The Washington herald., 1908-04-05
TAFT'O DAY LONG ONE
Secretary Keeps Going Until
After Midnight.
GUEST AT FOUR BANQUErS
Then Sits for New Photographs, and
Declares He Has Been Well Train.
ed-Finds Time in One speech to
Praise President-says the Execu-
tive Has Moral Hold on People.

| Chicago April 4.-William Howard Taft.
Secretary of War, and Republican Presi-
/ Dental candidate. spent another lively
I day in Chicago to-day
Beginning with a political conference
with Illinois friends at his rooms. at the
Annex in the morning. Mr. Tafrs day did
not end until after midnight, when the
Commercial Club banquet was over.
The afternoon. with three Iuneheons
between the hours of y and ., kept Mr..
Taft and his escort busy. but he found
time at the first luncheon, given by the
Press Club at the Auditorium. to say a
few words in eulogy Of President Roose-
welt.
President Roosevelt said Secretary
Taft to the 100 members Of the Press
Club, and their guests, has a moral
hold upon the people of this country.
lie saw that in the national rush after
the almighty dollar there was a time
when a halt should be called, and he
called that halt despite the power and
! influence OF the interests that he injured
by so doing. Because the people know
/ that President Roosevelt is -sWsyed by
no interest, he has what I term moral
! hold upon them
Meets Irish.
From the Auditorium Mr.. Taft hurried
to the Great Northern Hotel, where the
Irish Fellowship Club had a luncheon in
his honor. The short trip was made in
automobiles. The streets were lined with
people. who seemed to spring up from
nowhere the minute the word here
comes Taft" was passed around.
At the hotel hundTt ds had crowded into
the lobby and as Mr.. Taft appeared upon
the balcony they broke into loud cheers.
A band stationed near the banquet hail
also added TO the noise.
Another ovation met Mr., Taft when he
entered the banquet room. President
Hanecy introduced the Secretary to the
guests.
Luncheon No was at the Hamilton
Club. a few minutes later. Once more
Mr. Taft made the trip through cheering
crowds.
There nearly all the Republican poll
ticians of the city had gathered to pay
their respect to the Ohioan. The club
rooms We're too small TO hold the crowd
and the halls and stairway were crowded
Mr. Taft After the luncheon, he he'd
a general reception, and more than LOCO
persons passed by him.
Hurries to Another Meeting.
The Hamilton Club luncheon and re-
ception was over by 4 o'clock, and then
the Taft party hurried to the waiting
automobiles to attend a meeting of the
Illinois Society OF the Sons Of the Ameri-
can Revolution and Daughters of the
American Revolution at the Public Lii
brary.
A squad Of mounted police cleared the
way for the Taft party. Following Mr
Taft's automobile came another flied with
the Secretary's bodyguard Of Chicago de
tectives, all looking imposing in their
high silk hats.
After the meeting at the library there
came a short breathing spell, but it was
very short. There was Just time enough
for Mr.. Taft to return to his hotel change
his frOck coat for evening dress, and
hurry to the banquet hall. where the
members of the Commercial Club were
waiting to welcome him.
Despite the long programme already ar
ranged for him. Mr.. Taft agreed to at
tend a meeting of the Railroad Conduc-
tors Union al the Masonic Temple this
afternoon. Mr.. Taft also visited a local
photographer and had a new set of pic
lures taken
Il have been trained so well that can
attend four banquets a day and still smile
when I face q photographed" laughingly
remarked the Secretary.