The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-04
CHILDREN GREET
PRESIDENT TAFT
Living Flag Makes Great Inn
preston Upon Him
GIFT OF FLOWERS MADE
Young Man Who Is Arrested With
Pistol and Cartridges In Crowd
Watching Taft Proves to Be
Entirely Innocent.
GIFT OF FLOWERS MADE
BY WILLIAM HosTER.


Portland, Ore, October ESPECIAL. y
Vigorously welding a handkerchief to
conceal his emotion, President Taft yes
terday made eloquent acknowledgment of
his welcome to Portland by 10000 school
children Nothing more impressive than
this living American flag has greeted
the President since he left Boston. Five
thousand children alternately attired in
red, white and blue were ranged in tiers
of seats. In the upper right hand corner
of the stand 500 children were attired in
blue, and arranged among them at in
tervals were stars representative OF the
As states of the Union.
1t was shortly after Il o'clock when the
President, having reviewed a brilliant
military procession composed of regular
troops from the Vancouver barracks and
Oregon National Guard, entered the field.
In addition to the 5000 school children in
the stand, 5000 were crowded into the
center Of the field. Through this cheer
ing mass of color. the President rode
until the front of the stand was reached.
Then, under the direction of an instruc-
tor, the living flag was put in motion.
First the alternate rows of red rose and
fell. Then the rows of white and then
the block of star-encrusted blue. Finally,
with all standing, at signal from the
leader, the 5000 little ones began waving
In unison, the red, white and blue aprons
with which they were provided. The
effect was a perfect reproduction of a
gigantic American flag floating in
ment the children dropped into their
seats and in rapid succession four groups
of little ones arose forming the letters in
the Presidents name. As they rose the
children pronounced the letter they were
forming, SO that they stood forth finally
in gigantic formation of yellow letters
on a red, white and blue background
with vibrant resounding spelling of the
name TAFT" The delighted, pierre
ing cheers from 5000 tiny threats added
the final touch to the scene.
Flowers For Taft.
Taft stood. hat in hand, spenbound, as
he watched the inspiring spectacle. A
little girl in white approached, holding
in her arms magnificent cluster of
roses.
Mr.. President she faltered, 1.-The
public school children of Portland pre-
sent these roses to you. They were
grown out of doors. Portland is the Rose
City. We are proud OF our roses, proud
of our city and proud of our President"
Big tears glistened in the eyes of the
Chief Magistrate.
He took the roses and patted the child
on the head.
THANK you, my DEAR he said. falter-
ing much as did the child. They are
beautiful"
The President then had the children
go through the flag formation once more.
When it was completed he advanced to
the front of the stand and said;
Presidents Speech.
Il don't know that. you can hear me
because l have not the advantage of the
possession of the megaphone-like voice,
but 1 am so surprised by your delightful
drill | have just witnessed 1 cannot re-
frain from expressing my gratitude to
you for the care used in carrying out this
exhibition. l have had the privilege, on
my present trip through the country. of
making the acquaintance of the school
children in many places, but no demon
L
beautiful than this one. You call your
city the Rose City because your roses are
so numerous and so beautiful But
have just looked upon 10000 beautiful
roses more lovely than those of your
gardens, and upon which l congratulate
the city, and even more, the parents. |
hope that in time to come you will cher
ish this occasion in your memories as
one that helped to instil in your memory
laval thonphtS and a love of YOUR cOuQ-
try"
The Portland reception has been one of
noise and tumult and enthusiasm
throughout. But one incident marred
the reception, and that was the arrest of
Archer Wright, % years old, of Lowell
Center, Mass, for disorderly conduct,
and the discovery, after he had been
taken to the police station, that he had a
! loaded revolver in his pocket and box
of cartridges.
Arrest of Spectator.
The arrest occurred outside the Port
! land hotel, just before the President
came out to enter his automobile for the
| ride about the city Wright had cam
era in his hand and had been ordered
back into the line several times. He
finally became so insistent on securing a
place where he could get shot at the
President that the local police felt i'm
PEELED 10 place MIN unuef arrest. AL tile
police station tonight Wright denied that
he had any intention of harming the
President He described himself as a
tourist, and declared that his only pur-
pose was to get a good picture of the
President He said he had been in the
far west and had there got into the habit
of going armed. He admitted that 1t
was foolish to have carried his revolver
into a crowd when he was going to see
the President. Secret service men with
the President who looked the man over
declared they did ot think he had any
evil intention.
In every respect the Portland reception
has been such as TO warm the President
toward Oregon. Fully 10000 persons were
cut in the streets when he rode about
this city this morning before going to
greet the school children, and the enthu-
siasm was deep and prolonged.
Tragedy of the Celebration.
New York, October 3-The first tragedy
to mar the visit of the thousands of
c,tata. caf1orS hare 1urin0 fha