New-York tribune., 1909-09-17
WELCOMED By CHICAGO
DIR. TAFT SPENDS TWELVE
LIVELY HOURS.
Rerie1rS Parade of School Children,
Sees Ball Game and
iSpeaks T0cice.

Win perfect weather and crowds that fairly fought
to catch glimpse Of him, this the first city TO be
visited set high mark OF enthusiastic welcome
which the President seemed deeply TO appreciate.
From the moment he stepped off the plat
form of his car at a temporary station in the out
skirts of the city until he retired late tonight on
board the train which will take him TO Milwaukee
tomorrow morning. the Presidents journeyings of
thirty miles the city's streets and
parkways led him through lanes of massed hu
manity that were kept open with the greatest
difficulty the part of the police.
Beginning with an automobile trip I'm review OF
hundred and fifty thousand school children,
four deep either side of the park bouevards, the
Presidents day replete with incident. He at
tended and spoke briefly at luncheon of the
Commercial Club, viewed exhibit of ambitious
plans for the Improvement and Identification OF
Chicago plans which the President said he hoped
would he realized by Chicago pluck and energy
attended the regular National League baseball
| game between the Chicago Cubs the worlds
champions, and the New York Giants; dined
quietly with the Hamilton Club the Congress
Hotel; made notable address TO mass meeting
in Orchestra Hall this evening, and attended for
few minutes the ball OF the American Bankers
Association at the Auditorium.
Mr.. Taft deeply impressed by the greeting
Of the school children. who waved little American
flags and sang and cheered he passed. He
ferred al the Commercial Club luncheon TO the
impression the smiling faces and the fresh young
voices Of the children had made him. and de-
clared II was not often given TO man-5e he
President or MOTTO receive such welcome.
DELIGHTED BY BALI. GAME
At the National League grounds this afternoon the
| President saw His biggest baseball crowd More
than thirty thousand persons packed the stands and
bleachers and overfowed into the playing field The
President sat I'm one of the open sections Of the
double-decked stand and thoroughly enjoyed a
| brilliant game. in which the greatest pitch
ers Of the league-Mathewson. Of New York. and
| Brown, Of Chicago-faced each other. New York
he had in
| cheering the President. who remained to the end
| and waited 10 a farewell 10 the bleacher
! throngs that poured across the field in perfect
cavalcade when the last Cub had struck out.
President Taft. when he first reached the park,
went down the field and shook hands with the
| members Of both teams Proceeding then 10 the
reserved section Of the stand he held impromptu
| reception. al which he Pop Anson. the.
| famous old Chicago player; Garry Hermann presi-
| dent of the National Baseball Commission. and
John A Heydler president Of International League
| Mr. Heydler was invited to n just behind the
President. and throughout the game Mr. Taft fre-
quently referred to him for expert opinion some
or the plays and decisions 81 the umpire Charles
w Murphy. president OF the Chicago club. OF which
| the Presidents brother Is part owner also was
| with the President part OF the game
Texas Reilly. editor Of The San Antonio Iirht
/ and Gazette" who rode all the way from San An
tonic 10 Chicago 10 present a formal invitation TO
Mr. Taft 10 visit that city also met the President
| at the ball game. He in typical cowboy COS
| tune. and reached Chicago n horse from the
TAFT ranch IN Texas only this morning The Presf-
dent assured Mr. Reilly that he was looking for
ward 10 his visit to San Antonio October Il with
| great pleasure Mayor Calvin OF Cincinnati called
| In the stand TO pay his respects, and received
| hearty Hello. john from the President
Secretary Dickinson sat AZ the Presidents right
Governor Deneen At his left and General Frederick
! j. Grant just In front. In the surrounding seats
we're members OF The Presidents party and Of the
| Hamilton club. which succeeded the Commercial
| IN fho aff hoef aG
| Mr. Taft received many hearty cheers from the
| baseball enthusiasts especially when he stood up
with the rest Of the fans at the beginning OF the
| lucky seventh" Although the inning brought only
a blank for the home club. the crowd appreciated
| the Presidents good intentions
| once Mr.. Taft asked by one Of his party:
| Mr. President. whom you FOR. Chicago or
| New Yorke'
| an anxious look aNthe scorehoard. which showed
| S-to-S tie between Cincinnati and Pittsbure in
| the seventh inning
| But Just then the scoreboard boy marked up four
| for Pittsburg in the eighth and two in the ninth
1 ana the President declared amid laughter that he
| was .dumfounded"
| The reception committee which greeted the Pres-
dent on his arrival this morning included Theodore
| W. Robinson. president of the Commercial club.
| General Frederick Dent Grant commander Of tho
| Department of the Lakes; George W. Dixon presi-
dent Of the Hamilton Club; Charles l.. Strobel
chairman OF the Commercial Club reception com
mttee; Frederick W. Upham, assistant treasurer
/ Of the Republican National Committee; John v
| Farwen and Harold F. Mccormick
| No sooner had The President shaken hands with
| the members OF this committee than he was turned
over much larger one representing the yari-
Gus departments OF Chicagos business and profes-
sional life
| REVIEW OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
Thirteen automobiles awaited the arrival Of the
| party. These ~ere entered. the review OF
the school children began. Then Tor miles the
| President bowed and smiled and waved his hands
to the enthusiastic youngsters, who sang patriotic
songs and waved flags I'm his honor The school
yells Of the young people frequently stirred the
| President to hearty chuckles. The line of review
produced practically uninterrupted roar Of
! shrI cries, ranging from the treble of the little
| freshman and the uncertain squeaks of voices at
| the changing period to the of the seniors
| Girls well as boys took part in the uproar and
! they bore the burden OF the singing. The singing
was led by cornets stationed mt intervals. OF the
many banners under which the cavalcade passed
two attracted particular attention. One huge af-
| fair read. God Bless Our President" and an
other. Greetings from 10000 Railway Employees
OF Ella Flagg Young. the superintendent Of
| Chicago schools the President inquired If all the
| children hers.
| Every one" replied Mrs Young.
The police had little TO do A railway lineman
got into trouble through the little tool grip which
he carried the railroad station. 1t was of the
right size nicely to contain bomb and the police
were ordered TO examine 1t. They found a wrench
ana pair Of pliers, but the lneman was led to
the outskirts of the crowd general principles
| At 1245 the President reached his hotel and re-
| tired for a short rest before taking the seat Of
honor at the Commercial Clubs luncheon He was
! I'm the best of voice and spirits AT the luncheon
| the President said:
| II wish to express my profound gratitude 70
those who have made II possible for me to have
that delight and pleasure, which very few men. I
| think have enjoyed, of looking into the ewes ana
| ,-C4c. 20 mn