Omaha daily bee., 1907-06-19
MEETS BUSINESS MEN OF OMAHA
Discusses Subjects of Vital Interest to
American People.
RECEIVES A SPLENDID OVATION
Entertained at Omaha Club Dinner by
Victor Rosewater.
GOVERNOR AND OTHER NoTABLEs
Train Delayed I'm Arriving, but This
Does Not Seriously Interfere
with Program aA
Laid Out.

For several hours last night William H.
Taft, secretary OF war forme rgovernor-
general OF the Philippines and prospective
candidate for president OF the United
States was the guest OF Omaha Though
he came rather in the quasi-private capa-
city as orator for the Young Mems Chris
tian association at the formal opening Of
the splendid new building at Seventeenth
and Harvey streets the secretary OF war
was received with that depth OF cordiality
which made him, feel he was the well
come and honored guest of the city, and.
indeed the state, for the states chief exc
cutive was here to participate in the re-
ception.
Secretary Taft came as no stranger to
Omaha, but he came with renewed honors
and distinction. His last visit was during
| the fall OF 1906, when he spoke at the Bur-
wood theater. But life as rapidly NOV
ing, as prolific of results, as strenuous as
that which the head OF the governments
war department leads, necessary achieves
many distinctions. because It produces
things, and so Secretary Taft came back
to Omaha after the lapse OF less than two
years bigger and far more distinguished
man. Great things had been accomplished
by the Washington government since his
last visit. and he had share din the doing
of those great things.
Wen and JOviaI, as Usual.
Omaha friends OF the secretary were
gratihed TO find no trace OF the recent
| indisposition which overlook him at st.
Paul He appeared TO be and said he was
standing his Journey we'll and enjoyed his
trip through the west, section of the
country OF which he is particularly fond.
Secretary Taft had had a strenuous day
| Tluyir, 20 IA
| his train on the Northwestern railroad was
unavoidably delayed. When it had reach
ed Long Pine, Neb, at n:S0 yesterday
morning 1t was four hours late Heroic
action was necessary to land II in Omaha
anywhere near schedule time. North
western officials thought and acted quickly
and that part OF the train occupied by tile
| secretary and his party was detached from
the regular train and whisked into Omaha
as a special. The Northwestern said II
| could get Secretary Taft into Omaha at
| TsOS instead OF Sso6. two hours late instead
of four. It did better: 1t got him here at
e:45, and that was not late enough to mar
the program seriously.
| ReceDtioh at the Train.
The train was met at the Union station
| by Victor Rosewater, editor OF The Bee;
Gurdon w. Wattles Postmaster II, h.
Palmer and Brigadier General Edward 8.
Godfrey, commanding the Department of
the Missouri; Major General Charles r.
Noyes military secretary; Major Thomas
swobe, acting chief uartermasteri Major
George T, Holloway, pay department.
! Captain T. b. Hacker, chief commissary;
Captain Claude B. Sweezey, pay depart
ment; Captain Leonard b. Wildman, act
ing chief signal officer; Captain r. P.
O'Connor, acting chief surgeon; Captain
| aautar
Captain Wfliaqm G. Doane. acting Judge
advocate; Lieutenant f. W. Fonda, Tenth
cavalry. and Lieutenant George r. Allin.
aide-de-camp to General Godfrey.
| Secretary Taft was the first OF his party
/ to appear from the private car and was
met by Mr.. Rosewater who introduced
him to the two other members Of the citi-
CONS committee. The remainder of the
Taft party consisted OF Major General ].
Franklin Bell chief OF stan of the United
States army and Mrs. Bell; Captain
| William NJ. Wright Of the general stan and
! aide-de-camp to General Bell; Mr.. Wendell
NJ Mischier private secretary to Secretary
| Taft and United States Senator Kittridge
OF South Dakota.
Meets Army Officers.
After the formal greetings Secretary
Taft was introduced to the regular army
General Bell and Captain Wright both Of
whom were personally acquainted with
most of the officers. This was especially
! true as regards Captain Wright, who .is
well known in Omaha as having been at
1 tached to the STAFF OF Major General John
M. Bates while he was in command Of the
/ Department OF the Missouri.
/ The distinguished party was then es-
corted to the north entrance OF Union sta
{ tion, where conveyances were in waiting
TO take them TO the Omaha club as special
guests OF Victor Rosewater at a dinner.
Secretary Taft. Mr. Rosewater and Mr..
Wattles were driven TO the club In M.
watties' automobile and General Bell.
General Godfrey and the others were driven
TO the same destination in carriages.
south Dakota Statesmen.
Senator Kittridge only accompanied the
party as far Omaha, leaving 1t here
The party was accompanied as far as Nor
folk by Senator Gamble dhd Governor
Crawford Of solth Dakota and from Nor
folk for a considerable distance down the
road by Congressman Kinkaid, who left It
at Fremont.
Owing TO the delay in the arrival OF the
train and the fatikue incident TO travel
the contemplated reception to Mrs. Bell at
the Paxton hotel was abandoned.
Governor Sheldon was not In the party
that received Secretary Taft at the train.
for he had only arrived in Omaha a few
hours previous, tired from the long jour
ney he had made over the Pacifc north
west with the Omaha boosters. but he
Joined the distinguished guests Of tho
Omaha club and accompanied It to the
Young Mems Christion Association. Crowds
had assembled al the depot and later at
the Young Mems Christion Association
building to see and cheer the distinguished
visitors.
Dinner at Omaha Club.
The guests at the dinner were:
The secretary OF war
Governor George l. Sheldon
Senator Norris Brown
Senator r. J. Burkett
Major General j. Franklin Bell
Brig. General r. s. Godfrey
oh L