Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-09-17
Hundred Fifty Thousand Massed
Along South Side BOulevards.
IALL GAME IN RNOON
SHAKES HANDS WITH
Makes Addresses at Lunc =
Commercial Club and at = =
Meeting in Orchestra HI
in the Evening.

CHICAGO, Sept 16-President Taft dur
ing a stay OF twelve eventful hours in
Chicago today, plunged with a will into
the long program of entertaining that
awaits him on his long western and south
ern itinerary. with perfect weather and
crowds that fairly fought TO catch
glimpse OF the chief executive, this, the
first city to be visited, set a high mark
OF enthusiastic welcome which the presi-
dent seemed deeply to appreciate.
From the moment he stepped off the
rear platform Of his private car at a tenn
porary station on the outskirts of the
city until he retired late tonight on board
the train which will take him to Milwaulx-
kee tomorrow morning, the presidents
journeying OF thirty miles or more over
the city's streets and parkways led him
through lanes of massed humanity that
were kept open with the greatest diff
ficuty on the part of the police.
Busy Twelve Hours.
Beginning with an automobile trip In re-
view of 10000 school children. four deep
on either side of the park bouevards, the
presidents day was replete with incident.
He attended and spoke briefly at a lunch
con Of the Commercial club, viewed an ex-
hlblt of ambitious plans for the improve
ment and Identification of Chicago-plans
which the president said he hoped would
be realized by Chicago pluck and energy
attended the regular National league base
ball game between the Chicago champion
''Cubs" and the famous New York
Giants" dined quietly with the Hamilton
club at the Congress hotel, made a notable
address to a mass meeting in Orchestra
hall this evening and as a finale attended
for few minutes the ball of the American
Bankers association at the Auditorium.
Greeting of Children.
Mr.. Taft was deeply impressed by the
greeting Of the school children. each one
OF which waved "a little American flag and
sang and cheered as he passed. The presi-
dent referged AZ The y Conamereial club
luncheon to ths impression the smiling
faces and the fresh young voices of the
children had made upon him and declared
II was not often given to a man-be he
president or MOTTO receive such a well
come.
AT the National league grounds this aft
ernoon the president saw his biggest base
ball crowd. There We're more than 10000
people racked into the stands and bleach
ers and overflowing into the playing field
The president sat in one of the open sec
tions of the double-decked stand and thor
ouKhly enjoyed a brilliant game in which
the two greatest pitchers of the league
Mathewson OF New York and Brown of
Chicago-faoed each other. New York won'
but the crowd had some compensation In
cheering the president, who remained to
the end and waited to wave farewell to
the bleacher throngs that poured across
the field in a perfect avalanche when the
last Sub" had struck out
Shakes Hands with Players.
President Taft when he first reached
the park. went down on the field and
shook hands with the members of both
Of the teams. Proceeding then to the re-
served section in the stand, he held an
impromptu reception, during which he
met Pop" Anson, the famous old Chi
eago player Garry Hermann, president
OF the National base ball commission and
John A Heydler, president or the National
leage Mr.. Heydler was invited to a seat
just behind the president and throughout
the game Mr. Taft frequently referred TO
him for expert opinion on some OF the
plays and decisions of the umpire. Charles
w. Murphy, president OF the Chicago club,
IN which the presidents brother is a part
0wner, also was with the president for
q part OF the game
Texas" Reilly. the editor of the San
Antonio Light and Gazette. who rode all
the way from San Antonio to Chicago to
present a formal invitation to Mr.. Taft
to visit that city, also met the president
at the ball game. He was in typical cow
boy costume and had reached Chicago on
a horse from the Taft ranch In Texas only
this morning. The president assured Mr..
Reilly that he was looking forward TO his
visit TO San Antonio on october II with
o great deal OF pleasure. Mayor Calvin OF
Cincinnati called in the stand TO pay his
respects and received hearty Hello,
JOhn." from the president.
In Presidents Box,
Secretary Of War Dickinson sat at tho
presidents right. Governor Deneen at his
left and General Frederick d. Grant in
front On the surrounding seats were mem
bers OF the presidents party and members
OF the Hamilton club which succeeded the
Commercial club during the afternoon as
hosts to the distinguished visitor.
Mr.. Taft received most hearty cheers
from the base ball enthusiasts, especially
when he stood up with the rest OF the
fans at the beginning OF the lucky sew
enth."
Although the inning brought only a
blank for the home club. the crowd appre-
siated the presidents good intentions. once
during the game Mr.. Taft was asked by
one Of his party: Mr.. President, who are
you for. Chicago or New York;
I'm for Cincinnati" declared the presi-
dent. with an anxious look at the score
board. which showed a 3 10 tie between
Cincinnati and Pittsburs in the seventh
inning.
But just then the seore-board boy marked
lp four for Pittsburg in the eighth and
two In the ninth. and the president de-