Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-15

TOO MANY DINNERS J
HURT HIS 'TUMMY'
SECRETARY OF WAR SICK IN
ST. PAUL
Tells 1000 Banqueters He Has Only
Himself to Blame for Severe
Attack of Indiges-
By Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, June 14-It looked
for a time as If the banquet
which was given at the Auditorium to-
night in honor of Secretary of War
Tat would not be graced by the pres
ence of the secretary, who was taken
suddenly i'll while reviewing the troops
at Fort Smelling, shortly after noon.
The banquet was billed to commence
at o'clock, but it was not until 7:45
that the secretary reached the banquet
hall. Looking somewhat pale, but with
his face wreathed in smiles, the secre-
tary of war strode down the long
line of banqueters and the 1000 seated
at the tables, and as many more who
occupied seats in the balconies, rose to
their feet and cheered Justify. To the
Associated Press the secretary stated
that he was feeling much better and
that his attack was merely severe indi-
gestion, which was brought on by the
series of banquets which had been ten
dered him since he left Washington on
his western trip. +-s.E
IT,, banquet tonight, which except
for the visit to Fort Smelling was the
only function which the secretary was
able to attend. was given on the i'm
mense stage of the Auditorium. Plates
were laid for 1000 banqueters, while the
boxes and galleries surrounding the
stage were thronged with handsomely
gowned women. Palms and potted
plants were scattered in picturesque
profusion about the banquet hall, while
thousands of silk American flags fioated
overhead.
When Secretary Taft spoke his voice
was strong and he was heard in all
parts of the Auditorium. He said:
L.. 49, I.< kfNvn 90
ceive the hospitality from great many
people, from those in the Philippines,
many hundreds of miles away; from
Panama, Cuba, Porto Rico, and to
have, with Senator Clapp at my right
hand, to run the risk of several win
ters in Washington; but it has re-
mained for me to surrender to the
Twin Cities of the North,
BIames Himself
Seriously the condition in which ]
find myself tonight is my own fault,
and I can refer to Archbishop Ireland
for the truth of the saying that You
may bray a fool in a mortar among
wheat with a pestle and his foolishness
will not depart from him. I don't know
whether that is the st. James or the
Douay version, but the substance is
correct. The fact is that caught a
cold and added to my indiscretion by
eating too heartily of the cheer pro-
vided for me at my various stopping
places, and I am confronted with a
weakness that / ought not to con-
fess.
81 ought not to be here now, but fol
desire to come and witness this won
derful greeting, and / want to make
this statement just as strong as If
were to make a speech for an hour
which I am not going to do. had
hoped to invite your attention to what
has been accomplished in constructing
the Panama canal and to give you ar
idea of what we have been doing dowr
my condition and simply give you ar
outline of what has been DONE"
Secretary Taft then outlined briefly
the plans which were made for the
prosecution of the work ''It is great
evidence of progress to get to such g
state that in April we excavated $780,
600 cubic yards Then in May we hao
strike, but that has been amicably
settled and we will take out a millfor
cubic yards a month. That woulo
mean that we ought to complete the
canal in the four years, but l don't
want to hold out that hope to you. II
we complete the canal in seven years
we will demonstrate in record time
what American energy can do
After q few words of excuse for cut
ting his address short, Secretary Taft
said good by and then, before the cheer
ing had subsided, he was out of the
door and into an automobile on his
way to the home of j. G. Hill.
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