New-York tribune., 1909-07-01
He SAYS IT MAY BECOME
THE OPPOSITION.
President Just an "Od Grad" Most
of the Time. Though, at Yale
Graduation Exercises.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune. J

! about his devotion to his alma mater. took in
every detail of The Yale graduation exercises to-
day He donned cap and gown and marched in
/ the parade to the great delight OF most of New
Haven; he attended a corpora ton meeting,
! beamed with interest through the graduation
: exercises proper. made speech at the alumni
/ dinner. attended President Hadley's reception
and dinner this evening. and before he went
| back to Washington dropped into the Skull and
| Bones hall for d few minutes. Moreover, he
/ predicted that he was likely to do the Same
/ thing each year. until he became familiar to
/ Yale as the much liked ham and chicken at the
alumni dinners
II for the President day Of relaxation
/ and genuine pleasure Only once did he pass
! from his disregard of of4cal atmosphere. Into
/ a jolly speech fun Of references TO Yale and
Yalensians he injected a serious note of warning
I to the Republican party which taken by
! the thousands who heard him TO be direct ref
J erence 10 the tariff and kindred problems troub
/ ling the Washington statesmen lust He
had been testing about the quality of Democracy
/ of Secretary Dickinson, who was on the plat
form with him
But am far from ignoring some difficulties
have on our side" went on the President
In 1904 Charles Francis Adams gave what I
should call a perfectly good Adams reason for
expecting the election of a Democratic candt-
.
manded strong and sincere opposition The
Democratic party had failed in that part 50
signally that his remedy 10 Try the Repub-
licans as opposition.
WE HAVE TROUBLES OF OUR OWN"
Now. while that may not be the reason
which moves the American people. II the Re
publican party does not live up 20 what the
people expect Of & y NAV - relegated 10
her rnaiesty's opposition Therefore l merely
say by way Of comment that We have troubles
OF our own
A great burst of applause greeted this state
rnent. which President Taft enph as=ed marked
I " in utterarce. Diners sprang 70 their feet
and cheered II repeatedly.
President Taft vas the last speaker AZ the
alumni dinner. which was held after the gradu-
alton exercises The big dining hall was filled
literally to overeowing-probaby three thou
/ sand alumni found seats az the tables in the
/ hall. the gallery was iamned With spectators.
and ~ each door. open because az the heat.
was knot OF alumni and undergraduates who
! could And no other vantage point When Presi-
dent Hadley in !ew words presented the Chief
Exeauti, chzeF Aiu 81 "a a. 70 50 Fals
( football yell greeted him
'Air President and fellow Yale men he be
/ gan and had 10 stop to let the cheering finish,
! gorgeous. satisfied. happy smile spread over
most # hts tanned face Finally he began again:
T
/ since March have learned a number Of
thlngs-and In making no reference 70 the
weather bureau. either 1 have learned that
in the opinion of the American people one OF
the chef functions OF the President OF the
United States IS 10 increase box once receipts
and the sale OF excursion tickets | am not here
and was not invited here any such notion.
! IN here because could not help coming. 10
/ be a Yale man and part Of Yale You may
think before the end Of the Presidential term
that 7 shall he as inevitably present at alumni
dinners as the ham and chicken were all 80
fond of.
/ TRIBUTE TO EX-PRESIDENT DWIGHT.
Then President Taft paid pretty tribute to
/ ex-President Dwight declaring that every Yale
! man hoped he would have the pleasure for
/ many years of listening 10 his kindly benedic-
ton which value so much and feel so much
better for" alluding to President Dwghts
brief speech Of good will TO the alumni. The
/ Executive said he had been punctual pos
sible in attending corporation meetings. but cir
! c,lrstances had prevented his attending those
! where the honorary degrees were conferred. so
! he felt at liberty to crticise them where crit-
cism was due.
| This power Of conferrng them is one a uni
versitv should use with great care said he. 1T
! shows whether the university ts Up to date with
/ the things which occupy men in the fields OF
| endeavor and success l congratulate the presi-
dent of Yale on the degree he conferred the
4
tous terms 1t made warm to Harvard
as-wen. as some of us seldom do" whereat
! there was a huge Yale laugh.
! 1T meets nv approval. too" went Presi-
dent Taft. that orthodox OF Yale should
/ recognize and seem TO approve the uberality of
/ Harvard and another laugh greeted this allu-
sion 10 the degree conferred on Bishop Law
/ renee
The President said he very glad to see
| that the courteous convention by which Yale
| lost on Harvards class day at Cambridge and
! Harvard lost on Yae's class day at New Haven
still kept up. He was very glad. too. he
! said TO see the degree of Master of Arts con-
/ ferred on that genial music critic. Brother
| Krehbiel. who from his chair Of power in The
Tribune office" had dealt out condemnation and
I approval on the musicalIy unjust and just
/ President Taft drew very moving picture of
Cincinnaus hanging on Mr. Krehbiel's lips for a
verdict on musical doings there.
ABOUT THE BATTLEsHIP CRUISE
He continued:
Then the corporation took up the navy and
assume approved the voyage of the sixteen bait
tleships around the world and recognized in
! Admiral Sperry the supreme ability and equi-
| noise and determination able 70 meet the re-
rrnirenoents Of the custodian OF $50 600 900 Of
tinted states property, which, II lost, could not
he restored in a decade. And may say that
while that trip criticised at the time. no
order of my predecessor tended so much 10
! neace as this one by which he sent round the
world not as messengers OF war, but as mes
sengers Of peace those sixteen mechanlsms
President Taft had a word 10 say also about
the degree conferred on dear old Billy Sum
nAr who in 'TS looked good deal older
and sterner and-weli. not quite so lovely as he
does to-day" He spoke in praise also Of Sec
Trray artra