Three Cents the Copy.
INDEPENDENCE IN ALL THINGS. Subscription Price. Sl.OO Per Yr in AHT
VOL XIII.
COLUMBUS, N.C., THURSDAY MARCH 26, 1908.
NO. 47.
100 MEN ROLE NATION,
SAYS LA F0LLE1TE
'
Wisconsin Senator Declares Re
cent Panic Was Planned.
AMENDMENTS TO ALDRICH BILL
Railroad Bonds Dropped Senate
Committee Votes to Eliminate
This Feature of Currency Meas
ure Synopsis of Speech.
Washington, D. C. Congress was
electrified by the sudden elimination
of the railroad bond feature from the
Aldrich Currency bill, and later by a
bitter attack on the measure by Sen
ator Robert M. LaFollette, of Wiscon
sin, in which he charged that it was
the legislation most desired by the
comparatively small clique which has
succeeded in dominating the finances
of the country. The business of the
Nation, he declared, has gradually
been centralized until it is directed
by the men who control the New York
banks, and these men number less
than 100.
Aldrich's renunciation of the clause
of his measure admitting railroad
bonds as a basis for the issuance of
emergency currency occasioned as
tonishment. This renunciation was
made in committee just before the
Senate met. Other minor conces
sions were made, but the railroad
bond feature overshadowed every
thing else. At first it was believed
that the action was taken to embar
rass La Follette, whose address was
understood to be leveled principally
at this phase of the measure.
La Follette was late in rising to
address the Senate. He declared that
the recent panic originated through
the centralization of business in the
hands of a few men. These men, he
charged later, had plotted to bring
about the panic to satisfy business,
legislative and political grudges, and
to advance their own selfish interests.
"I have here a list of about 100
men," he said, waving a paper at the
Senate, "who control the industrial,
financial and commercial life of the
American people. In the grasp of
these 100 men is the destiny of the
Republic. The country does not seem
to realize Jhow closely allied are the
great banking houses of the money
centres to this centralization."
Senator La Follette here read a list
of the names of the men who con
trol the industrial and transportation
enterprises and the banks of the
country. Continuing, he said:
"No student of the economic
changes in recent years can escape
the conclusion that the ownership
and control of railroads, telegraph,
shipping, cable, telephone, traction,
express, mining, iron, steel, coal, oil,
gas, electric light, cotton, copper,
sugar, tobacco, agricultural imple
ments and the feed products are com
pletely controlled and mainly owned
toy these men." ,
, .jfjSK
Less Than 100 Men Who
Control Nation's Wealth.
Washington, D. C. The list of less
than 100 men (including those who
have died since the data was com
piled) who control all the financial,
industrial and commercial business of
the country, and whose names ap
pear in from 1600 -to 1800 director
ates, prominently mentioned by Sena
tor La Follette in his speech, follows:
