The San Francisco call., 1909-03-19
TAFT EULOG|zfS
GROVER CLEVELAND
President Addresses Anniver-
sary Exercises ia Car
negie Hall
Declares Democrat Was as
Completely American
as Lincoln

NEW YORK, March 1S.-President
in his first public address as president
democratic predecessor in the office he
now flls-the late Grover Cleveland.
The president spoke at the Cleveland
seventy-second anniversary exercises in
Carnegie hall and was an interested
listener to the tributes to Cleveland to-
night when the ceremonies were con-
tinued in the auditorium of tie College
Of the City of New York.
Taft's address in part was as fol-
lows:
PRESIDENT TAFT,S ADDRESS
Fellow citizens-Grover Cleveland
was as a completely American in his
character as Lincoln. Without a col
lege education. he prepared himself
Tor the bar. He was a public product
or the village and town life of the
middle states, affected by New England
dnceslry ana the atmosphere of a
clergyman's home. His chief charac
terlstics were simplicity and honesty
courage of his convictions. with a
sense or public duty that has been
exceeded by no statesman within NV
knowledge.
POWER TO RESIST
Ills career was a most remarkable
one BY his administration of the af-
iairs or his city as its mayor he showed
ms power to resistance to and over
coming the influences that made for
corruption both in his own party and
IN the party of his opponents. His
reputation in this regard spread over
MS native state of New York at a time
Wheh such an attitude of his seemed
exceptional. and his standing before
Tue community became an asset of the
uenocratlc party that even those who
mao but little sympathy with his prin-
eipies were glad to seize upon him IS
means OF getting into power Ac-
coFdlngIy he was nominated for the
sovernorship and was elected by the
votes, not only of his own party. but
of thousands of the republican marty
Inc discharge of his duties as gov
efhor conhrmed and strengthened the
reputation that he had acquired as a
mayor. Before he had ceased his Of
nee as mayor he had been elected gov
erhor. before he had ceased his office
as governor he had been elected presi-
dent of the United States.
DEFENDS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Another debt which the country owes
to Mr.. Cleveland is the assertion. made
through him as its chief executive. of
the power of the federal government
directly to defend the federal govern
ment through the process of federal
courts and by federal troops against
the lawless invasion OF a mob.
Grover Cleveland earned the graft
tuue OF his countrymen. He was a
great president, not because he was a
great lawyer, not because he was a
brilliant orator, not because he was
statesman of profound learning, but
because ne was a patriot with the high |
est sense of public duty; because he
was statesman of clear perceptions
OF the utmost courage of his convic- |
tions, and OF great plainness of speech:
because he was man of the highest |
character. father and husband of |
the best type and because throuabout
ms pontlcai life he showed these rug
sed virtues of the public servant and
citizen, the emulation of which bv |
tnose who follow him will render the
nlgh Ideals OF our political life toward
better things a certainty.
TRAVELS IN CONSTITUTION
President Taft and his party reached
Jersey City at 1 o'clock on the regular
washington express, to which was at |
tached the private car he had provided !
at his personal expense. Taft Travelled
In the Constitution, the car he has useSl
during 10000 miles of campaigning LAST |
rail- and from which he made more than
400 speeches.
Arriving at Jersey City the presiden- |
tiai party was greeted BY a great |
throng. Heads were barred as the nres |
ident passed along the station platform
The members of the party entered au-
tomobiles and We're driven to the resi- !
dence of Henry w Yaft
tomorrow Taft will go to New Haven. |
Conn, to attend a meeting of the Yale |
corporation. 1t will be the first visit |
of Yale graduate as president to the
old campus, and unique demonstration |
is looked for. Returning to New York /
late tomorrow Taft will be the guest /
OF honor at Yale alumni dinner at /
tended by 1900 graduates.
APPROVES CHANGE OF TITLE-wash;n,.
ton. March 1S.-The comntroller Of Tie e.,s