The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-06
TAFT SMILED ALL
THE TIME ON TRIP
Not Once During Long Cam
paign Journey Did He
Show Irritation.
HIS BODY GUARD TALKS.
RELATES LITTLE INCIDENTS &C.
CURING ON $4,000 MILE TOUR
WHICH MADE TAFT THE NEXT
PRESIDENT.

Chicago, Nov. 6.-"Mr. Taft is a
wonder-the most genial, well-balanc-
ed and biggest man / ever met The
country does not realize how big and
able he is, but it will, in time said
James Markham, secretary to CHIEF OF
Police Shippy, who has returned after
travelling forty-one days with the
president-elect as bodyguard. What
impressed him most was the remark
able patience and good nature of Mr..
Taft under the most trying circum-
stances.
1--WE travelled forty-one days, during
which Mr. Taft made from three to
twenty speeches a day and covered
about $4,000 miles, yet during all that
time never saw a frown on his face,
and he never showed any irritation,
said Mr.. Markham. ut would have
been a crime to keep Mr.. Taft sitting
on the front porch of his home with
out making a campaign in view of the
splendid demonstration in his honor
in the various states. Whatever else
any one may claim, the fact is that
Mr.. Taft did more to elect himself by
his trip, speeches and personality
than did any other factor.
I'VE had about fifty accidents. in
Guiding broken platforms, engines off
the track, overenthusiastic rushing
crowds, but In not one of them was
any one injured. This surely is a rec
ord which seems miraculous.
People Everywhere for Taft.
@hr vi; CIV
for Mr.. Taft they certainly were tri-
umphal journeys, which showed that
the people not only wanted him as
president, but wanted to see him be-
fore voting for him.
"On our way to Indianapolis small
boy hitched on the train fell. He roll
ed off the railroad trestle and fell into
a creek in full view of the nominees
party. We thought surely he was
drowned and the train was stopped.
Before we had time to get off the rail-
road right of way and hasten to the
creek q little boy with mud to his belt
and wet ran to US shouting:
Please give me some Taft but
tons
I'VE took the boy to the train and
Mr.. Taft himself gave him a box full
OF buttons and some change"
"At Wilmington, Del, the crowd was
so large it was difficult to keep it in
check. 1t was an open-air meeting
and the crowd began to sway to and
fro, endangering the safety of many.
A little boy was caught in the jam
and began crying. Mr.. Taft pushed
the people aside, picked up the boy,
put him over his shoulders and placed
him in a safe place upon the platform.
The crowd went wild with enthusiasm
for the boy clasped Mr.. Taft as he
would his own father when he rescued
him from the perilous place.
Loses Two Vest Buttons.
AT Frankfort, KY, an enthusiastic
admirer of Mr.. Taft showed his joy at
greeting him in such demonstrative
manner that when he was through Mr..
Taft's vest was minus two buttons.
The man felt some what chagrined.
When we reached Louisville we
found six girls waiting for us. They
were on hand to sew the buttons on
the vest, and they did. Later they
called on MIR. Taft to receive his
thanks and tell him that they were
honored by the privilege of sewing the
buttons on the vest of the next presi-
dent.
"On the whole, enthusiasm greeted
Mr.. Taft everywhere. The police of
the various cities. irrespective of par
ties, did splendid work in caring for
and protecting Mr.. Taft and his party.
Every day Mr.. Taft was in communi-
cation with members of his family,
and. although always bubbling over
with good cheer, he was happiest
when Mrs. Taft joined the party in
New York state.