E. S. Marsten, P. D. Cravath,
.Tas. Stillman, P. Marten,
Samuel Sloan, John J. Astor,
h.. li Ham man, A. N. Brady,
Moses Taylor,
August Belmont,
C. M. Depew,
H. M Flagler,
C. H. Dodge,
J. H. Post,
H. A. C. Tayior.
Jas. C. Fargo,
Wm. Rockefeller, Jas. J. Hill,
Henry C. Frick, Edwin Hawley,
P. A. Valentine, J. R. Hegeman,
C. H. McCormick, J. H, Hyde,
j. W. .Perkins, W.H.Moore,
D: O. Mills,
Wm. D. Sloan,
C. S. Fairchild,
J. W. Sterling.
C: H. Mackay,
C. W. Morse,
A. E. Orr,
H. O. Havemeyer, Oliver H. Payne,
. S3, maimer,
J. H. Schiff,
S. H. Hubbard,
A. Iselin, Jr.,
Brayton Ives,
L. P. Morton,
W. G. Oakman,
T. F. Ryan,
G. W. Young,
G. F. Baker,
C. T. Barney,
E. J. Berwind,
C. L. Blair, J
J. F. Dryden,
J. B. Duke,
G. J. Gould,
D. Guggenheim,
V. P. Snyder,
H. H. Vreeland,
John Claflin,
Chas. Lanier,
W. Langdon,
J. P. Morgan,
A. D. Juilliard,
G. G. Haven,
James H, Jarvis,
Fred. Creswell,
H. P. Whitney.
C. A. Peabody,
D. G. Reid,
J. D. Rockefeller,
H. H. Rogers,
James Speyer,
Charles Steele,
C. M. Schwab,
H.McK.Twombley,
F W. Vanderbilt,
W. K. Vanderbilt,
Henry Walters,
J. I. Waterbury,
W. S. Webb,
E. F. C. Young,
J. G. Armour,
Charles Dawes,
Jas. B. Forgan,
J. J. Mitchell,
N. B. Ream,
L. F Swift,
Oliver Ames,
T J. Coolidge,
H L. Higginson,
Nat'l Thayer,
Thos. Dolan,
P. A. B. Widener,
E. H. Gary,
Samuel Rea,
J. H. Converse,
S. R. Shipley,
E. B. Morris,
C.
A. Peabody,
Morawetz,
H. Allen,
YV. Brach,
V.
c.
A.
Railway Fines Upheld.
The United States Supreme Court,
at Washington, D. C, upheld the
validity of the fines imposed on the
Kansas City meat packers and the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Rail
road for accepting and giving rebates.
RESTORES MOTTO TO COINS
House Passes Bill Putting Back
aln God We Trust"
Change Made by Vote of 255 to 5
Debate on Subject Excited
Lively Interest.
Washington, D. C. Under suspen
sion of the rules the House of Repre
sentatives passed the bill providing
for the restoration of the motto "In
God We Trust" on the gold and silver
coins of the United States.
The bill was passed by a vote of
255 to 5. The debate on the subject
excited the liveliest interest.
Mr. Carlin, of Virginia, said that in
the issuance of the order abolishing
the motto President Roosevelt had
acted unwisely and in violation of the
spirit of the law.
Ollie James, of Kentucky, declared
that in the judgment of the Christian
people of the United States, the Pres
ident had made a great mistake.
In opposing the bill, Mr. Kuster
mann, Wisconsin, said that the motto
smacked of irreverence which went
dangerously close to sacrilege.
"It's a piece of farcical hypocrisy,"
ejaculated Mr. Gordon, of Georgia.
RUBBER TRUST CUTS PAY.
Slackening Business Causes Sales
men to Suffer Reduction.
New York City. That the financial
panic has not failed to affect what
are known as the big business inter
ests is shown by the fact that the rub
ber goods industry of this country is
facing a falling off in trade. The
Rubber Trust is feeling the stress to
such an extent that a reduction of
wages has been planned.
Recently orders were sent forth to
the hundred or more of the Trust's
retail and wholesale companies that
expenses must be cut.
Owing to the union rules and
agreements, wages to mechanics could
not be cut, and the higher priced men
alone will have their salaries reduced.
On April 1 the salesmen and clerks
of the rubber business in the East
and the majority of those employed
by firms in the West affiliated with
the Trust will be forced to stand a
reduction in salaries. The reduction
will not be less than ten per cent.,
and in some cases will amount to
twenty-five per cent.
The men affected by the economicaj
regime are indignant.
SPEKRY TO HEAD FLEET.
j Evans Requests Appointment of Suc
cessor For World Encircling Voyage.
Washington, D. C. Rear-Admiral
Charles S. Sperry will be commander-in-chief
of the Atlantic battleship
fleet when it leaves San Francisco in
July to encircle the globe. This was
decided by President Roosevelt and
his Cabinet.
Rear-Admiral Evans, on his per
sonal request, will be relieved of the
command at the conclusion of the na
val review at San Francisco on May
8. The Admiral considers this the
completion of tne work he was as
signed to do. that of taking the At
lantic fleet to the Pacific Coast. He
will retire in August,
the honor of commanding the fleet
on its visit to Puget Sound and
fleet on its visit to Puget Sound and
until the homeward journey begins.
He has been second in command dur
ing the voyage, and will retire in Oc
tober. SENATOR W. P. WHYTE DEAD.
