The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-12-31
WAR SECRETARY
GIVEN OVATION
IN BOSTON
REYN0IE SPEECH OF
LEADING CANDIDATE FOR
PRESIDENTIAL HOAORS

BosToN.. Dec. 3l.-Greeted with
cheers as THE next President OF the
sJnited States" topic which he care
;fnlly avoided in his own remarks, how.
ever, Secretary of War William H.
TAFT delivered his first public speech
\ since his world clrcling tour last night
at the annual banquet Of the Boston
merchants association at the Hotel
Somerset.
The banquet closed long and
strenuous day for the Secretary Of
War; during which he. delivered a
brief address before 400 ministers in
the morning and attendad reception
and spoke before large gathering
! of the Jews Of the city at the Elyslum
!. club inl the afternoon. During his
visit to Boston. which ended this
morning: Secretary Taft was the guest
Of Samuel Carr. Boston banker, and
relative OF Mrs. Taft.
s. A more notable, gathering Of promi-
nent and representative business men
x has seldom been seen in Boston that
that which greeted the secretary last
night.
President Jerome Jones, of the
Boston Merchants Association, presid-
ed. Seated on either side Of him
we're. the speakers and guests of hon
or. who included Secretary of War
William H. Taft. Congressman sher.
ley, Of Kentucky lieutenant Governor
Eben S. Draper, Of Mass; Mayor John
F. Fitzgerald. and Right Rev. W. VI.
Lawrence, bishop OF Massachusetts
in introducing Secretary Taft. Presi.
dent Jones said:
1--WE are favored this evening by the
presence OF man from middle west,
who has impressed us ali with his
fitness for the most important position
great and powerful nation can be.
stow and in brief, an official of great
strength and wisdom. He has recently
put girdle around the earth as IN
= -
ambassador OF peace and good will.
visiting the great rulers Of mighty
nations and We want to hear him talk
to u.s."
AS the Secretary Of War rose to
reply, all the guests stood up with
him and filled the air with long. con-
tlnuous cheers. s,l ~
Calls for Three cheers:.for Secre'
tary Taft, the next president Of the
United States" were heartily ac'
claimed. .SElt
Z Taft Talks. S
Secretary Taft read his speech.
II from manuscript throughout, making
no additions or comment relative to
his own candidacy for the presidency
or other topic.
Gentlemen OF the Merchants and Man
ufacturers' Association. Of Boston:
lam glad to be here. For more than
two years have been trying to &C
cept your kind Invitation. do not
feel strange in this New England com
pany. My father was born In Yer
mont; my mother was born In Boston;
my two grandfathers were born in
Nendon. Worcester county; much Of
my boyhood was spent In Millbury, and
was educated at Yale. While can.
not claim to be one OF you, like tc
: boast that have enjoyed the good In
: auence Of the same traditions.
had expected to talk to you about
the. Philippines tonight. That was
one Of the reasons why accepted the
{ invitation so lightly. 1t Is a subject
easy for me to talk about. For instance
I have found that one OF the best
methods OF dlscouraging my friends,
the correspondents Of the press in
Washington, from pursuing embarras'
sing Inquiries into other matters. is to
insist on discussing with them for pub
lIcation Interesting phases Of the Phil
Ippine situation. They leave forthwith
But had supposed that however dead
the Islands might be as a topic invit
ing discussion and attracting attention
.5St elsewhere, one could arouse some ex'
element over 1t still In Boston.
shaye been warned. however. that here
I too, there were subjects more absorb
! ing, at least for business men. So
when i was honored by an invitation
for this morning to address the min.
listers Of Boston, whose profession car.
Ties them naturally ina consideration
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