The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-18
After Seven Busy Hours Today
i'm San Antonio
President Taft Departs for His
Brothers. Farm.
LAYS CORNERSTONE
OF Post Chapel Building at Fort
Sam Houston.
Holds Reception on Grandstand
of Alamo Plaza.

San Antonio Tex. Oct. 1s.-President
Taft spent busy seven hours in this
city today before leaving for his broth.
er's ranch near the southern end of the
state, where he is to spend four days
Charles P. Taft has had golf course
| constructed on the ranch, and between
this favorite sport and horseback rid
ing the president expects to have q
| thoroughly good time.
| 1t will be even more of a rest thar
] the president had in the Yosemite and
| he expects it to put him in splendid
condition for the remaining three weeks
| of his notable trip.
| AS matter of fact. however, Mr.,
Taft never felt better than he does to-
| day. Railroad travel by day or night
never tires him in the least and at each
city he visits he places himself en-
tirely in the hands of local committees
and is ready to carry out any program
suggested, no matter how strenuous.
president has led many of the COM
mittees to extend their program far
beyond the original outline, aud they
keep the president pretty busy from the
moment his train arrives until its de-
parture. After his hardest days, how
ever, Mr.. Taft IS eady to sit UP late on
the train talking with his guests on the
trip. None of the latter attempts to
keep pace with the president in all that
he does or is called upon to do.
The president was up early this morn
ing to carry out the program arranged
for in this. the first really southern city
to entertain him on his present tour.
Has Been There Before.
Mr.. Taft has been to San Antonio be-
fore as secretary of war and his act in
that capacity in building Fort Sam
Houston up to the present splendid mil
itary station, has won him great favor
from the city of the Alamo. Wherever
he went today the president was greet
ed by cheering throngs. His declara-
tion of the fact that he was not on d
political mission and his visit was that
solely of the president of the United
States helped to add to the enthusiasm
of his reception.
Before o'clock this morning, auto
mobiles were waiting for the president
at the St. Anthony. hotel to convey him
to Fort Sam Houston, where, with d
sirnpIe ceremony he laid the corner
stone of the nearly completed post
chape! building This chapel, one of
the handsonest buildings to be found
in the jurisdiction of the war depart
ment, was presented to the post by the
citizens of San Antonio and was form
ally accepted and dedicated by Presi- |
dent Taft shortly after his arrival from
Ell Paso last night.
On his way to Fort Sam Houston this
morning the president was driven
through lanes of school children. $4,000
in number, who sang America" as he
passed.
Arriving at the fort, he greeted all the
troops stationed there before proceed |
ing to the chapel where the simple SER
vice of placing the cornerstone in the
niche reserved for it was performed.
Following the chapel ceremony the
president held reception from a !
grandstand erected on Alamo plaza.
with an informal luncheon given by the
citizens.