Maryland's Representative in Uppei
House Was Eighty-three Years Old.
Baltimore, Md. Senator William
Pinkney Whyte, foi man years th
idol of the Democrats of this city and
State, died suddenly of heart ,failure
following an attack of erysipelas
Senator Whyte filled with distinc
tion almost all the important office!
in the State Governor, Mayor, Attorney-General.
Senator Whyte cele
brated his eighty-third birthday la
August last.
Russian Prisons Too Small.
The Duma has been asked for $j
000,000 to enlarge Russian prisons,
which are overcrowded. The number
of prisoners has increased 111 pel
cent since 1906. In January. 1908,
the total number was 159,537, and ir,
February 165,588. of whom 13,00(1
were political prisoners. A large num;
ber of death sentences were pro
nounced in various parts of Russia
The doomed men include ten robben
at Krementchug, four robbers al
Kieff, three men who attacked th
postoffice at Proskuroff and threj
brigands at Lodz.
Women Make Mayor Eat Crow.
Mayor Leopold Markbreit, of Cin
cinnati, Ohio extricated himself from
an embarrassing predicament by sur
rendering under a shower of protestt
from women. He instructed th
Chief of Police to keep women from
acting as chauffeurs This incensed
the Susan B Anthony Club, and the
started up an agitation, as a result o1
which every woman who owns an au
tomobile, and a great many who dc
not, personally and by mail protested
against the Mayor s attitude. "I eal
crow," he said. "I was all wrong."
Strike on Gould Roads Begun.
At Denver, Col., 1500 machinists,
boilermftkers and members of kin
dred trades working In the Denvei
and Rio Grande Railway's shops wen
on a strike.
GREAT LABOR CONFERENCE
Leaders in Washington Consider
Proposed Legislation.
Executive Officers of Trades Unions
. Discuss Supreme Court Decisions
AVith President Gompers.
Washington, D. C. A conference
of far-reaching importance to labor
occurred here. Participating were
President Gompers and the members
of the Executive Council of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor, together
with the executive officers of the In
ternational Trades Unions of Amer
ica, who met pursuant to a call is
sued by President Gompers to con
sider the consequences of the recent
injunction decisions of the Supreme
Court of the United States affecting
labor organizations, with particular
reference to the' Danbury hatters'
case, in which that court substan
tially held that labor organizations
were to be considered trusts, as much
as organizations of capital.
After calling attention to the sig
nificance of these decisions, Mr. Gom
pers stated that the conference was
for the purpose of "taking such ac
tion as the importance and merits of
the subject dealt with may be consid
ered and determined as setting forth
the position and demands of labor."
The court's rulings, he pointed Out,
were binding upon all labor organi
zations until changed or modified by
Congressional action
The object of the conference, there
fore, was to consider the proposed
amendments to the Sherman Anti
Trust act, which are being drafted,
with a view, not of exempting labor
organizations from their obligations
to the public, but rather to prevent
any injustice being done through the
operation of law to organizations of
laboring men, particularly through
injunction. It is desired so to frame
the proposed changes in the Sherman
law as to meet the requirements of
the Supreme Court's decisions. The
proposed amendments are the result
of recent conferences at the White
House between President Roosevelt
and others, and it is hoped to secure
remedial legislation along these lines
at this session of Congress.
There are 117 national and inter
national trade unions in America,
and practically all of them were rep
resented by one or more delegates.
LAUNCH DERELICT DESTROYEII.
The Seneca, at Newport News, the
First of Her Type Ever Constructed.
Newport News, Va. The United
States steel derelict destroyer Seneca
was successfully launched here. Miss
Edith Hepburn, granddaughter of
Congressman W. P. Hepburn, of
Iowa, named the vessel.
The Seneca is the first craft of
her type ever constructed in the
world. Her mission will be to patrol
the North Atlantic coast and to de
stroy derelicts and other wreckage.
She will be equipped with magazines
for carrying high explosives, such as
guncotton and dynamite, which will
be used in blowing up wrecks.
OLD MONONGAHELA BURNS-
Was of Wood, Built in Civil War, and
Stationed at Guantanamo.
