Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-01
ADDRESSES BY TAFTAND ROOT
President and Senator Speak at
Dinner Of Harvard Alumni.
STRONG TRIBUTES TO DIR. ELIOT
Both Indicate that Former EN-
ecutive of Harvard u 60 ne
Given Important DipIo-
matte Post.

matte POST
WASHINGTON. March T.-Prcsident
Taft, speaking at a dinner rendered TO
President Charles w. Eliot Of Harvard unit
versity in this city last night, announced by
direct Inference that Dr. Eliot had been
rendered and was considering the appoint
ment OF ambassador to Great Britain,
Senator Root Of New York had indicated
the selection Of DR.. Eliot earlier in the
evening, and President Taft made the
announcement stronger by declaring he
Endorsed all that Senator Root had said.
The dinner was given by the Harvard
alumni of Washington. President Taft on
arriving at the banquet hall late in the
evening was greeted with rousing choruses,
Here's to good old Yale. drink'cr down
and nine reverbating Harvard 'rahs. DR..
Eliot had earlier received an ovation which
was repeated when he made a stirring plea
to the alumni TO maintain In the years to
come the prestige Of their university
throughout the width and breadth Of the
land. President Eliot declared that he was
giving over the work OF Harvard TO younger
bands and looked forward confidently TO
the ever new, the ever widening progress
the administration of his successor would
bring about. The dinner had a decided
dash Of college spirit and rollicking songs
and parodies abounded One Of these, a
]parsphrase OF MIR. Dooley." was addressed
to DR.. II. w. Wiley, the pure food expert
Of the Department OF Agriculture, caught
the farcy Of the president and he Joined
in the chorus Of Or. Wiley with rare
good humor. DIR. Wiley sat next the presi-
dent and listened with glee to the take-off
on his recent u%tterances sbout the terrors
OF soft drinks" The guests included
Senator Lodge, Postmaster General Hitch
cock and Secretary of the Navy Meyer.
speech of Mr.. Root,
DR.. Eliot was the first speaker OF the
evening and was Immediately followed by
Mr.. Root, who related several anecdotes
on Mr.. Taft and paid tribute to the retir-
ing Harvard president. He fairly swept
his audience off its feet when, in con-
GLIDING. he said Should 1t so befall DR..
Eliot TO be accredited as the American
ambassador to one of the great courts of
Europe. before whatever monarch he shall
stand, there we shall know our great re-
public in all the good qualities of truth
and sincerity OF nature in all Its pious
ideals and inspirations is represented by
a man. an American gentleman. a scholar,
a sage, indeed"
Taft Speaks Last.
President Taft was last to speak. 1t was
nearly midnight when he arose and de-
clared he would not give Senator Root an
other opportunity about his having kept
a dinner party until 4 o'clock in the morn
ing. The president devoted himself en-
tirely to an eulogy Of DR.. Eliot and the
ideals of education and the fostering of
the university spirit for which he has
stood. He referred to the Harvard presi-
dent as the head of the educational move
ment Of the last forty years.
In concluding, President Taft caused an
other great outburst of cheering by de-
clarins that he endorsed all that Senator
Root had said in his tribute to DR.. Eliot
And especially do l share" said the
president. every word that Senator Root
has said as to what may happen to Dr.
Eliot in the future"
r att is a great pleasure to be with you6
? declared President Taft, land especially
r to claim the right to be here as a Havart
, alumnus." The president received q
doctors degree in law from Hazard three
years ago.
ut is a sorrow" he added, ION the othe,
hand in view Of all the beautiful thing
that have been said" that l shall no
be able to contribute greatly to your pleas
ure. What with various opinions on the
tariff, with considering a few vacancies
F, that there are in the public service anc
the other duties that are imposed upon thu
chief magistrate, I have had no time t
r prepare as / should have liked. for THU
5 august occasion. No time to prepare t.
say what l should like to say Of my feel
ings for Harvard university and for tn
!. --- 49, Ens Lad Harvard and Whn haI
led the educational interests of Americt
during the last forty years.
Tribut 20 DR.. Eliot.
"Dr. Eliot has described a university Al
, a collection of groups and modestly ascribet
$ the success OF Harvard to the work of thos
groups. Rather do l think the success o
the university is due to the man who ha.
been in all OF those groups, has welded
= them together, has carried the influence
| OF one to the other and has brought abou
7 harmonious work for the common good"
President Taft spoke at length of tho
p various attributes Of character and ability
= that helped to make DR.. Eliot's adminis
tration the success It has been and which
- have set a high standard for university
; presidents Of the future.
In a small, personal way" declared
President Taft, Il look upon him will
envy. He is taking off the armor, while
some of us find It difficult to get it on
How he has been able to maintain the
health, strength and physique of a boat
ing man, which he was in his colleg'
, DAYS, and without being exposed to th'
atmosphere of the supreme court TO hav,
, lived to his time of life. | do not under
: stand. All that Senator Root has said o
President Eliot ! heartily endorse. 1t wa.
one Of the most discriminating speeche,
have ever heard the senator from New
: York make. DR.. Eliot Is the dean Of In,
5 teaching profession and he has made tina
. profession. already great and influential
: the leading profession in the country. II,
/ has brought the university into such rela
ton into public life that we cannot fai
to owe him a great debt of gratitude 70
. having elevated public life in the way tn,
= university spirit, represented by him, ha