The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-31
BOSTON GREETS TAFT
AS NEXT PRESIDENT

Boston, Dec Enthusiastically cheer
ed by a great Boston audience as the
next president OF the United states, Sec
retary or War William III. Taft last night
launched what his friends here are dis
posed to regard as his presidential boom
In the East, although the secretary him
self sedulousy avoided any reference 10
personal politics in any of his three pub
lie appearances here.
Mr.. Taft delivered his first public
speech since his world-circling tour last
night at the annual banquet of the Bos-
ton Merchants association at Hotel Som
erset.
The banquet closed a long and strenu-
ous day for the secretary Of war, during
which he delivered a brief address before
400 ministers I'm the morning and attended
reception and spoke before large
gathering OF the Jews of the city at the
Elysium club in the afternoon
During his visit to Boston Secretary
Taft was the guest OF Samuel Carr, n
Boston banker and relative OF Mrs.
Taft.
more notable gathering OF prominent
and representative business men has sell
dom been seen In Boston than that which
greeted the secretary last night Pre-
vious TO the banquet brief reception was
held In the parlors OF the hotel, during
which Secretary Taft met the speakers
and principal guests OF the evening.
In the banquet hall beautiful decorn-
tions adorned the tables which provided
for the seating of over 500 guests, while
behind the speakers table were great
many American flags.
NOTABLE GATHERING.
President Jerome Jones OF the Boston
Merchants association presided over the
banquet Seated on either side OF him
ha Of hnnnr
who included Secretary OF War william
". Taft. Congressman Swagar Sherley of
Kentucky. Lieut.. Gov. Even $. Draper
OF Massachusetts. Mayor John +. F'itz-
gerald and Rt. Rev. William Lawrence,
Bishop OF Massachusetts,.
Lieut.. Gov. Draper extended the well
come OF tho commonwealth to Secretary
Taft and Congressman Sherley. and was
followed by Mayor Fitzgerald who ex-
tended the welcome of the city.
President Jones introduced Secretary
Taft Immediately great cheer rose
from the assembly as the secretary OF
war rose TO open his speech All the
guests stood up with him and filled the
air with long-continued cheers.
Calls from many parts of the room for
"three cheers for Secretary Taft, the next
president OF the United States" met with
more tumultous cheering.
TAFTs SPEECH.
Secretary Taft delivered speech,
which he read from manuscript through
out making no additions or comment rel
atlve TO his own candidacy for the presi-
dency or other topic.
II am glad TO be here. For more than
two years | have been trying TO accept
your kind invitation. do not feel strange
I'm this New England company My father
was horn I'm Vermont: my mother was
born In Boston: my two grandfathers
were born IN Mcndon, Worcester county:
much of my boyhood was spent In Mill
bury and / was educated at Yale. While
cannot claim 20 be one OF you. I like
to boast that | have enjoyed the good in
fluence of the same traditions.
IL had expected 10 talk TO you about
the Philippines That was one OF the
reasons why l accepted the invitation 80
lightly.
II have been warned. however. that
here, too, there were subjects more alb
sorbing, at least for business men"
After reference to the incidents In the
financial world during the past few
weeks Mr.. Taft said:
Modern business is conducted on
system OF credit which I'm normal times
increases the facility with which the work
OF manufacture. production and sale can
be carried on a thousand fold beyond the
limit OF earlier days. and enables a total
OF many billions 10 rest on very small