Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-01-12
NORTH CAROLINA
ENDORSES TAFT
Southern State First to Get in
Line for His denomination
Next Year.
SOME SIGNIFICANCE IN FACT
Fertilization of the Panama Canal Is
to BE Strongly OpPosed-Lenroot
Tariff Commission Bill Bears
Longworth's Name.
Bv GEORGE CLINTON,

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-Since President Taft
allowed it to be known some little
time ago that he would be a recep-
tive candidate for denomination by
his party, the Republican state exeCu-
tive committee of North Carolina has
appeared first in the field as an en-
dorser of Mr.. Taft's position. It is
a curious fact that in almost every in
stance, as the political records of the
last 20 years show, it has been
southern state which has given first
endorsement to the 'known willingness
Of a Republican president to succeed
himself.
Ordinarily It can be SAID that the
endorsement Of a southern state for a
Republican president has no signif-
canoe except so far as the national
convention Is concerned, for though
the states below the line" are rep
resented by delegates who have con
vention votes, there is little chance
that the states themselves will give
majority vote for the man who is
nominated
In the case of North Carolina, how
ever, the friends Of Mr.. Taft say there
is some real political significance out
side Of that which attaches to the ma
tional convention. Two years ago
North Carolina elected three Republic
an members of congress, and while
there was a reversal of form at the
last election, there still seems to be
some hope in the Republican breast
that one day the Old North State will
be found in the Republican column at
national election time. Admittedly
there seems to be little basis for this
Republican hope.
Fight on Canal Fortifications.
1t is virtually certain that there will
be a hard fight in congress before
the administration secures legislation
which will permit the fertilization of
the Panama canal. Army and navy
Officials declare that the canal must be
fortified in order to make it's protec-
ton Cerlain, and they laugh at the
plea of some of the members of con-
gress that the waterway can be neu-
II dAlGCo by AuICI AaLlOLldl dSI ECDuCuIs
and that another nation, if it should
be at war with the United States,
would respect the neutrality of the
canal and would make no attempt at
its destruction.
The president takes the army and
navy point of view, although of course
he would not intimate that he thought
any other nation would break a con-
vention of naturalization, for the ex-
preston Of such thought would be
undiplomatic and would give offense.
1t is probable, however, that Mr.. Taft
thinks a paper compact of peace
would be of little avail to keep away
the warships of a hostile power II
the destruction of the Panama canal
was deemed to be of service to its
cause.
1t Is probable that more criticism
has come to Mr. Taft, from the insur-
gent members of his party certainly,
for his speech at WinOna a year and
q half ago when he endorsed Repre-
sentative Tawney, than has come be-
cause of any other speech which he
has made since he was president. Mr.
Taft gave Mr.. Tawney warm words Of
commentator and now it is a little
curious to find that the strongest op-
ponent of the presidents Panama fort
ification plan is the same Mr.. Tawney
for whom Mr.. Taft expressed such
favor
OF course the difference of opinion
on fertilization does not mean any
breach OF friendship, for it is simply
a difference of opinion, but the forces
of the administration and the forces of
Mr.. Tawney are now arrayed against
each other, and even though it may
be called Battle of the Friends it is
nevertheless a battle.
Pan-American Commercial Congress.
Next month there will be held in
Washington under the auspices of the
Pan-American union a great all-Ameri-
can commercial conference. The Pan
American union was formerly known
as the Bureau of American Republics,
and it now has official Washington
headquarters in a beautiful building
which in large part was the gift of
Andrew Carnegie.
The intention of the conference is
to quicken the efforts to bring about
more cordial and complete commercial
relations between the 20 Latin-Ameri-
can nations which have representa-
tives at the seat Of the United States
government Diplomatic and consul
lar officers of the Central and South
American countries will make adj
dresses. and trade experts of all the
countries will talk on subjects in
which manufacturers, exporters and
importers are interested.
Word has come from the Pan-Amer-
lean union that the conference will be
unique in that no platform or resolu-
lions of a controversial nature will
be considered. 1T will be absolutely
non-partisan and non-political, and be
devoted solely to educating and inform
Ing those present about the conditions
and opportunities of Pan-American
commerce.
Iongworth's Name on Lenroot Bill.
The administrations tariff commits
sion bill finally has been put into
shape so that it is hoped by Mr.
Taft it Will appeal to Republicans
The MIX Tyranny.