New-York tribune., 1909-10-18
TAFT AT DEDICATION
IN FORT sam HOUSTON.
In Presence of CIergymen of Many
Creeds He breaches Fourth Sermon.


twentyone hours OF continuous iourneying from FL
Paso. he arrived in San Antonio at 80 o'clock to-
night, and, despite the fact that il Sunday, he
received cheering welcome.
A big crowd gathered at the station and the
streets leading to the St. Anthony Hotel were lined
with people After he received by city officers
the President driven to the hotel with es-
cort Of cavalry.
Later in the evening the President TO Fort
Sam Houston, where he assisted in the dedication
and accepted on behalf of the government chapel
erected at the famous old post by the citizens
of San Antonio
President Taft had much to do as Secretary of
War with the building up of Fort Sam Houston
into brigade post. Tomorrow morning the Presi-
dent will help TO put in place the cornerstone of
the nearly completed chapel will review the troops
stationed at Fort Sam Houston. and. returning TO
the CITY, will make address to the people from
grandstand in Alamo Plaza.
He will leave during the afternoon for Gregory,
Tex, near Corpus Christi. to spend four days
the ranch Of his brother. Charles p Taft, Of Gin
cinnatl. The latter passed through San Antonio
yesterday to prepare welcome for the President.
The Presidents train to-day passed through the
thinly settled western part of Texas and made few
stops At Del Rio. Sanderson and one two
other places the President made brief speeches to
station throngs. which were made up in part Of
Mexicans, residents Of the community and farmers
who had driven many miles in their best Sunday
clothes. The sage brush and cactus gave way as
the day advanced to mesquit bushes. and finally to
state is famous. In some Of the fields the heecy
staple was breaking in white puffs from the bolls.
OVER A GREAT BRIDGE.
The Presidents train was one of fourteen spe-
cals running into San Antonio ten minutes apart
to-day. Most of the trains filed with troops
returning 10 Fort Sam Houston from duty at the
meeting Of Presidents Taft and Diaz yesterday.
The President at the Pecos River passed
what is declared to be the highest and longest
railway bridge of its kind in the world. The Pecos
River runs in rocky canyon s25 feet below the
rails The wind was blowing a gale the Presi-
dents train passed the slender steel structure
and the engineer at what seemed TO be snafr1
pace
Brigadier General Albert L. Meyer. commanding
the Department of Texas rode with his staff in a
private attached the Presidents train from
FL Paso back to his station in San Antonio. Colonel
Cecil Lyon, Republican national committeeman for
Texas, Joined the party at FL Paso yesterday, and
will remain with it while the President is in Texas
Secretary OF War Dickinson is the only Cabinet
officer with the President II is his purpose to re-
main until the President returns TO Washington on
November 15, making the entire Southern trip with
President Taft. President Taft spent much of the
day in resting. He took a long. refreshing sleep
| during the afternoon. In the morning he disposed
of lot of correspondence which had reached him
| at FL Paso
| The President heard with qualification from
| Washington this morning that Mrs. Taft had
turned to Washington and much improved
in health that she went to church with her sister
| MANY CREEDs REPRESENTED
| The President accepted and dedicated the chapel
At Fort sam Houston tonight in his capacity as
| commander in chief of the army. In doing so he
| preached his fourth sermon Of the trip Among
those who participated in the ceremonies were
| Bishop johnson. of the Episcopal Church; Bishop
Forest, Of the Catholic Church. Rabbi Samuel
Marks and the Rev ! r. Cleaver. president Of the
Ministers Association of San Antonio
The President took this further indication
| E%t-
| churches of the country are growing closer
gether on the common ground Of the fatherhood of
| God and the brotherhood of man. The President
| also paid his compliments to the work Of the regu-
| lar army
In his speech at Del Rio to-day the President
said,
the country and find out how much has been done
by the energy and enterprise Of the people with
! Everywhere in the country where have been the
! tent They have homes; they have children. they
! this section of the country is exception
! l am certainly very glad to you looking so
try 70 know what this country is and 'e in soing
about incidentally he he is able TO show himself and
temporarily have assigned to the position Of Chief
don't remember that there were a great many
| votes cast IN favor OF assigning me to that posi-
! tton by this state, but am not engaged in "A par
/ tisan trip I am only going around trying to get
the needs Of the people am not here either as
| Republican or a Democrat / am glad to find in
| Texas, in other states have visited that sort
of welcome that comes to the head Of a nation of
| which / certain from your looks you are all
| proud Everywhere | have been 1 have found
! that American determination to meet the problems
| and difficulties that present themselves and
| make the particular community in which the Deo-
| pie live a little better than other communities
| We have any particular nationality from
| which descended. We a mixture o
| races and stocks of men, and doubt not there
| many here who will understand what l mean by
saying that we are breeding TO certain type. and
| that type Is the American type
| I suppose that of YOU is in favor OF dividing
your state, the treaty of annexation provided il
| might be. Even the temptation OF six eight
| Senators does not seem TO change your view
| that subject.
| At Sanderson the President said:
! AS I look about see scenes that have become
| familiar during the last three weeks; land
| upOn which IL would seem impossible to produce
| anything. But know you can I know that there
| are animals that live that dust. I have
breathed the aIkal dust myself, so ! know it IS
palatable.
| NV friends this trip has taught me the enormous
| energy of the Americans who have come West de-
| termined build this country. and the sue
Cessful results that have attended their energy and
] enterprise are most encouraging ana while the