Valdez weekly prospector., 1909-01-14
TAFT'S TRIP IS FULL
 OF HUMAN INTEREST

were recently told by James Mark ham, secretary to Chief of Police Shippy, who returned to Chicago and his duties after travelling with Mir. Taft for forty-one days as member of his bodyguard.
 "We travelled forty-one days, dur ing which.Mr. Taft made from three to twenty speeches a day and covered 1S,OO0 miles, yet during all that time l never saw frown on his face and he never showed any irritation," said Mir. Markham to a Chicago cowes- pondent of the New York Sun.
 "We had many experiences. Some were funny, and others had touch of pathos in them. In Brooklyn at a Jewish voters meeting over which Oscfr Straus presided the various in- fluences which affect voters were il- lustrated. MT. Taft held the audience by splendid talk upon the various issues of the campaign, but it was when he assured those present that he would see to it that under his ad- ministration an American passport would be respected when carried by Jew or Christian in every country of Europe and that the Jewish people would get their just measure of pro- tection as citizens both at home and abroad the crowd literally went wild with joy. They shouted hurrah for the passports first and then for MT. Taft until the rafters of the hall shook. There was no mistake as to the subject closest to their hearts in the campaign. At Binghampton, N. Y, an old man with snow white hair stepped before the crowd just before MT. Taft began his address. At the top of his voice the man shouted. Fremont first voters, arise' and about fifty veterans stood up. Salute your next president,' was the next command. and they did, Be seated,' was the next command, and silently the old men sat down.
 '"Then, turning to Mir. Taft, the old man said, Now, sir, proceed.' at which there was a thunde of ap- plause, in which Mir. Taft himself joined heartily.
 "At Wilmington, Del, the crowd was so large that it was difficult to keep it in check. It was an open air meeting, and the crowd began to sway to and fro, endangering tn safety of many. A little boy was caught in the jam and began crying. Mir. Taft himself pushed the people aside, picked up the lad, put him over his shoulders and placed him in safe place upon the platform. The crowd went wild with enthusiasm, for the boy clasped Mir. Taft as he would his own father when he rescued him out of the perilous place.
 "At Frankfort, Ky, an enthusiastic admirer of Mir. Taft showed his joy at greeting him in such demonstra- tive manner that when he was through MT. Tafts vest was minus two but tons. The man felt somewhat cha grined. When we reached Louisville we found six girls waiting for us. They were on hand to sew the but tons on the vest, and they did. Later they called on Mir. Taft to receive his thanks and to tell him that they were honored by inc privilege of sew ing the buttons on the vest of the next president.
 "On the whole, enthusiasm greeted Mir. Taft everywhere. The police of the various cities, irrespective of par ties, did splendid work in caring for and protecting Mir. Taft and his party. Every day MT. Taft was in communi- cation with members of his family, and, although always bubbling over with good cheer, he was happiest when Mrs. Taft joined the party in New York state."
 
 The Hedjaz Railway in Syria, among other things, will contain carriage fitted up az mosque, where pilgrims 1 r,,ill II, L. -