, Wash. Oct. 10.-A con
mittee of citizens today presente
President Taft with letter signe
py 1000 persons giving statemen
OF the movement for the impeacl
ment of Judge Hanford of the Unite
States district court. The statemen
related how the federal grand jury a
Tacoma refused to indict nine cit
zens OF Washington. arrested by O.
der OF District Attorney Todd after
demonstration Of protest agains
Hanford's rulings in the recent stree
car war.
CONTINUED on page 81