The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-22
Would Be Folly toLeave
Panama Canal I'm
guarded.
TAFT BEGINS
EARNEST FIGHT
Yields to No Man in Love of
Peace, but Declines to Be Mis-
led by His Enthusiasm.
Hopes to Submit Broad
Arbitration Treaties
to Senate.

New York. January 21.-Prcsidcnt
raft tonight began in earnest his cam
paign for the fortiicatlon OF .he PAN
ana Canal. IIiz entire speech at tie
annual banquet of the Pennsylvania
Soclcty, in New York, was devoted &c
this subject. lie has high hopes that
congress at this session Will declare
IN his favor and appropriate $5,oO0,Olu
10 begin the YORK.
In the Senate, The President has been
told. the sentiment In favor of fortii-
cation is almost NO to one. Tho House
seems pretty evenly divided, but not
along party lines. Most of the mem
bers appear To ave ar open mind and
are willing TO oc convinced by the side
that makes the better presentation of
Is case.
President Taft will bring all of his
influence TO bear in favor of fortifca-
,ions. In his speech tonight he said
that there was absolutely no treaty
obligations in the way of terrifying the
canal; that tho United States had every
right and reason to protect wha was
purely an American waterway.
Pence Long Way on.
The President said he yielded TO no
man IN his love of peace and hatred of
war. At the same time Mr.. TAFT eau
toned his hearers that universal peace
was still q long way OF. and he could
not conceive of amy patriotic American
being willing TO allow an attacking
force free and equal use OF g water
way Which was built by Americans
largely as an instrument for the de-
Tense OF their country.
The Presidents visit TO New York
vas =. flying one. lie left Washington
shortly after noon to-day. and will be
back In the capital carly tomorrow
49,. -H IT, - 10 - At - 1@ TO- t,.nyN
direct TO the Hotel Aston for the Penn
s%yivunia Society dinner. At the CON
ciusion of his address there he looked
in at the annual dinner OF the New
York Press Club. at the Hotel Martin
ipuc, and made Il second address, this
time Informal, then hurried to ills train.
To the Pennsylvania Society diners the
President said in part:
Il am going 10 invite your attention
10 the question now poudins in Con
grcss as to whether the Panama Canal
ought to lie fortified. In 1850 we made
the Clayton-Bulwcr treaty with Eng
land. which contemplated a canal built
by somebody other han the contracting
parties. by that treaty with England
we would neither OF US own any part
of the land in which the canal WAS TO
be built, and we would neither of US
cortify 1t. and We would unite together
in guaranteeing it's neutrality. n
would invite the rest of the nations to
become parties to the agreement. The
cruise of the Orcgon of 10000 miles
along the scacoast of two continents
fastened the attention OF the American
people upon the absolute necessity for
a canal as a military Instrument. This
lesson brought about the modification
of the Clayton-Bulwer treat for the
ycry purpose of securing the right on
the part of the United States TO own
the land through which the canal was
10 Dc built, to construct the canal IT.
self and to regain the power to fortify
the canal. which 1t had parted with in
the treaty of 1850. Second. that moth
ing in tho treaty would prevent the
United States from terrifying the canal,
ana that in case of war TIVE The
United states and England. or any
other country, nothing III the treaty
would prevent the United States from
closing The canal 10 the shipping oil
an enemy.
Right Expressly Given.
..Tbc purpose and assertion OF the
right of the people OF the United
states to fortify the canal are shown
again in the passage of the Spooncr
act in 1902, directing the President to
build the canal and to make proper
defcuses. Tic treaty with Panama re-
atirms the treaty with England. made
in 1900, and expressly gives to the
United States the power of fortifca-
ton. We build the canal to help us
defend the country, not to help an
enemy to attack 1t.
Again. under our treaty with Eng
land and other countries, 1t Is we who
guarantee the neutrality OF the canal.
1t Is not tho other countries that guar
antee 1t to us. We have to preserve
tina canal as a means of transit to
belligerents In time OF war Us long
as we are ourselves not engaged In
the controversy.
Then, 1t is said that the fortifica-
| t;ons are going to cost S50.0o0,00
This is an error. The estimated cast
of tie fortlfcations for the canal is
SI2,000.00o.
ut is also said that 1t Will cost S.
God. 900 a year to maintain 1t. This is
also an error. I have consulted the
War Department. and they advise me
that the cost of maintenance of forti-
fcations and military establishment In
time of peace would not exceed $780,
900.
Sucz Canal a Ditch.
THE case of the Suez Canal fur
nishes no analogy whatever. In the
first place, the Suez Canal Is nothing
but a ditch In a desert incapable OF
destruction, and. even when INSTRUCTED.
1t could be cleared within a very snort
time. Tho Panama Canal. by the de-
struction Of the gate locks. could be
put out of commission for two years
and the Whole commerce of tho world
made to suffer therefrom.
II, yield to no one in my love OF
peace; in my hatred Of war, and In my
earnest desire to avoid war. II I have
my way and am able to secure tho
assent of other powers I shall submit
to the Senate arbitration treaties
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