Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-19
TAFT ARRIVES
AT BIG RANCH
TO TAKE REST
PRESIDENT WILL PLAY GOLF
EVERY DAY
INTENDS TO DO AS HE WISHES
DURING LAYoFF
Chief Executive Plans Unhampered
solourn on Brothers Farm In
Texas - viii Hunt
Ducks, Too
tBy Associated Press.l

NJ four days on the ranch of Charles
P. Taft, his brother
Reports as to the size of the ranch
vary from 100000 to 100000 acres. In
either event, it approaches the proper
tions of a principality, and during the
time here the president will be Sc
cluded from the givers Of banquets and
the onerous duties Of constant speech
making.
The president said he now intended,
for once, in the trip, to do as he
pleased.
This means that he will play golf
every morning, that he will ride in the
afternoon and that he may go duck
shooting.
The stay at the ranch will be the
first real rest for the president, for even
the Yosemite valley, far from the
beaten paths, had its ironclad sched-
ule of stage rides and early hours of
Visit at San Antonio
President Taft spent a busy seven
hours in San Antonio today before
leaving for his brothers ranch.
Charles F. Taft has had a golf
course constructed on the ranch, and
between this favorite sport and horse
back riding, the president expects to
have a good time.
1t will be even more of a rest than
the president had in the Yosemite, and
he expects it to put him in splendid
condition for the remaining three weeks
of his notable trip.
As a matter of fact, however, Mr..
Taft never felt better than he did to-
day Railroad travel by day or night
never tires him in the least, and at
each city he visits he places himself
entirely in the hands of local commit
tees and is ready to carry out any
program suggested, no matter how
strenuous.
This willingness on the part of the
president has led many of the COM
mittees to extend their programs far
beyond the original outline, and they
keep the president pretty busy from
the moment his train arrives until its
departure.
After his hardest days, however, Mr..
Taft is ready to sit UP late on the
train talking with his guests on the
trip. None Of the latter attempts to
keep pace with the president in all
that he does or is called on to do.
Gets Up Early
The president was up early this
morning to execute the program ar
really southern city to entertain him on
his present trip.
Mr.. Taft has been to San Antonio
before as secretary of war, and his
action in that capacity in building
Fort Sam Houston up to the present
splendid military strength has won
him great favor from the city of the
Alamo.
wherever he went today the presi-
dent was greeted by cheering throngs.
His declaration of the fact that he
was not on a political mission, and his
visit solely that of the president Of
the United States helped add to the
enthusiasm of his reception.
Before six o'clock this morning auto
mobiles were waiting at the st. An
thony to convey the president to Fort
Sam Houston, where, with a simple
ceremony, he laid the corner stone of
the nearly completed post chapel build
ing. This chapel, one of the hand
soonest buildings to be found in the
jurisdiction of the war department,
was presented to the post by the citi-
zens of San Antonio and was formally
accepted and dedicated by President
Taft shortly after his arrival from Ell
Paso last night.
On his way to Fort Sam Houston
this morning the president was driven
through lanes of school children, $4,000
in number who sang America" as he
passed.
Arriving at the fort, he greeted all
the troops stationed there before pro-
ceeding to the chapel, where the SIM
pie service of placing the corner stone
in the niche provided for it was per-
formed.
Following the chapel ceremony the
president held a reception from grand
stand erected on Alamo plaza.
At noon the presidents visit ended
with an informal luncheon given by the
citizens.
At the Alamo today President Taft
was introduced by Mayor Callahan.
1.-THE remarks Of your chief magis-
trate accord with my own feeling in
emphasizing the historical feature of
the spot upon which we stand" said
the president. This is, indeed, one of
the cradles of American liberty. Here
the people of Texas fought out their
individual liberty and linked it with
that of other peoples of the United
States.
within a stones throw of that
building in which we offered up those
sacred lives at the Alamo, one cannot
but lay tribute at the feet of the state
of Texas, as entitled to something
little more than one of the thirteen
states; that she worked out her des-
tiny without outside aid.
1.-TWO days ago it was my good for
tune to take part as the representative
of the people of the United States, in
a ceremony tending to show the peace
and good viii and the bond of friend
ship that now exists between the
United States and the great republic
of Mexico
Happy Veterans
"Happy those who, after quarrels
and battles and bloody wars, can live
to see the participants taking part in
a ceremony Of union and peace and
sincere good WILL and that sentiment
is developed as I look behind me and
find on one side the soldiers Of the
Grand Army of the Republic and on
the other the Confederate veterans
gathered here to pay their respects to
the chief magistrate of the nation un-
der the starry flag they all love so
well.
at is distinction between the
great throngs that I have had the
honor TO address heretofore and this
one that there is so much historical
reminiscence suggested by your pres
ence and the surroundings that / can
hardly dwell on the material prosperity
that Is evident on every side.
ut takes, in order to appreciate
what you have done, in order to show
you have overcome the natural OBJ
stacles to success, such a trip as I
took yesterday from El Paso to this
city, and men who can make wealth
and make products of the soil out Of
that country are entitled to. the con-
gratulations Of the whole nation"