The San Francisco call., 1909-10-06
TAFT DELIVERS
SPEECH IN THE
GREEK THEATER
Says Service in the Philippines
Resulted in His Election to
the Presidency
In Oakland He Urges the Citi-
zens to Favor Annexation
Projects for Greater City

and Edison Adams, vice chairman OF
the executive committee. who extended
the hospitality of Oakland as the presi-
dent stepped from his automobile. Two
streetcars. gayly decorated with the
national colOrs, were in waiting for the
presidential party. and but little time
was lost in making the transfer. The
cavalry troop dropped out OF line. and
then. at full speed. the cars sped down
College avenue and into Broadway, dis
tancing all but the fastest automobiles
which followed The president had
reached the city limits Of Oakland ten
minutes behind his schedule. but hs
arrived at the Key route inn at Twen--.
ty-secOnd street only FIVE minutes after
the time that had been announced.
The cars bearing the chief executivs
and his party drew up to the entrances
of the inn between long. mOtiOnles5
lines of soldiers. marines and naval
apprentices. The Thirtieth infantry
with band and nearly 500 men. de-
tachment of four companies from the
marine corps stationed at Mare Island
with the marine corps band and 250 ap~
prentices from the naval training sta~
ton with another band made up tbs
military escort at this point.
President Taft and Mayor Mott met
in a small pavilion which had been
erected Tor the purpose in the garden
of the Key route inn and their greeting
was of the most democratic nature.
GREETED By MAYOR MOTT
I'VE are glad to have you with us.
Mr.. President. and 1 extend YOU the
city's most hearty welcome said
Mayor Mott in a conversational tone as
they shook hands.
And I'm glad to be here. Mr.. Mayor
answered the president.
The line OF carriag ges passed through
the principal streets Of the Oakland
business section and then wound
through bleek after block in the Lake
side district, where the school children
Of Oakland and Alameda county. 10000
strong. had reserved for them every
vantage place. Every public school OF
Oakland and Alameda was represented
by big delegations. as were also the
country schools and the private schools
of the city. and every child was pro-
vided with flag. The review OcCu-
pied nearly half an hour. but the route
was finally covered and the head OF the
column reached the presidents stand
at Thirtieth and Fallon street near
Lake Merritt almost at the appointed
time.
The great open place in front OfNthe
stand and it's sides was packed With
humanity far beyond the reach of voice
and the stage itself was filled with
federal. state and city officials and
president entered the stage band
played Hail Columbia" and two
American flags were run up STATS at
either side of the stage.
Mayor Mott was brevity personified
in his introduction of the president.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
As President Taft arose to speak
there was a sudden crash a short dis
tance to one side Of the presidential
stand and cry OF fright. The limb
of a weeping willow into which a score
or more Of boys had climbed broke
suddenly near the trunk of the tree
and precipitated several small lads so
feet or more TO the ground. The pres-
dent turned anXiOusly in the direction
of the accident and stood waiting for
several minutes before addressing his
auditors. 1t was only when he re-
-ceived assurance from messenger who
had run 70 the scene that nobody was
seriously injured that he turned to his
audience.
They have a saying that the Lord
looks after drunken men, boys and the
United States. Let us hope he was
present to be OF assistance just now,
he began. 1T is impossible for a single
human voice to reach to all this vast
cODcOurse, but L already have a chorus
in the trees to accompany me, and i
only hope it will be harmonious and
melOdiOuS When we were in Berkeley
this morning they told US the sun did
shine on the Pacific coast, and tt has
remained for Oakland to make that
when L was in Minnesota found
two great cities close to each other.
each working for its own good. Dat
spite OF themselves. and 1 suggested
then that they had better have a single
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