The Topeka state journal., 1908-09-02
Taft and Foraker Shake Hands
on Reviewing Stand
During the Parade of the Grand
Army at Toledo.
BOTH OF THEM SMILE
And the Crowd Cheered Again
and Again.
Meeting Was Planned to Take
Place Later in the Day.


Toledo. o., Sept 2.-Wiuiam H. Taft
and Senator Foraker. meeting for the
first time since the Republican conven-
ton, created a hurricane of cheers to-
day when they shook hands with each
other in the official reviewing stand as
the G. A. r. parade was passing.
Judge Taft had experiences with a
choppy fresh water sea today on his
trip, from Middle Bass island 70 this
city, to review the G. A. r. parade.
Spray swept from stem to stern in
clouds and the entire party was well
moistened. Mr.. Taft is an excellent
sailor and he faced the wind and wa
ter with some enjoyment. Some mem
bers of the party however, succumbed
to the tossing of the craft, and sought
relief in the cabin. Mr. Taft remained
on deck during the entire trip and was
in the best of spirits, when he stepped
ashore in the city and greeted General
Corbin, Congressman Keefer and Pres
ident Lewis of the Middle Bass Fishing
club, who were at the dock to escort
him to the reviewing stand. During the
afternoon Mr.. Taft was the center of
public reception at the Lyceum thea
ter under the auspices of the Lincoln
club.
The scene of meeting between the
erstwhile political rivals, Taft and
Foraker, was a fitting one. In the
prominent seat in the reviewing stand,
stood the Republican nominee, hanked
on either side by prominent men OF
Toledo. while below him there marched
the veterans of the civil war saluting
and mingling their cheers with the
music of many bands. Mr.. Taft bowed
again and again as the carriages
passed. In one of those carriages sat
Senator Foraker himself acknowledg-
ing cheers from those who recognized
him.
They Shake Hands.
At the stand Senator Foraker, with
Senator Dick and Governor Harris,
alighted and Joined the line of men
passing before Mr.. Taft on their way
to seats. AS the senior Ohio senator
approached and the crowd recognized
him there was a seconds hush and
then a mighty cheer Which was taken
up in the street and echoed far away
in the distance as the senator and the
former secretary of war shook hands.
Hello there" said Mr.. Taft extend
ing his hand as he saw his fellow
statesman approaching. Both men
smiled and the crowd, fully cognizant
that the anticipated reconciliation be-
tween the for Ter political foes was
now an official fact, increased thu
volume of their cheers to an extent that
made it almost impossible for the two
principals in the scene to tell what one
was saying to the other.
Been taking some air at the
springs?" commented the senator.
'Yes and I'm feeling fine"
when did you get here?"
Got here this morning, fine trip
by water, but little rough, however
I'm fine sailor"
And the rest of what they said was
lost n the din of many voices raised
III one tremendous shout. Long after
the two had taken seats and the
parade had moved on the cheering g
continued, freshened continually by
the demonstrators.
Meeting Was Premature.
The meeting of the two leaders oc-
CURED prematurely. For two days the
| city had been excited by reports that
they would be brought together at a
reception to be held at the Lincoln
| club after the parade. Judge Taft
| had accepted and so had Senator
! Foraker. The meeting was to have
, occurred at the club rooms but with
| in a few hours after publication OF
| the news it became apparent that nc
+ club room in the city could care for
| the crowd that desired to be present
| Accordingly arrangements were
! made yesterday to hold the reception
]
city was up on tiptoe of expectancy
when it became known that the presi-
Dental candidate had arrived at the
stand and Senator Foraker had ap-
peared. Those who saw the senator
and realized that the meeting might
take place ahead of time left their po-
sitions in windows, on balconies, chairs
and the like, and set forth at tor
/ speed for the official stand. The re-
suit was that this neighborhood was
packed for blocks with a crowd sc
closely wedged against the ropes thai
no pedestrian could make his way
along the street. save by darting under
the ropes and eluding the police ano
militiamen. Many of course could not
| see what occurred on the stand bu
| they took their cue from the shou
| which arose from that locality anC
| swelled the volume of noise till echoe:
| of it could be heard half mile above
| the music of the bands.