Washington, D. C. The Navy De
partment received word that the old
warship Monongahela had been
burned to the water's edge at her sta
tion in Guantanamo Bay.
No lives were lost. She was one of
the old unserviceable wooden vessels
of the navy, having been constructed
at Philadelphia during the Civil War.
She was used as a station and store
ship.
KENTUCKY CURES TOOLROOMS.
Will Permit Fool Selling Only during
the Race Meetings.
Frankfort, Ky. Governor Willson
signed the Withelmi Anti-Poolroom
bill, which was passed by the Gen
eral Assembly ittft before it ad
journed. The new law permits pool selling
on race tracks only during race meet
ings, but not otherwise. The penalty
for failure of officers to enforce its
provisions is a fine and imprison
ment and forfeiture of office.
WANTED FOR PARIS CRIME.
Kid McManns Extradited at Montreal
For Express Robbery.
Montreal, Quebec. "Kid" Mc
Manns, well known to the American
police, after serving a ten-year sen
tence in the Kingston Penitentiary
for safeblowing in Ottawa in 1902.
has been transferred to Montreal on
the expiration of his sentence to be
extradited to Franee as "one of the
robbers of the American Express
Company in Paris in April, 1901.
MARRIN GETS FOUR YEARS.
Also Fined $3000 For Storey Cotton
Company Mail Frauds.
Philadelphia, Pa. Frauk C. Mar
rin, alias Franklin Stone, convicted of
using the mails to defraud in connec
tion with the Storey Cotton Com
pany, was sentenced to four years'
imprisonment and to a fine of $5000.
He was later released in S10,00U
bail pending an appeal.
TWO RAILROADS CUT WAGES
Reduction of 10 Per Cant to Be
Made by Penn. and Reading.
Fall River Mills Operated hy M. . D.
Borden Shut; Down Order Affects
5750 Workers in Cotton and Iron.
Philadelphia. Having exhausted"
practically every other means of re
ducing their operating expenses some
where near a parity with the heavy
falling oft in gross earnings as the re
sult of the heavy depression in indus
trial and commercial circles without
accomplishingi the desired results, of
ficials of both the Pennsylvania and
the Reading roads reluctantly ad
mitted that the next move would be
a general reduction of wages.
When the cut comes, which may he
in April, and certainly not later than
May 1, unless a material change for
the better sujddenly develops, a cut
of ten per cent, in the wages of em
ployes making full time will likely
be made.
The complete reversal in policy
within the last few days on the part
of the Pennsylvania and the Reading
in retaining in the service only such
employes as are actually required
and putting them on full time, from
the one established about four weeks
ago of giving' partial employment to
all, indicates plainly the direction in
V.'bich the straws are drifting.
The plan contemplated will not ap
pear nearly so drastic as a similar cut
vith only half time. In other words,
employes working fifty-five hours a
week and having their wages cut ten
per cent., would still have left prac
tically fifty hours of service at full
pay, as against twenty-seven hours
under partial employment.
Furthermore, with their employes
on full time, a less number would be
affected by such a cut than if it were
put in effect with an increased force
on one-half time, and the chances for
rebellion agaihst such a cut would be
materially lessened. Again, the
chances of a figorous protest against
such a reduction and a possible strike
are still further lessened by the large
increase in tne number of idle men
that the present plans of the rail
roads entail.
bORDEN'S MILLS CURTAIL.
Nearly 6000 Hands Affecied hy Four
Weeks' Shutdown.
Fall River, Mass. Simultaneously
with a drop df a quarter of a cent in
the price of print cloths notices were
posted in the! seven mills of the Fall
River Iron Works Company and the
works of the American Printing Com
pany, all owned by M. C. D. Borden,
of New York; announcing that those
plants would ;be closed all next week
and alternate-weeks until four weeks'
curtailment has been completed.
The Iron Works mills have not
been shut down for curtailment oi
production for ten years. The im
mense plant produces 80,000 pieces
of print cloth a week, employs 5000
operatives and has a weekly pay
roll of $35,00j0. The American Print
Works has 750 hands and a capacity
of 120.000 nieces weekly. They are
the largest producers of printed fab
rics in the United States.
