The San Francisco call., 1909-09-30
TAFT REACHES
PACIFIC COAST
CITY IN NORTH
Seattle Greets President, Who
Attends Reception Given by
Mrs. Richard A. BaIIinger
Old Sweetheart of Chief Execu=
tive Pays Him Visit at
North Yakima

reached the Pacific coast tonight just
two weeks after his start from Boston.
The presidential party was met at the
union station at SIS o'clock by a recep-
lion committee Of two dozen members.
The visitors and the reception commit
tee entered automobiles and preceded
by troop of mounted police proceeded
10 the Rainier club half mile distant,
where a reception in honor of the presi-
dent was given by Mrs Richard A Bal
linger. wife of the secretary of the in
terror.
After half an hour at the club the
president and his escort went to the
Hotel Washington. which will be the
home Of the visitors until their depar-
ture for Tacoma Friday morning. The
president retired early. after greeting
The Yale club. which was holding a
dinner and reception at the hotel.
GREAT THRONG AT STATION
A great throng of people waited for
the president at the railroad station
and along the brilliantly lighted streets
through which he passed. and there was
cheering at every step of the way.
The showers Of the last two days had
discouraged attempts at general deco
ration, except that pictures of the pres
ident were displayed everywhere and
every fagstan carried banner.
The visit 10 the Alaska Yukon-P Pacific
exposition viii begin at $3.50 o'clock to-
morrow morning and Taft viii tour the
grounds. After luncheon he Will make
an address in the amphitheater and in
The evening he viii speak at the expo
sition grounds.
On his way 10 Seattle the president
passed through a section of the coun-
try noted for fruit raising. At North
Yakima, where he spent the forenoon
nd made an address from in front Of
the courthouse, the president saw one
OF the Oldest irrigated fruit districts
Ia the far west The great yield of
apples especially attracted his atten-
Jion.
MEETS OLD SWEETHEART
The president met an old sweetheart
OF his al North Yakima and proudly
boasted of the fact when he addressed
great throng OF Yakima valley citizens
IN front Of the courthouse. While the
president was breakfasting in his car,
the Mayhower. a card was brought TO
him. On IL was the name of Mrs. Betty
Hodges who was formerly Miss Betty
ans VI AAl1lnHdll- MIS- HOQSeS was
warmly welcomed on board and was in
troduced by the president TO ali his
breakfast guests, including Governor
Hay and Senator Jones. When he was
speaking at the courthouse Taft COM
plimented the Yakima people on their
splendid apple orchards and declared
that his love for apples created a bond
of union between him and the people
Of that section. He caused a shout of
laughter by saying:
And here is another bond between me
ana the Yakima valley, although per-
haps L ought not TO say it in so public
place. L found an old sweetheart of
mine here today.
You don't know who she is. and 1 am
not going TO tell you. but before she
gets through she is going TO be one of
the most successful farmers of your
district. At any rate, II she can culti
vste the good will Of the fruit as she
did the men in my neighborhood she is
bound to succeed.
CIVIC PRIDE COMMENDED
In d speech at the luncheon rendered
him by the Commercial club of North
Yakima Taft said:
1 have been going west and ] have
been approaching a climax. I found
that the people in Chicago were fairly
well satisfied with that large city and
IhOuSht everything centered there and
shaped itself with reference to Chicago.
Then 1 came to Minneapolis, then to
Des Moines, then to Omaha. Then to
Colorado, and there / struck the re-
hgion Of the apple. The peaches played
some part in il, but the apple was de-
Veloping. 1 came on to Utah and
found It stin stronger, and then up
into Idaho and then TO Spokane. where
did not IND that Spokane was likely
10 lose any steps in progress because
OF lack of appreciation of Spokane by
the people of Spokane And now 90
ing through the Yakima valley which
j have been delighted to visit and
which certainly is a gem on the sur
face Of the earth, i I'M glad TO find the
spirit increasing until 1 reach the tip
most top 1f civic enterprise and COM
mendaDle municipal cOnceit in Seattle.
EFFECT OF EDITORIALS
/ have been seated next to your
worthy ma yor for the last hour and a
half and ! am glad to find that in this
region of apples and fine air there is
an independence of thought as TO mu-
nicipal government. j was glad to note
that a man can make headWay in your
roast him every day Those of us that
have suffered in that regard have a
otherwise we would have a govern
ment in the editorial sanctum. But as
il is, your mayor has demonstrated,
and 1t had been demonstrated in other
parts Of the country, that while we ac-
cept from the newspapers their state
ments Of fact when we believe their
statements OF fact and read them
every day, they have got to demon
strate in some way that what they say
is worth your credence and that their
Judgment is good. Otherwise we will
differ from them Now the mayor and
] have subscribed to that doctrine.
Tribute TO WESLEY JONES
The president also took occasion to
pay a tribute TO Senator Wesley l.
Jones OF Washington, who joineds his
party at Spokane yesterday. Governor
Hay Of Washington, in Introducing the
president, declared that it was through
him that the Pacific coast had gained
recognition in the national cabinet of
the republican party and for vice presi-
dent in 1912 he said L place in nomf-
nation Wesley Jones' Taft replied as
follows.
In nominating Senator Jones for a
place on the ticket / do not see why
Governor Hay should not name him for
the presidency. for you are not in the
habit of taking back seats out here
You only want the best. Wherever You
put Senator Jones he can be counted
upon to do the right thing at the right
time, and that. too, without any brass
band or fireworks TO tell that he
is doing il. If you nominate him
for the presidency ! shall be glad
fo go before the country and fes-
tify TO my own knowledge of his
worth and ability. as am doing
here / think I would go the governor
one better. and / think / have.
In the throng which greeted the
president at the courthouse were a
large number of Grand Army veterans