The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-20
TAFT PAYS TRIBUTE
TO BLUE AND GRAY
President Addresses Gathering
at dwelling of Statue on the
Petersburg Battlefield

PETERSBURG, Va. May 1s.-Paying
a tribute alike TO the soldiers of the
north and of the south. President Taft
today witnessed the unwilling of
heroic statue in bronze erected at Fort
Malone. on the Petersburg battlefield.
in memory Of General Hartranft and
the Pennsylvania volunteers who fell in
the stubborn fighting about this out
post of the confederate capital The
president coupled with every tribute to
the union soldiers a eulogy of the
vaIor of the confederates.
we could not dedicate this beautiful
and enduring memorial" he declareds
TO the volunteer soldiers of Pennsyl-
vania with such a sense of justice and
appropriateness had they not been con-
fronted by an enemy capable of resist
ing their assaults with equal vigor and
fortitude Pennsylvania pride must
be in the victory achieved by her men
against so brave, resolute and re-
s6urceful an enemy"
The president declared the battle be-
tween the states had to be fought and
that tuQuAAl6 SOb0 Aldd SDiAAN - -
ELABORATE ENTERTAINMENT
The presidents visit to Petersburg,
once the citadel of the confederacy,
has had the city afiutter for more than
a month. and the plans for his enter
tainment surpassed anything of the
sort before undertaken here.
In addition TO the president many
other distinguished visitors partici-
pated in the days events. Governor
Stuart of Pennsylvania, Governor
Swanson of Virginia, members of the
battlefield commission Of Pennsyl-
vania; large delegations from Grand
Army posts and a host of confederate
veterans have gathered, while at the
luncheon this afternoon the speakers
included in addition to the presi-
dent and the two governors, NJ. Jusse-
rand, the French ambassador; Rear Ad-
miral Sigsbee, L. S. n. (retired), and
President f. A Alderman of the Uni
versity of Virginia
Upon his arrival shortly after 9
o'clock the president was driven at
once to the old battleieIds so rich in
historic interest. He first witnessed at
Fort Stedman the unwilling Of tablet,
and from there the president and his
party were driven the mile and half
TO Fort Malone, where the statue has
been constructed at a cost of $4,000.
Every iucH OF Tie way lfdfOiccu W
the chief executive witnessed bloody
battles during the siege of Petersburg.
Old soldiers, in blue and gray, stood
side by side from Fort Stedman to Fort
Malone.
ADDRESS By PRESIDENT
The grafton was delivered by Major
Isaac B. Brown, president OF the Penn
sylvania battlefields commission. Fol
lowing this came the address of Presi
dent Taft, whose subject was The
Union" Following his custom since be-
coming president, Taft spoke extern
poraneously. At the conclusion of the
presidents address Governor Stuart of
Pennsylvania turned the monument
over to the state OF Virginia, the speech
of acceptance being delivered by Gov
ernor Swanson
With the sounding of taps" the cere-
monies at the monument were con-
cluded and the president and other dis
tinguished visitors returned to Peters,
burg as the guests of the city for the
remainder Of the day.
Taft to Review Veterans
CHARLOTTE. N C., May 1e-Today
was governors day at the Mecklen-
burg celebration. and Governor Kitchin
of North Carolina was the host Presi-
dent Taft will take part In tomorrow's
exercises he VIII review parade
composed of union and confederate SOL
diers from a stand on which, among
others. will be Mrs. Stonewall Jackson,
and later will deliver a speech.
Il. VI. r. PATHFINDER's PROGRESS
TOPEKA Kan. May I9.-The Z. NJ r..
Pathfinder car for the Glidden tour ar
rived here tonight at $50 after hard
days run over heavy roads from juno
ton City. The tour will end at Kansas
City.
EARTHQUAKE IS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ton. May 19.-An earthquake 500 miles away
and another probably of quite distant orr
GIN were recorded by the Cheitenhsm made
magnetic observatory Of the coast and good