Arizona republican., 1909-10-10
Have All Been Seen By Presi-
dent And His PaftQ
Ia
HE WORE OUT HIS ESCORT
With Constant Tramping
and Early Rising Story
of the Man Who Had to
Go to Bed While His
Shirt Was Being Washed


Travelled nearly 100 miles by stage and
on foot in and around Yosemite val
ley. President Taft returned here to-
night and will resume his journey to
the southwest tomorrow morning.
He will stop during the day at Merced,
Fresno and Bakersfield. and reach
Los Angeles early on Monday morning.
The president was wringing wet
with perspiration when he reached
the foot of the trail today and had to
go to bed in the Sentinel hotel while
to dry. Even the presidents outer
garments were wet and he had only
the one gray norfolk jacket suit with
him in the park, and he had no alter
native but to follow in the footsteps
of the tabled man who owned but one
shirt. Mr.. Taft took lunch with Major
Forsythe of the army
The presidents last day in Yosemite
park was probably his most enjoyable
one. He began it by looking at the
sunrise over the eastern granite walls
of the valley, his vantage point being
the veranda of the little Glacier Point
hotel, set right at the very edge of
the SOOO-foot drop into the floor of
the valley. The surroundings were
rough and secluded and the president
appeared in scant attire. Having seen
the sun properly up and at its duty,
Mr.. Taft retired again and slept until
o'clock The 740O-foot altitude did
not seem to affect him in the least
In fact, the president has stood the
long rides and early hours of the
Yosemite~ trip better than most other
members of the party.
After fifty miles of staging it yes
terday he sat up until 10:3O p m,
PLAYING a friendly game of bridge with
Governor Gillett of California, Repre-
sentative Mckinley and Capt A. W
Butt. Today the president set such a
pace down the four miles Of the short
trail. which brought him from Glacier
Point to Yosemite, that he had two Of
his congressional escort, Representa-
tives Mckinley and Needham, calling
for help.
The trip down the trail was filled
with interest. At Union Point, one
third the way from the top, the presi-
dent went to the very edge of the
cliff and waved "a handkerchief in
greeting TO some mere specks or
humanity who could be seen moving
about the floor. In a little while he
caught the sound of three cheers sent
up in his honor. John Muir. the
naturalist. explained every view. every
tree and flower on the way down and
dwelt time and again upon the
glacial theory Of the formation of the
valley.
The president was told that the
short trail down which he was pass
ing was first "blazed" by an old set
tier who lived in the hills. His wife
would not let him have any whiskey
in the house. so he had to walk daily
down into the valley to get a drink.
Representative Mckinley also told a
story anent the presidents early ris-
ing i'm the Yosemite. As a boy he had
gone to work for farmer sand had
been assigned the task of milking the
cows. The first morning he arose at
4 o'clock and went down to the barns.
He found the boss" already at work
currying the horses. When / got
there" said Mckinley. "the old fellow
looked up at me and said: We'll, son.
where the devil have you been all the
forenoon2'"
The members of the presidential
party during the stay in the Yosemite
have been Governor Gillett, Senator
Flint. Representatives Englebright,
Mckinley and Needham. Major For
sythe, the army custodian of the park,
John Muir and Capt A. W. Butt.
The members of the California dele
CATION in congress who have accom-
panied him through the Yosemite have
been urging the president to make
trip to the Philippines in 1911. Mr..
Taft has no deeper interest than that
of the Philippines and he has listened
to the suggestion of a trip to the is
lands with some degree Of enthusiasm.
1t has been pointed out to the pres
dent that he could make a trip to the
Philippines well inside of three months
by taking a fast cruiser. and that he
would actually be away from Wash
ington but a little longer than on the
journey through the west. If the