Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-15
TAFT INSPECTS BREAD LINE
Visits Mission and Addresses Typical
Bowery Audience.
GOES SHOPPING WITH WIFE
MIR. and Mrs. Taft Visit Jewelry Store
on Fifth Avenue and Purchase
Presents for Thei
Children.
GOES SHOPPING WITH WIFE

NEW YORK, Dec. 14-After speaking
last night in Carnegie hall at the diamond
jubilee of the Mthodist Missions in Africa,
President Taft motored through a driving
rainstorm to the Bowery mission. where
he made an address to q typical Bowery
audience. He afterward Inspected The
Bread Line room, where each night
hundreds of the unemployed are given
food.
The president in inaccurate evening
clothes, presented a striking contrast to
the men of the mission who rose to their
feet and cheered him as he entered the
long, church-like room, from the rear.
In his talk to the men, delivered in an
earnest conversational tone, the president
urged his hearers now to be down on their
luck, but to struggle on in the belief that
the future would be brighter for them.
Address of Mr.. Fart.
Thu president was introduced by DR..
Louis Klopsch, who established the mis-
sion.
my friends" said the president, IT am
almost as surprised at being here as you
are. to see me. l am invited to come by
your good friend, Dr.. Klopsch, whom 1
know, as you know him by the things he
has done. 1 was glad to accept the in
vitation to come to the Bowery. Not hav-
ing lived In New York, 1 had always been
curious to see 1t. l. know that where me
Bowery and DR.. Klopsch met that there
would be the best part of it, so l came
here. As 1 look in your, faces l see you
to be earnest American citizens. Some of
you are down on your luck, perhaps, but
you are responding in every fibre to The
same sentiments of loyalty and decency,
love of country and the same aspirations
for better Ideals that 1 hope every man
in this country has.
II am glad to be here II being here and
by saying so, l can convince you that the
so-called chasm between you and those
who seem for the time to be more
fortunate is not so much of a chasm after
all and that there is between them and you
a deep feeling of sympathy on their part
and an earnest desire that you sha have
that equality of opportunity OF getting on
your feet, of earning a decent livelihood
and Of supporting your families, which
we hope every man who lives under the
stars and stripes enjoys.
Words of announcement.
Il am glad to testify in my interest in
the work of this mission, which hope
win always help you and others over the
hard places the times when the Lord and
everybody else seems to be against you, to
help you at such times to believe that there
are people In the world who sympathiEe
with you and nope you win achieve all
that an equality Of opportunity will give
you and to help you to better things. !
know it Is difficult for you to believe that
1 who am receiving a large salary from
the government and am living in comfort,
can understand or take to my heart the
feelings you have OF desperation and that
you have not had the chance that other
men have, But in spite Of the seeming
differences your fellow citizens are not all
greedy and grasping. Their hearts are
more open today and they are more ready
to help the needy out of their difficulties
than at any time In the past and that