Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-03-03
'UNL|MBERS GUNS
IN BATTLE FOR
F0RT|F|CAT|ONS
Taft Fires First Broadside
In Behalf of Pana- i.
ma Canal. -

New York, N. Y, - Declaring tnat
the world was not yet far enough
advanced in civilization for the
United States to depend upon inter-
national treaty for the protection OF
so important project as the Pana-
ma canal, President Taft in his
speech to the Pennsylvania Society Of
New York, made strong appeal for
the canal fertilization program for
which he is fighting before congress.
Il yield to no one in my love OF
peace" said the president, Gin my
hatred of war, and in my earnest de-
sire to avoid war. But cannot per-
NIT myself in the enthusiastic desire
to secure universal peace to blind
myself to the possibilities of war;
This is the first Of series of blows
which it Is understood the president
will deliver to arouse support for his
canal fortification bill. Congress is
said to be about evenly divided on
this question and he hopes to con-
vert a sufficient number to create a
majority support for 100000 ap.
preparation at this session.
The president was here from 6:15
o'clock until midnight and spoke al
the Pennsylvania Society banquet al
the Hotel Astor and to members Of
| the New York Press club at the Hote
Martinique.
In his fertilization speech he gave
detailed diplomatic history OF the ca
nal project to demonstrate that b!
treaty and sovereign power the Unit
ed States had the right to fortify tn
canal
| I'VE built the canal to help us de
fend the country" he continued, mo
to help an enemy attack it. After ex
pending five hundred million dollar
to make our national defense easiel
are we to surrender half the mllltar
value of the canal by giving the ben
eft of It to q nation seeking to de
stroy US? 1t seems to me that tn
very statement Of the proposition cal
J ries its refutation.
cit is said that the fortificatioL
are going to cost $50, 100000. This
an error. The estimated cost is $l2
100000, That, l submit, constitutes
prist premium for insur.ng the canal
safety that ia not excessive. The We
: department advises me that the COZ
of maintenance of the military estal
lishment and Notifications would nj
exceed half a million dollars a yea
l an annual insurance rate after fir
cost of a tenth of one per cent.
"The canal Is on American soil ar
n it needs Notifications for national d
tense just as much as the city OF Ne
York needs defense. War is still
!. possibility and the president, senat'
is or congressman who ignores 1t
8 something against which proper pr
cautions should be taken subjec
q himself in time of peace to the ~
70 criticism of reasonable men and VIII
var comes and finds the nation imp,
AIRED to the unanimous condemnati'
'e Of his Indignant fellow countrymen.
It "No enc that know Of goes farth
in favor of settling international CO
a trovsrsies by arbitration than l
Il ind if / have my way and am able
secure the assent of other powers
- shall submit to the senate arbitratf
u reaties broader in their terms tn
D. any that that body has heretofore ra
Of led and broader than any that NJ
s exist between the nations. But
l. have not reached the tiUo when
i'd an count on the settlement of
International controversies by
pbritament of a tribunal"