The Washington herald., 1908-06-19
LAUNCH
TAFT CAMPAIGN
Continued from Page One.

1
in the limelight on the first night OF
the campaign.
Prediction Is Recalled.
The genesis Of the celebration lay in
1 the fact that Secretary Taft was the first
/ president Of the University Club. and it
was largely through his interest in the
/ founding OF such an organization at the
National Capital that It was started on
a successful career. AS long ago as the
! first banquet of the club, in the spring OF
| 1906 when he acted as toastmaster. the
/ prediction was made that his fellow-ban-
queters of that evening would gather
2gain TO cheer him as the American Pres
ident. II was recalled last night that the
Secretarys achievements had made great
strides since, on that occasion. ne had
/ laughingly observed that with these as
! surances OF the votes of the citizens Of
the District Of Columbia he felt no anx-
| iety as to the future.
/ 1t was the same spokesman last night
who recalled this piece Of club history
and drew from the Presidential candidate
an impromptu speech OF real heart in
terest which skipped over mere political
limitations and dwelt on good fellowship
and home ties. I, was a response in ad-
mirable keeping with the tidy front lawn
and It's family group. nanked around by
scores Of people the Secretary could call
by name without any tax on his memory.
Long accustomed 10 finding every day
] his busy day" yesterdays excitement
pending the announcement from Chicago
/ did not wilt the Secretary the least bit
| lie entered into the spirit of the even
| ings celebration With as great 2est as II
il were only a customary Fourth Of July
! celebration somewhere out In Ohio, with
| his neighbors expecting him 10 do his
share. Yet between the receipt OF the
convention news and his first front
| porch" speech at one Of his homes, he
visited the Washington Barracks and
| worked IN his daily hOr setback ride az the
same time Arriving home he slipped
into a dinner Jacket. dined. heard three
| speeches. and made one himself, shook
hands with 800 clubmen and their guests
at the University Club and got 10 the
| White House by a quick dash in an army
wagon In time TO keep q o'clock APP
pointment with President Roosevelt.
Returns on Horseback.
Dusk was Just settling. and the En-
gineer Band was seated expectantly on
the X street lawn OF the clubhouse, when
4 Secretary Taft was espied approaching on
horseback from Seventeenth street. I'M
mediately the strains OF Hail 20 the
Chief were waited forth. and an en-
thusiastic clubman. with a megaphone on
his arm, darted through the crowd to the
ISecretary's front yard
As the Presidential nominee alghted, be
was apprised Of the clubs plans TO the
extent of being promised red-fre illum.
ination when he started for his White
House appointment. With no greater ap.
prehension than this he quickly changed
to evening dress and dined. while the band
played merrily over at the clubhouse. the
cIubmen sang their favorite Taft for
Ne" 70 the tune Of "Tammany." and
Master Charles Taft assured himself that
the red fire was the real thing" and
burned Just like anything"
AZ $40 Secretary Taft was ready for
the "front-porch" initiation. The club
men became hilarious when the band
started of a snappy march. All zen in
line. and the short distance over 20 the
Taft mansion was quickly covered. Mai.
Sylvester. In person. had charge Of the
police detail. which cleared the sidewalk
for the clubmen. When they had ranged
along the railing the other hundreds Of
spectators closed in. and the history-mak-
ing was begun. The red fire was started
to announce the coming Of the candidate.
Taft In the LimeIiEht.
Mr.. Taft's appearance was the signal
for uproarious cheers. such as come from
men who have Improved the early years
OF their careers by "heeling the varsity"
The candidate saw he was In the hands
Of his friends. The clubs vice president,
DIT. David T. Day, made a few introduce
tory remarks. and then Henry f. Davis.
Of the local bar. took up the pleasant task
Of recalling the banquet prediction OF
some years back. Next District Commis-
sioner MacfarIand. expressing his appre-
ciation OF the clubs invitation, spoke In
behalf Of all the people Of Washington.
The Secretary's features were a study
as he listened to the adulaton of his
friends He couldn't intervene. He had
been captured by his admirers, and he
had to take the full sentence The spokes-
men claimed the credit for rare astronom-
ical achievements In having discovered
his Presidential star long before any one
else. Just a few steps back Of the Secre-
tary, however. was one who seemed al
most disposed TO challenge the right OF
discovery so publicly asserted. It was
Mrs. Taft. whose beaming pleasure was
reflected in the youthful replica in pink Al
her side. Mr. Davis said:
Mr. Secretary. a little over three years
ago il was my privilege as a member Of
the University Club to be the first to
name you for the Presidency. I am
neither a prophet nor the seventh son Of
a prophet. but tonight your fellow-club
members. without regard 10 party affilia-
tions. come to welcome you rs the stand
ard bearer Of a great party We also
wish to Jet you know that we are looking
forward eagerly to March 4. with the hope
that the prophecy which we have made
may be even better fulfilled than II has
been to-day. May God bless you. Mr.
Secretary"
Sang Taft for Ne"
AS Mr. Taft was on the verge a re-
plying the band struck up the Tam
many" air. and the clubmen sang Justify:
Taft for mo. Taft for me
lie is our next President
Hera tonight on pleasure bent
Taft for me- Taft for me-
Uniuui-uni-uni-N Varsity.
BY this time Commissioner Macfarland
was also in the limelight to extend greet
ings from the municipal government.
1T is nearly twenty years since first
you came 10 reside In Washington" he
said; when first you came as Solicitor
General. and ever since. you have been
one OF us You have taken a deep and
abiding interest and pride in the develop
ment OF the National Capital and we are