The print cloth market ic in a de
moralized condition, the seventy-five
mills of Fall River combined selling
only 20,000 pieces in the last week
Their capacity is about 25 0,000
pieces weekljr.
SAYS 200,000 FACE STARVATION
New York City. Robert Hunter,
formerly head worker of the Univer
sity Settlement, who married a sister
of J. G. Phelpk Stokes, said at a meet
ing of unemployed in Bohemian Hall,
in East Seventy-third street:
"The Legislature naa no more
thought of the starving and the un
employed thaii you have cf a fly or
worm crushed under foot. To com
bat gambling! now appears to be the
greatest probjlem of the age. The
lobbies at Afbany are filled with
gamblers on the qui vive for every
aggressive m(fve on the part of their
enemies, the fclergymen and the re
formers. AUf this is going on while
200,000 men fire facing poverty, evic
tion and starvation, and noc a voice
in the Legislature is uplifted on their
behalf." 1
MEN DECIDE ko ACCEPT REDUCTION
Boston. Ejy unanimous vote sta
tion men onlvhe Boston and Maine
system have fdecided to accept the
cut of five pr cent, in their wages
until July i.fas proposed by Presi
dent Tuttle. J
It is said finofficially that several
of the railroad brotherhoods are in
favor of accenting the cut.
REDUCTICn FOR 60,C00 HANDS.
Eoston. Tfhus far cotton mills in
New England employing about 60.0C0
hands have posted notices announc
ing a wage reduction in April.
Man ani Woman Drowned.
Mrs. Eli palmer, aged forty-fiva,
and Joseph feosenblum, aged fifty-,
three, were drowned in the Shenango
Stiver, at Sliaron, Pa. Rosenbluin
was driviug and Mrs. Palmer asked
Aim for a rde. The horse, fright
ened at a pil of ashes, plunged over
an enibanitmjierit into the suitt car
(jiieei IUjjcs Appear.
Cr-u buss aid reported tr be
spreading through Kansas ana Okla
homa even more alarmingly than lact
year far the yhct crop.
Wholesale Prices Quoted In New York
MILK.
The Milk Exchange Dtice for standard
quality is per quart.
BUTTER.
Creamery Western, extra. 28 $ 29
JPirsc 26iAf
27
26
24
Seconds
State dairy, fair
Factory, seconds to firsts..
25
(3)
20 21
BEAMS.
Marrow, ehoiee
Medium, choice 2 25
2 20
2 30
2 00
Ked kidney, choice...
Pea.
2 32 2 35
Yellow eye 2
White kidney 2
05
2 10
40
2 45
1 80
3 30
.black turtle soup...' 1 75
Lima, Cal 3 25
CHEESE.
State, full cream 15
Small 15
Part skims, common.. .. '6'S
Full skims.. 1
EGOS.
Jersey Fancy 19
State Good to choice 17
Western Firsts
16V4
16
4
2
20
18
16
Duck eggs 28 33
FliUITS AND BEURIES FRESH.
Apples King, per bbl 2 50 4 50
Greening, per bbl 1 50 4 00
Cranberries, C. Cod, per bbl 6 00 12 50
Jersey, per bbl 9 50 10 50
"strawberries, per qt 20
DRESSED PpCLTET.
Turkeys, per lb 12
Broilers, Phila., per lb 25 (g)
Fowls, per lb 10
Cocks, per lb
Ducks, per lb 8 (jaj
Geese, per lb 8
45
17
'26
13
10
10
10
bquabs, per dozen 1 25 4 00
HAY AND STRAW.
Hay, prime, per 100 lb S 1 05
JNos. 3 to l, per 100 lb. . .
Clover mixed, per 100 lb
Straw, long rye
HOPS.
State, 1907
Medium, 1907
Pacitic Coast, 1907, choice.
Choice, 1906
85 1 00
70 (d( 90
CO 70
12 13
5 8
7 8
3 S
VEGETABLES.
