The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-12
ON SUSPICION
Clay Taylor, alias Prof. Plutte,
Arrested at San Jose.
Supposed to Have Designs on
the Presidents Life.
WROTE TO ROOSEVELT
Advising Him Not to Visit the
Town.
He Has Three Terms in Prison
Recorded Against Him.

San Jose. Cal, May 12.-Clay Taylor,
alias Prof. Plutte, has been arrested by
Detective Pickering for supposed de-
signs on the life of the president. He
has served three terms in prison. 1t is
alleged that he wrote to the president
advising him not to come here. He is
also accused OF recent anarchistic ut
terances.
President Roosevelt gave the people
of the county an object lesson on the
evils of vandalism while at Santa Cruz.
He was taken to the Big Tree grove.
Almost the first sight that greeted bis
eyes as he entered the park was one of
the huge trees with thousands of busi-
ness and personal cards tackled on 1t.
Tourists for years have been placing
their cards upon this tree and it began
to look more a receptacle for bits of
pasteboard than it did one of the Won
derS of nature. The president Instant
ly expressed his disapproval of such
procedure and a little while later, when
asked to make a speech, called attention
to the DETACHMENT of the trees and said
he hoped the people of California would
see to 1t that such vandalism was stop
ped. He also intimated that he would
like to see the cards taken down. Later
when the president went for a walk
through the park the members OF his
party. together with members of the re-
cards. Later in the day the president
again signif1ed his disapproVal of plac-
ing large placards OF signs on the trees.
He was informed the committee wished
to name one OF the trees after him.
While desiring that some other name
be given to the tree, the president said
he did not want to act churllsh IN the
matter and If the committee really de-
sired to name tree after him he would
not object. He stipulated however, that
the card bearing his name. that was to
be placed on the tree should not be
more than three-quarters of an 1nch
by an inch and a half in diameter
The president made speeches at Pa
jaro, Watsonville, Santa Cruz and San
Jose, addressing the largest audience of
the day at this place. He was taken on
drive through the country here, stop
ping for a few minutes at Campbell,
where he participated in the planting
Of a tree The president spent the ev-
ening on his car.
Santa Cruz, Cal, May 12--President
Roosevelt was given an ovation here
| After drive on Beach Hill, where
he had a good view of the bay city, the
president was driven along Pacific
avenue which was covered with an I'M
mense throng, hundreds having come
from miles around. His carriage was
driven through an avenue of thousands
of school children, with waving flags
who for a mile scattered flowers along
his pathway. The cheers of the child
ren were taken up by the pioneers, the
Grand Army. Avalon company u X
X of P and citizens. In a carriage with
the president were Mayor Clark and
j. w Linscott, chairman of the execu-
tive committee for the presidents enter
tainment. In carriages that followed
were also Congressman Needham. State
Controller Colgan. F. @. Mccormick.
Benz. Ide Wheeler, President Butler OF
Columbia and Col. Brady of New York
Flags were lavishly displayed. The
court house was a mass of natural color
The presidents carriage was preceded
by the naval reserves and a band
When the carriage stopped in front of
the court house the cheering was vigor-
Gus. On being introduced by Mayor
Clark, the president, whose smiles tes-
titled to his appreciation Of the recep-
ton said:
L thank you for this greeting.
thank you for your esteem. I wish to
say a word. and especially to the men
of the Grand Army and the representa-
proved their loyalty in the supreme tesr
of 81 to '65 and to the pioneers who
showed their patriotism in winning the
golden west for their country. 1 thank
you from the bottom of my heart It is
pleasure for me to see the men of the
naval militia If there is one thing this
country is alive to, it is our navy. We
must believe in a first class navy. We
already have a good navy, but we must
have a better one. Not only should we
have good guns, good coming towers
and turrets, but expert men with them.
We cannot afford to neglect our navy.
We must build it up; we must have the
best of fighting ships and the best OF
men to man them. 1 cOngTat tulate you
on the progress made in California
You have wonderful state 1 am glad
to see that your big trees and missions
are being preserved. They should be
as they are the heritage of the ages.
They should be left unmarried for our
children and our children's children and
CO f0 4
good luck to you.'
Preceded by the naval reserve and
band the procession moved slowly up
Locust street to a special train. The
big trees were reached in fifteen min
utes and the part sat down to an al
fresco luncheon. Twenty of Santa
Cruz's prettiest young ladies waited on
the tables The naval reserves and Off
GERS acted as a guard AT the close of
the repast the president said Il want
to thank you for your courtesy and to
say how much 1 enjoy being here. This
is my first glimpse OF these big trees I
desire to pay tribute to the associa-
tions. private owners and state for pre-
serving these trees. and also to the citi-
zens who acted in cooperation with the
state in preserving these wonderful
trees. Let me preach to YOU a moment.
All of us desire to see nature preserved.
Above all the trees should not be mar
red by placing cards of names on them.
People who do that should be sternly
discouraged. The cards give an air Of
ridicule to the solemn and majestic
giants They should be taken down.
I ask you TO keep all cards off of the
trees or any kind of signs that viii mar
them See to it that the trees are pre-
served; that the gift from nature is
kept unmarried You can never replace
a tree Oh, I am pleased to be here
among these wonderful redwoods- 1
thank you for giving me this enjoyment
Preserve and keep what nature has
done.''
The president requested ne be unac-
companied in his walk among the trees,
and President Butler was his only COM
panion. While he was away l. Q. Nc