The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-10-02
. ROW OVER
POSSESSION
Of Mr.. TAT I
Chester Thorne and Josiah
Collins Almost Come to
Blows - Captain Butt
Takes a Hand.

Who should have and hold
possession Of the big toviai person
age OF William Howard Taft for
about an hours time. was the cause
OF what diplomats would call an
unpleasant Incident on the golf
links OF the Country club yesterday
afternoon. and as result of the
offieiousness OF Capt. Archibald
Butt. military aide TO the president.
MIR Taft himself was made a party
To the actual qnarrcling
The controversy all arose over
how Soon the president should 20
to Tacoma
Chester Thorne. guest Of Seattle.
guest of The local entertainment
committee and guest OF the Conn-
try club. after he had tried with the
assistance Of Capt. Archibald Butt
and failed 20 clip one over on the
local entertainers Of Mr. Taft.
produced public quarrel on the
Country club golf course BY ac-
cusing Josiah Collins. chairman OF
the Seattle entertainment commit
tee aud acting caddie for Mr. TAFT
Of trying TO bold the president In
Seattle SO as 10 disappoint Tacoma
and her people.
Asked 10 Leave.
One word followed another until
the affair reached the stage OF Mr..
Thorne's publicly questioning the
truth and yeraciiy of statements
made By Mr.. Collins. Wherenpon
Mr. Collins requested Mr.. Thorhe
to leave the grounds
Mr. Thorne did not do SO. instead
he followed MIR. Taft out onto the
golf links and appealed for assist
ance from bis friend. Capt. Butt.
The latter told Mr.. Taft that accord
Ing 10 the military arrangements II
vas time for the president 90 hop
into an automobile and HE away 10
the Colman dock and sail for Ia.
coma.
President Peeved.
President Taft said:
Il sometimes get tired OF you
military men and your military ar.
rangements."
Mr.. Taft then said he was In the
hands OF Mr.. Collins and his com
mittee and Mr.. Taft continued 10
play golf until Mr.. Collins put him
in an automobile with the president
OF the Country Club and away they
started for the city.
The presidential party arrived AT
the Colman dock at 4.35 y. m, and
the visit TO Seattle ended when the
president got aboard Mr.. Thorne's
private yacht and sailed away for
Tacoma.
The story OF how Il all came
about is long and the exhibits
which Mr. Collins has TO prove that
he played fairly. consisting of let
ters and numerous other written
documents. are many
I'm nutshell. Il is this" said Mr..
Collins;
Mr.. Collins Story.
when President Taft's itinerary
was first announced he was to have
stopped a half hour in Tacoma, Ia
coma people appealed for a longer
stop. They were told to consult
with the local committee, as this
committee had complete charge OF
the presidents visit. Numerous
messages went back and forth and
finally | promised TO start Mr.. Taft
for Tacoma by o'clock in the after
noon. said between 4 and 4:S0.
"Mr. Thorne and other prominent
Tacomans were invited to come 10
Seattle and participate In all the
functions here and We're shown
every courtesy possible. Soon after
Mr.. Thornc arrived he got next
60 Capt. Butt and got him 20 appeal
10 MIR. Taft to cut out the visit to
the horse show and the Country
Club. This the president refused
20 do.
"Mr. Taft was half hour late all
around yesterday and he was a half
hour late at the dock"