Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-03
PRESIDENT HAS
ENJOYABLE DAY
PORTLAND'S PROGRAM FIXED
TO PERMIT REST
POLICE CAPTURE SUSPECT WHO
CARRIES REVOLVER
Children at Rose City so Impress
Executive with Their Flag
Drill That Tears Bedlm
His Eyes
tcontinued from Page ops'


the president of the country-regardless
Of Who NAV temporarily hold that office
and has been VeXed at one or TWO
places where the arrangements for the
general public have not been what they
should.
The Portland tribute today was one
of the most enthusiastic he has had.
The ride of the president through tne I,
citv was made the occasion OF a mill
1arv display by the United States forces
stationed at Vancouver barracks, under
Brig. Gen. Marion P. Maus, command
ing the department of the Columbia,
the troops being reviewed by the presi-
dent at the conclusion Of their escort
duty.
From Multnomah field the presiden-
tial party paid a flying visit to former
Attorney General George II. Williams,
who served under President Grant and
is now in his eighty-seventh year. Gen.
Williams is confined in the Good Sa-
maritan hospital and was much cheereo
by the presidents call.
"Grand Old Man"
"He is your grand old man OF Ore
eon," the president said in the day in
The course of an address. HE was the
warm and devoted friend of my father,
and has in turn honored me with a
friendship which I deeply prize"
Mr.. Taft was the luncheon guest or
the citizens Of Portland in the care
fully selected menu Of which fresh
Strawberries were decided feature TO
the eastern visitors.
Following luncheon the president had
five hours of time to dispose of as he
wished Gathering up Senator Bourne
of Oregon as a partner. and John Hays
Hammond and Capt. A. W. Butts, his
aide, as opponents, he motored out TO
the Wayerly golf links for eighteen
1,aIav Of hie fa Voritp
1t was the first afternoon off the
president has been allowed since his
trip began, and he was not backward
in expressing his appreciation to his
Portland hosts.
After a ouiet dinner with Senator
Bourne and the members of his party,
the president proceeded to the Portland
armory at s o'clock, where he made
brief address.
The president referred to the fact
that with his coming to Portland he
had already made eighty speeches dur
ing the present trip.
"Suppose you had made that many"
he inquired of his audience, what do
you think you could find to talk
about?"
The day of the presidents visit was
one of cloudless skies and a summer
sun.
In a brief speech delivered at the
luncheon today the president made
playful reference to the presence at
the table of two United States sena-
tors, an unusually large number Of
ex-senators, and a heavy percentage
of citizens of Oregon who are anxious
to become senators.
Products Numerous
"When I started west" he said, "I
ran into one section of the country
where thought apples were the great
est crop in the world.
Then I ran into the peach belt, the
melon country, the land of timber,
and l won't attempt to enumerate the
other wonderful growths of this great
western country. But it remained for
me to come to Oregon to find the
greatest crop of senators, past and
prospective Meeting them, l assure
you, has greatly increased my ac-
quaintance."
The president referred to his former
visit to Portland several years ago,
and said he had greatly admired the
city and had promised to come back.
The presence of the troops in the pa
rade today caused Mr.. Taft to make
reference to the regular army and to
pay a tribute both to its officers and
men.
"I have known them better than
most of you" he declared, land I am
glad of this opportunity to testify to
my appreciation of their high char
acter. I am not sure that We all ap-
preciate the army as we should. If
they were called to the center of the
stage, the center of the picture, per-
haps we might. The trouble is that
the army is not called in until the
navy has made the grandstand play.
The army has the task of cleaning up,
and I am not sure but that the clean
ing up is the most difficult part.
"There has been some suggestion
that the post at Vancouver barracks
be abandoned and that the headquar-
ters of the departemnt of Columbia be
removed to a point near Seattle. I
want to tell you that am not in favor
of any such proposition"
Audience Cheers
This declaration brought the presi-
dents audience to its feet with cheers.
II don't know Just how much in
nuence 1 have with the present admin
istration," continued Mr. Taft laugh
ingly, "but I will do what I can to have
Vancouver retained as the model Pegi-
mental post which ] believe 1t to be. l
had some idea not long ago of concen-
trating the army into brigade posts
But it was found that the acquiring Of
the land and the construction of the
buildings would be too expensive, espe-
cially as we are now trying to reduce
expenses, both in the army and else
where in the government establishment.
In view of all this you may reasonably
count upon the present secretary Of
war retaining the Vancouver post where
1t Is
'I am on a long trip through the
country for I believe it is a good thing
for the president to take turn around
and learn something of the local at
Inosphere, the needs and aspirations of
the people in the places he visits.
zone of the things you find is that
the particular city in which you hap
pen to be is the finest in all the coun-
try, and secondly, that the legislation
accomplished, or contemplated, is good
or bad accordingly as it affects one
particular community. But, seriously
speaking, a trip such as I am making
gives a man sense of proportion as
to the whole country and stands him
in good stead in the legislative duties
he has to perform and the legislative
action he has to recommend"
The president referred briefly to his
plIrpose of recommending the passage
Of a ship subsidy, and said he has
been glad to learn in Seattle and Port
land that American trade with the
Philippines already was increasing a
result of the Philippines tariff legisla-
tion passed at the last session of con-
gress.
TREE-PianOs Given Away-fREE
No home need be without a plano-an
4RsHf n