The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-24
Secretary of War Helps to Win
 a Great Ball Game
PARADES WITH STUDENTS
Mir. Taft Marches Around the Field Before the Game With the Pro- cesson and Then Vale
 Trounces Harvard.

New Haven, Conn.,, June 23.-This has been a glorious day for "Old Eli, a glorious day for Secretary w. H. Tart. Big Bill" as he is affectionately termed by all old Yale men, was the center to- day of all the enthusiasm surrounding the Yale commencement festivities. The quietude of yesterday gave place today 10 the most enthusiastic demonstrations Of affectionate regard for one of Ya's's most distinguished sons. Throngs of graduates students and citizens of New Haven fol- lowed the big war secretary's every moVe From the moment he appeared this morn- irg in a big automobile at Woodbridge hall, where he attended an important meeting of the Yale corporation, until to- right when he left the Edwards house, the headquarters of his class of '7s, for the New Haven Country club to attend his class dinner, thousands of people con- stantly were about him. They manifested their affectionate regard for him in every conceivable way.
 This was, indeed, a Taft day Beginning practically at the Ledyard memorial ,ied- cation, where the secretary deliv"ed feicitous address in memory of the Yale man of '9S who laid down his life n inc cause of his country, it ended tonight in the midst of hts classmates, who had ils- sembled to pay tribute to their alma mater and for their eminent fellowmember.
 Class Photographed.
 r 1-o1 of ii drri- ice tion of the flag staff. Secretary Taft proceeded directly tostlfe f1dwards house, where arrangements had been made to photograph the class of '7S
 Directly after the luncheon ;:"G meeting, the class of '7S, headed by Secretary Taft and Judge Howard c. Hollister of Gin cinnati, and Master Charles Taft formed for it's march to Yale field to witness the Yale Harvard baseball game. It was mo- table that Secretary Taft dise,ained to use an automobile which was placed at his disposal and insisted. notwithstanding the excessive heat, upon marching wI-h his classmates.
 As the class of '7S swung through the entrance of Yale field headed by Big Bill" the vast crowd of 1000 rose to it's feet and under the leadership of .he yell and song directors, began the thrilling cry with it's added snapper of Mine Tafts. Tie great throng remained standing as the parade of picturesqucly garbed classes marched around the field. The parade de- layed the game for half an hour. Tie secretary has desired for weeks to see game for ''blood' and that was granted today. Both teams were on edge, and the contest was replete with brilliant plays on both sides.
 Vale Bubbles Over.
 As wild a scene of jubilation and as picturesque a mass of humanity as ever had a setting on a baseball dia- mon was that which the alumni of Yale university presented as greeting to Secretary Taft as he sat with hls class of '7S in the stand on Yale field to see the annual game between the Blue and the Crimson. His cup of hap piness was filled to overflowing, for not only was the crowd a record breaker in his honor and the classes the noisest ever in their dances upon the greeu sward, but Yale whipped her rival by the score of 3 to 0 in a game which was full of better playing than either team has shown this season. As an omen of good luck, Secretary Taft, marching with Judge Hollister in tho
  ly following band which constantly played the stirring Yale airs, and fianked on either side by the stars and stripes and the banner of the class of '7S. marched twice around the ball field .n full view of more than 4,000 wildly cheering men and women. and followed by the reunion classes, numbering sev- eral hundred young men. The Secre- tary. loyal to his class. as he said he would be, disdained to leave it when, finally 1t was ushered into one of the stands on the westerly side of the field under the towering football stand.
 Secretary Taft and his class, at the head of all reunion classes. made his appearances on the ball field at o'clock. As the familiar figure of the Secretary came from around one eni of the stands thousands of people gave Iusty yells and bands massed on the stands, waiting for them to come into view. burst out into music. The class of '7S with MT. Taft at it's head. swung on to the field and then began the pre- cession wh ich for more than 30 minutes was one great moving band of color and action. Stand after stand swung into unison of cheering under the leadership of men with mega ph ones :s MT. Taft and his classmates went by,
 Good Ball Game.
 The ball game was a good one. The intensity of the moments they passed, when Yale was only one run ahead of Harvard for many innings, was a restraining factor on the spirits of the young men In the stands. But when in the seventh Yale cut loose and scored two runs the Yale men made up in a few minutes for all the time they had held their exuberation in bounds. Secretary Taft's tribute to the team and it's captain came In the first in- ming when Tad Jones stepped to tho bat Up rose the Secretary and the class with him. and the band in front played For God, For Country and For Yale" And one more wave of cheer ing swept round and round the field. AS soon as the game was over Secre- tary Taft passed out of the stand and