The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1908-12-01
TAFT'S GOOD CHEER.
Never FroWned While Campaign.
ing, Says James Markham.
NO SIGN OF IRRITATION.

Always Bubbling Over With Joy,
President Elect Was Happiest When
Mrs. Taft Joined Him, Says Member
of His Bodyguard-Humorous and
Pathetic Incidents.
Unique experiences of President Elect
William II. Taft on his campaign tour
through the United States were recent
ly told by James Markham, secretary
to Chief of Police Shippy, who return
ed to Chicago and his duties after
travelling with Mr.. Taft fer forty-one
days as member of his bodyguard.
1--WE Travelled forty-one days. during
which Mr.. Taft made from three to
twenty speeches a day and covered
$4,000 miles, yet during all that time l
never saw frown on his face and he
never showed any irritation" said Mr..
Markham to a Chicago correspondent
Of the New York Sun.
1--WE had many experiences. Some
were funny, and others had touch OF
pathos in them. In Brooklyn at a
Jewish voters meeting over which
Oscar Straus presided the various in
fuences which affect voters were IL
lustrated. Mr.. Taft held the audience
by a splendid talk upon the various
issues of the campaign, but 1t was
when he assured those present that he
would see to 1t that under his admins
tration an American passport would
be respected when carried by Jew or
Christian In every country of Europe
and that the Jewish people would get
their just measure of protection as
citizens both at home and abroad the
crowd literally went wild with joy.
They shouted hurrah for the pass
ports first and then for Mr.. Taft un-
| til the rafters of the hall shook. There
| was no mistake as to the subject clos
| est to their hearts in the campaign.
"In one Missouri town where the
| train stopped tall and powerfully
built negro pushed through the crowd
and, with broad grin on his face,
shouted, Mr.. Taft, you is de man
wants.
| 1.-THE crowd looked at the man when
Mr.. Taft, with his usual smile. turned
and said. And you Is de man I wants.
| 'sThe negro replied, You Is got me
now and on election day, too,' at
which the crowd became satisfied that
the man wanted Mr. Taft as president
and not for some other reason or pur
pose.
"In a skating rink in an Indiana
town a young man perched himself on
one Of the beams close to the ceiling
and fell asleep waiting for Mr.. Taft's
arrival. When Mr.. Taft stepped upor
the platform the man sleeping on the
beam awoke with a start, swayed for
ward and only by selling the beam in
stinctively did he save himself from
falling upon the heads of the peopl,
In the audience.
"That was a narrow escape yol
hadv shouted a man from the audi
ence to the man on the beam.
"T couldn't tumble, for I'm will
Taft retorted the young fellow, ant
the crowd cheered.
"At Binghamton, n. Y, an old mai
with snow white hair stepped befor
the crowd just before Mr.. Taft begal
his address At the top Of his voic
the man shouted, Fremont first vot
ers, arisev and about fifty veteran
stood up. Salute your next president
| was the next command, and they die
BE seated was the next command
and silently the old men sat down.
"Then, turning to Mr.. Taft, the ol
man said. Now. sir, proceed at whic
| there was thunder of applause, |
! which Mr.. Taft himself Joined hear
!, lily.
j "At Wilmington, Del, the crowd wa
so large that it was dificult'to keep
In check. 1t was an open air meeting
: and the crowd BEGAN to sway to an
! fro, endangering the safety OF man.
: A little boy was caught in the jal
and be~aa crying. slr. Taft himse