The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-09-22
ANNEXATION TALK
IS "BOSH" SAYS
PRESIDENT
Taft Concludes Four Day Tour
Of Michigan
BIG CROWDS HEAR SPEEC HES
For First Time During His Trip the
Chief Executive Touched
Upon Reciprocity

Kalamazoo, Mich, Sept 22-Presi-
dent Taft brought to a close here
last night his four day swing through
Michigan and headed for the West.
His last day in Michigan found the
president speaking and visiting in
Grand Rapids, Battle Creek and Kala-
mazoo. The Grand Rapids address
was one of the presidents set speech
es on the tariff and his yetoes of the
wool, cotton and farmers freelist
bills: in Battle Creek he talked Of
Canadian reciprocity and laid the an
nexation boyle, and he wound up the
day at Kalamazoo with speech on
peace and arbitration. In every
town visited yesterday there were the
same crowds eager to see the prest
dent that he has encountered every
where through the state. The speech
| in Grand Rapids was delivered In a
drizzling rain from stand erected
in Campau square, but several thous-
and people listened attentiyely in
spite OF the discomfort. In Battle
Creek, the president talked to the
largest crowd so far on his trip. Sena-
tor Townsend of Michigan, who intro
duced the president, estimated that
there we're 10000 people packed in
the square before the platform and
others more conservative put 1t at
$4,000. The address last night was
made at banquet In the New Bruins
wick hotel.
The presidents speech at Battle
Creek was the first he has made OF
reciprocity since the Canadian Parlia
ment was prorogued several months
ago. Up until yesterday afternoon
when any utterance he might make
lin regard to reciprocity could have
Inc effect upon the Canadian elections
the president felt that he had ne
fright to discuss that question. Mr.
Taft explained at some length tbs
meaning of the treaty, which, he de
lclared was nothing but trade pact
through which there was not even
remote possibility of annexation o
the Dominion by the United States
He said that the accusation that thii
government had resorted to tricker,
or had played unfairly in order t
gain reciprocity was without founda
ton. 81 know" said the president
"that some irresponsible newspaper
have called me trickster and
swindler, and say in some way de
Iceived or played unfairly with th'
ministers Of Canada to secure th'
treaty. Well, am not conscious o
II, and | do not believe they are
There wasn't any trick about IT, Thu
cards were laid on the table"
"They say we want 10 annex Cana
Ida. HUH said the president laugh
ling. Gentlemen my experience II
this government has taught me tina
we have territory enough without en-
larging our borders. Canada is ou
good nelghbor and along her horde
lime OF 1000 miles there is not q gui
or q fort or a battleship worthy OF tb'
name. They have their troubles; w
have our own. can say for one tia
the talk OF those on the other sid'
who say that the trade treatyswas 4
facilitate annexation is 'bosh'" TIT
president said the test OF reciprocit.
would come In six months ond tia
he had no fear OF the result. Let m,
make you a prophecy" he said. "
want to prophecy that in is or Il
months, and that will be about tn
time OF the next general electlon-th
effect of reciprocity so far as the bus
ness Of the farmer is concerned vii
be so slight that Il viii form no par
al all In the issues in discussion.