The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-07

California delegation consisting OF
Governor Gillette, Senator Flint and
Representatives Needham, Mckinney
and Englebright.
when the date of the presidents
visit to the park was fixed there was
great fear that his trip might be Sc
riously marred by the sunocatlng
dust which sometimes is encountered
on the way in and out during the ory
seasons of the year. Rains during the
last ten days, however, have FORUM
ately served to put the roads in the
best of condition and also to PROVIDE
a new supply of water for the falls
The president made several car-eno
speeches at the thriving little Cali
fornia cities between San FRANCISCO
and MERGED, and at the latter place
was escorted to the court mouse,
where he made a brief address to
big throng. All business in the town
was suspended while the president
was there.
At MERGED the president was pre-
scented with another golf stick. 1t
was made of eucalyptus wood gold
mounted. The presentation called
out a golf speech in which the presi-
dent suggested that the unirrigated
land of the west be turned into open
golf links for the public.
Makes Golf Speech.
Mr.. Taft said:
II am very much touched by your
kindness in giving this to me, this
memento of my visit. 1t has refer
ence to the game of which 1 am very
fond. The game of golf is an old
Scotch game played in Scotland by
everybody. They have what they
call 'pone links that is golf grounds
devoted to the public and 1 sincerely
hope that in this country the game
will spread
1--WE don't. in this country, need
games for boys from Is to 25 or 80,
because we already have them 1
suppose I am looking at some base
ball fans equal to myself in that re-
gard I don't know how it is with
you, but have got beyond my base
ball playing days. The game of golf
remains with you from SO to 70. In
deed, have played with a gentleman
very near eighty and he beat me.
ct is a game that leads you to
walk without realizing that you are
walking.
at am hopeful that out here you
may have land not irrigated that you
can devote to this game. There is
this about it: When you first see the
game you will appreciate the tone of
ridicule that generally attaches to a
good sized man chasing a Quinine pill
with a stick around a field; but after
you have driven two or three blows at
that ball and found that, although 1t |
is considerably larger than a Quinine |
pill, it is not large enough to hit, you |
realize the training of character that |
ct don't know any game that is so |
of profanity as golf. I |
don't know any game that makes one |
so ashamed of his profanity. 1t is a |
game full of moments of self-abase- |
ment, with only a few moments of |
Self-eXaltation, and we Americans |
who are not celebrated for our mod |
esty, may find such a game excellent |
training. Certainly, I think, am |
sure that those gentlemen over fifty |
who are in need of something and do |
not know what, if they will only or |
ganize a club and get the golf sticks |
and chase them around 5000 yards |
every afternoon they will become a |
great deal more contented with life |
and a great deal better satisfied with |
the condition in which the Lord has |
left them"
While winding slowly up the pic |
turesque canon of the MERGED river
from MERGED to Ell Portal the presi- |
dents train bumped into hand car |
which a section hand was trying to
get off the track. The car was little |
damaged. no one was hurt and there /
was no delay.
The train became stalled on
heavy grade just below Ell Portal and
it was necessary to split 1t in two. the
president coming in on the second
half. The engine number was %.