Potatoes, Jersey, per bbl.. 2 15
Long Island, per bbl 2 50
Sweets, per basket 75
Tomatoes, per carrier 1 00
Egg plant, per box 1 00
Squash, per bbl 2 00
Peas, per basket 1 50
Peppers, per carrier 1 00
Lettuce, per basket 1 00
Cabbages, per bbl .... . 60
String beans, per basket ... 2 00
Onions, Conn., white, per bbl 5 00
Yellow, per bbl 2 00
2 25
(a), 2 75
2 25
2 75
2 00
(aj 3 00
8 00
(ai 1 50
2 25
1 25
(a) 5 50
fx) 1 00
2 50
(d 1 25
3 00
a oo
Ob 1 25
(tu 5 OO
3 00
(at 4 (Hi
(5) 1 50
2 50
(a) 4 00
(a) 2 50
2 00
1 25
60
(a). 5 00
4 50
(8). 16
75
Orange Co., red, per bag. 2 OH
Carrots, per 100 bunches... 2 00
Beets, per 100 bunches 2 00
Turnips, per bbl 75
Okra. per carrier 2 50
Cauliflower, per crate 2 25
Cucumbers, per basket .... 2 00
Parsley, per basket 1 25
Leeks, per 100 bunches 1 50
Shallots, per 100 bunches... 3 00
Celery, per case 1 50
Watercress, per 100 bunches 1 00
Spinach, per bbl 75
Kale, per bbl 35
Ih'ster plants, 100 bunches. 1 00
Horseradish, ner 100 lbs.... 2 00
Brussels sprouts, per qt 8
Parsnips, per bbl
GRAIN. ETC.
Flour Winter patents ....
Spring patents
Wheat, No. 2 red
No. 1 Northern Duluth..
Corn, No. 2
No. 2 white
Oats, mixed
Rye, No. 2 AVestern
Lard, city
LIVE STOCK.
Beeves, city dressed
Calves, city dressed
Country dressed
Sheep, per 100 lb
Lambs, per 100 lb
Hogs, live, per 100 lb
Country dressed, per lb..
4 60 5 00
5 25 6 25
1 01 Ys 1 02U
69
65
74
65
57
88
7
9
13
11
--
87 (2)
7 (3l
8 &
(a) 4 50
(a) 8 15
(a 5 20
7 50
4 SO
5
FOOD GEOAVS A SHADE CHEAPER
Not All Staples Down, But Several
Price Declines Arc Shown.
New York City. A general ten
dency toward a decline in prices for
necessaries is shown in the report of
Bradstreet's, with indications of a
further softening." The report
shows that ten out of thirteen groups
of staples moved lower, while two
moved higher, with textiles showing
the most weakness on March 1. Pro
visions were weakening, and there
was a marked decline in hides, leath
er, oils and miscellaneous products.
On March 1, 1907, prices reached the
high-water mark for sixteen years,
whereas the decrease on March 1 last
was 12.5 per cent. Less important
decreases were shown in chemicals,
building materials, naval stores, coal
and coke and breadstuffs.
Only two groups, live stocks and
metals, advanced, while fruits re
mained steady. The average decline
from the high-water prices of a year
ago is figured at one per cent, a
month since March 1, 1907. In Feb
ruary last the commodities that in
creased in price included wheat, corn,
live sheep, live hogs, mutton, horses,
beef, rice, potatoes, cranberries, tar
and tobacco. The foodstuffs that de
creased include barley, rye, flour,
milk, eggs, pork, bacon, hams, lard,
butter, molasses, peas.
Field Deans Advance.
Field beans are selling at the old
level of prices, with the feeling firm
because of the apparent tendency pf
prices at shipping points. The con
trol of the field bean market seems to
be in strong hands, and ar. advance
may he brought about.
ir it ir
Larger Pay Kolls Helpful.
Tietaii trade is quiet, as usual at
this time, although the better feeling
extends to those branches of business
alsa because of the larger pay rolls.
FLEET GOING TO JAPAK
Iff MiKAOD'S WISH
Invitation Through Ambassador
Accepted by Cabinet
TO STAY A WEEK AT Y0K0H0MA
Trip Lets Down Bars, and Entire Itin
erary Must Be Recast Be
lieved That It Marks End of Fric
tion and Will Silence "Jingoes.'
