Evening star., 1909-09-12
PRESIDENT IN CRUSH
Great Crowd in Beverly to See
Chief Executive.
IN REVIEW
Eager Crowds Become for a Time
Unmanageable.
SECRET SERVICE MEN ACTIVE
Rescue Endangered Women and
Children and Force Passage
for the Paraders.

BEVERLY, Mass, September 11.-Bev-
erly was crowded as never before this
afternoon when President Taft from a
stand erected in front of the city hall re-
viewed a parade of some 1900 Grand
Army men belonging to posts in this vi
cnity. From early morning up to the
time set for the review people continued
to pour into the city from all the neigh
boring towns and villages, all bent on
seeing the President of the United States.
The crowd centered about the reviewing
stand and at one time became unman-
ageable. The police arrangements from
the first were inadequate, and there was
serious danger for a time that women
and children in the dense throng would
be seriously injured. The police. led by
their chief, tried vainly to stretch ropes
to hold back the crowd thronging about
the stand, but their efforts only resulted
in the women and children being roughly
handled.
When the President entered the review
ing stand accompanied by Gov. Draper
of Massachusetts, and Mayor Trowt OF
Beverly. the throng completely blocked
Cabot street for hundred yards in each
direction, and 1t looked for a time as
though the parade would have to be
dDdiIuOHSQ. Wnen the CrOWQ caught
sight of the chief executive, however. and
had cheered for several minutes better
order prevailed.
Secret Service Men Take a Hand.
The President looked on a bit anxious
ly as the police endeavored to open a
way for the waiting men in blue. whose
lines could be seen far down the thor
oughfare. Secret service men accom-
panying the President finally took a
hand in affairs. and besides rescuing a
II Der of women and children from the
c-Ssh helped to get passageway open.
The Grand Army men squeezed through
the crowd two abreast for a time, but
finally there was sufficient room for lines
of four to pass the Presidents stand.
When the last Of the veterans had
the Presidents stand in anticipation that
speech was to follow. The President
however, bowed his way out and depart
ed amid applause.
In addition today to reviewing the
Grand Army and announcing the selec-
ton of the new tariff commission, Presi-
dent Taft contributed 500 to the build
ing fund of the Y. NJ. G.. A. In Beverly.
There is no such building In Beverly and
the Presidents contribution was the first
attend and address meeting to give the
building fund its initial impetus.
Letter Of Regret.
He was compelled to decline, but In do
ing SO wrote to Chairman Leland H. Cole
as follows:
Il regret that the number Of my en-
gagements and the pressure upon my
time just before leaving are such as to
preclude altogether my taking part In
a meeting like that you propose. My
declination, however, should not be taken
as lack of interest in the project that
you have in hand. l have had occasion
at a number of places, half way around
the world. including the Orient. to en-
phasize my very high opinion of the work
which the Y. NJ. c. A. does, not only
at home, but abroad, and the erection of
handsome. substantial. useful and valu-
able buildings Is a long step In making
this usefulness permanent.
AS / expect to be a resident of Bey-
erly next summer and to have something
more than mere general interest in the
progress of matters in the city of Bev-
erly beg you to allow me to contribute
to your building by enclosing my check.
Sincerely yours,
''WILLIAM H. TAFT.
President Taft will have a conference
with Attorney General Wickersham to-
morrow. Secretary Meyer of the Navy
and Secretary MacVeagh of the Treasury
may also see the President during the
day.