Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-19
TAFT As RANCHMAh
Taking It Easy on Brothers
Big Texas Farm.
MAY DO SOME HUNTING
President Also Expects to Go Fish
ing for Tarpon.
THREAT MADE TO DUCK HIM
Cecil Lyon, Republican Boss" Re-
sents Eulogy Of slayden-Poor
Judgment Starts Feud.
TAFT SAYS HE'S BEEN TOLD
HE LOOKS LIKE CLEVELAND.

GREGORY. Tex. October 49,
Mr.. Taft yesterday commented on
{ his growing resemblance to former
I President Cleveland. particularly
J noticeable when he is not smiling
} He met Capt. Forsythe. in charge
of the secret service at Dallas.
by George." the President ex-
! claimed. ''you certainly do look
{ like Cleveland!'
( $50 I have been told. Mr. Presi-
[ dent said Capt. Forsythe. But a
{ good many people also say that l
} look like you I
yes" said Mr.. Taft, "a number
! of persons who know both of us
! tell me that / resemble the late
( President" !
GREGORY, Tex, October 19.-Presi
dent Taft reached here last night and was
met at the station by his brother, Charles
P. Taft and carried to the 1OO.O0O-a acre
Taft ranch on Corpus Christi bay.
Until Friday afternoon the President
will remain at the ranch. enjoying the
rest and quiet Of ranchman's life. Linen
suits and soft hats were brought along
and the President plans to fish. golf and
shoot 1t will require norther to drive
the ducks in and the chances are that the
President will not have shot at them
He Is ambitious to land a tarpon, how
ever, and eager to try out some Of the
golf sticks that have been presented te
him during the journey that is now more
than two-thirds over. ; Charles P. Taft
has a strong saddle horse for the use OF
his brother, and the President will do
considerable riding.
THE Tof< ooot, 10 ope If tina mast CON,
plete in the world. 1t is devoted almost
exclusively to the raising Of cotton and
cattle. and ON the estate Is complete
tanning establishment. as we'll as big
cotton gin. Several miles in from the en-
trance to the ranch, reached by mag
nificent roads, is the farmhouse. great
roomy structure. equipped with all mod
ern conveniences and resembling more a
villa at Newport than a ranch house in
southwest Texas.
In Hospitable San Antonio.
San Antonio. hot hospitable and dusty.
was left behind at 2:17 o'clock yesterday
afternoon. A review Of the troops at Fort
Sam Houston, the laying Of the corner
stone of the new chapel. which the Presi-
dent dedicated, a reception Of 1900
school children. a speech to crowd OF
10000 in the Alamo Plaza. that famous
cradle of liberty. and luncheon at the
Saint Anthony constituted the program.
Out of the San Antonio reception there
has grown a feud that promises to add
spice to life in that quiet. modest town Of
San Antonio during the coming winter.
The officers at Fort Sam Houston have
MORALLY offended the members of the
San Antonio reception committee. They
rendered a reception to the President at
the fort in the morning and the reception
iv,1,t tAA "a oft
The members of the committee were
barred from the refreshments at the re-
ception. and particularly from the cold
punch. At an earlier period delegation
of the San Antonio citizens would have
resented this insult forctbly. The men,
bers of the reception committee merely
left in a huff. Most of the officers of the
fort are put up at the San Antonio Club,
and 1t is from that quarter that the first
vengeful blow Is expected.
Republican Boss Shocked.
The redoubtable Col. Cecil Lyon, re-
publican boss Of Texas has also packed
a crouch as a result of the days dolngs.
Lyon was shocked to hear the President
deliver a euIogy Of Representative Stay
den, against whom Lyon is waging fight
1t is a habit Taft has contracted. this
thing of boosting the local representative,
and he gave Slayden a lift that ought to
save the congressman thousands Of votes
Squirming in his seat. Lyon bent for
ward and whispered hoarsely to a friend:
II wonder IL the old man knows that
am fighting Slayden?" He was so excited
over the incident that he allowed his
trunk to get away from him. and he
caught the Presidents train breathless
and by a fraction Of second. with all
his baggage in his hind pocket. a flask
and a copy Of a San Antonio newspaper
I'm going to be one of the three to
duck the President in a bayou IT ne
doesn't quit boosting the four-fushers.
said Lyon after he had put to use part Of
his personal baggage several times.
At the luncheon. where President Taft
received a silver tablet containing a pic
torial history Of the growth of San An
tonic, and along the streets he was
greeted by those hearty plaudits that tes-
tify to the Texans regard for friend.
President Kisses a Baby.
Taft bestowed his first kiss of the trip
on a baby at Falls City, twenty miles out
from San Antonio. A five-minute stop
was made. and in the crowd was E. !.
Woolsey. earring in his arms his four
month-old son.
will you shake hands with my baby,
Mr.. President?' asked the father.
IT certainly will replied Taft. He
took the infant in his arms and, lifting 1t
up high, said: will you give me kiss.
my darling?"
No objection being offered. the Presi-
dent kissed the little one and handed it
back to its proud father, amid the cheers
of the crowd.
How much does it cost you to bale
cotton?" asked the President. pursuing
his plan OF cross-examining the crowds at
short stops.
THAT depends on how many there are
in the family came back from the
crowd. IF it is big and you have plenty
Of children. it does not cost so much
We'll, that shows the advantage Of
having a large family" was the Roose-
veltian comment.
Another brief stop was made at
Kennedy, where the President had another
baby handed up to him, but only patted
it's head. Some more repartee followed.
DO you depend on irrigation here?"
asked Taft.
NO. This is dry town." was the
reply. I'VE don't irrigate here
".Ah. you have tried local option then"
Yes, and they voted the vets out
do all Of you come originally from
Texas?" continued Taft.
Here's one from Ireland came back
the reply.
In response to an inquiry for Ohio
men three held up their hands.