Washington, D. C. The announce
ment was made at the Navy Depart
ment that the President had accepted
the friendly invitation from Japan to
have the battleship fleet visit Japan
ese waters on its way around the
world.
The invitation was delivered to the
Secretary of State by Ambassador
Takahira.
The Japanese note folltws:
"Japanese Embassy,
"Washington, March 18, 190 S.
"Sir Under instruction ffom His
Majesty's Minister for Foreign Af
fairs I have the honor to communi
cate to you that the Imperial Govern
ment, having learned of the comtem
plated cruise of the United States
battleship fleet from San Francisco
to the Philippine Islandsrare sincere
ly anxious to be afforded an opportu
nity to cordially welcome that mag
nificent fleet and to give an enthusias
tic expression to the sentiment of
friendship and admiration invariable
entertained by the people of Japan
toward the people of the United
States.
"I am further instructed to inform
you that the Imperial Government is
firmly convinced of the reassuring ef
fect which the visit of the American
fleet to the shores of Japan will pro
duce upon the traditional relations of
good understanding and mutual sym
pathy which so happily exist between
the two nations, and to express to
you the hope of the Imperial Govern
ment that the fleet may be instructed
to call at the principal ports of Japan
in its extended cruise in the Pacific.
"Accept, Sir, the renewed assur
ance of my highest consideration.
"K. TAKAHIRA.
"Hon. Elihu Root, Secretary of
State."
It was the subject of considerable
discussion at the Cabinet meeting,
and the decision was in favor of ac
ceptance. The official acsptance of the Jap
anese invitation was contained in a
letter delivered to Ambassador Taka
hira. The letter was signed by Rob
ert Bacon as Acting Secretary of State
and was as follows:
"Excellency I h?ve the honor to
acknowledge the receipt or your val
ued note of the 18th instant by which
you are so good as to convey oa
behalf of the Imperial Government
an invitation for the American fleet
now on the Pacific Coast to visit the
principal port3 of Japan.
"I have the honor and pleasure to
say in reply that the President, to
whom I have communicated this cour
teous and friendly action on the part
of your Government, highly appre
ciating this evidence of the hearty
good will of the Japanese nation, has
charged me to request you to inform
your Government that the United
States is most bappy to accept the in
vitation. It gives this Government
peculiar pleasure to accept because
of the long existing and unbroken
friendship between the two countries
and the sincere regard of the Amer-,
ican people for the people of Japan.
"I regret to add, however, that the
limits of time imposed by the ar
rangements for the return of the fleet
to the Atlantic Coast of the United
States will not permit a visit to more
than one of the ports of Japan.
"Accept, Excellency, the renewed
assurances of my highest considera
tion. "ROBERT BACON,
"Acting Secretary.
cc-ptancs of the invitation broke
up the itinerary previously announced
and the Bureau of Navigation is busy
drafting a new one. The fleet will
sail from San Francisco July C for
Hawaii. The next port visited will
be Melbourne or Sydney, Australia.
It had been intended that the fleet
should go from Australia direct to
the Philippines, but in the meantime
New Zealand has sent' an urgent invi
tation. This could have been de
clined had not the Japanese invita
tion been accepted. It is probable
that New Zealand will be visited.
Then the fleet will go either direct
ly to Manila and call on Japan on the
way home, or first to Yokohama, call
ing at Manila later This part of the
itinerary will depend on economy of
coal and time. Yokohama has been
selected as the Japanese port to be
visited, as the United States has a
coaling station there.
The acceptance of the Japanese in
vitation is regarded iu official circles
as of importance in the way of a
demonstration of the cordiality' exist
ing between the American and Jap
anese governments. The added trip
is nearly equal in distance to a voy
age from New York to Europe.
California Japs Friendly,
S?n Diego, Cal. The Japanese
couiniitcee delivered to the fleet en
tertainment committee $211 collected
among the Japanese of the city. The
money was all given by servants and
laborers, in amounts ranging from
twenty-live cants to $5.