The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-14
TAFT ON THE B0WERY.
The President Makes Speech at the
Mission.

New York, Dec. 14-After speaking
in Carnegie hall at the diamond jubilee
OF the Methodist mission in Africa,
President Taft uotored through a driv-
Ing rain storm to the Bowery mission,
where he made an address to a typical
Bowery audience. He afterward in
spected the bread. line room, where
each night hundreds of the unemployed
are given food.
The president in immaculate evening
clothes presented a striking contrast
to the men of the mission. who rose to
their feet and cheered him as he en-
tered the long church-llke room, from
the rear. In his talk to the men, de-
fVered in an earnest conversational
tone, the president urged his hearers
rot to be down on their luck, but to
struggle on in the belief that the fu-
ture would be brighter for them.
The drive to the mission was one of
the widest automobile trips the presi-
Gent has ever had. Rain was coming
Gown in torrents his car. preceded
by police machine. rolled into the
bowery.
The famous old thoroughfare Of story
and song was all but deserted Pass
ing the front door of the mission, the
president was driven into Irv1ngton
street Hundreds OF residents crowded
around and braved the storm to give
him cheer as his automobile entered
the alley at the back of the mission.
The alley was ankle deep in water when
the president alighted. Although suf-
fering from severe cold, the president
would not listen to a postponement of
his visit to the Bowery.
Introduced by DIR. Klopsch.
Entering the ball the president met
a numoer of the Bowery mission work
ers among them Mrs. Bird, 1.-THE
Mother of the Bowery.' and DR.. Hal
hmond, superintendent of the mission.
The president was introduced by DR..
Louis Klopsch, who established the
mission. DR.. Halhmond hrSt spoke TO
the men.
'I wonder If you understand what an
honor il Is to have the president of the
United States come down here to see
you?" he asked. I'VE do" came
chorus of answers.
Are you gratifed?"
I'VE are,'' came another hearty re-,
spouse. =.
DO you, from the bottom Of your
heart thank the president for coming
here?"
I'VE do. we do"
"It took a man with a big athletic
heart to come all the way to the Bow
ery.
But the wings Of the eagle are very
wide, and he has come. might say,
from the seats of the mighty to the
bottom pits of despair to encourage you.
Now give him three rousing Bowery
cheers"
The audience responded with a will.
He Makes speech.
MY friends" said the president. II
am almost as much surprised at being
here as you are to see me.
st was invited to come by your good
friend. DR.. KlopSch. who, as you know,
is known by the things he has done.
1t has nearly always been my part to
play the f1gurehead. Nature developed
me in such a way as to enable mo to
make a very good f1gurehead. So was
put at the head of the American Red
Cross and it was there came to know
more of the works of DR.. Klopsch.
was glad to accept the invitation to
come to the Bowery.
LAS look into your faces see you
to be earnest American citizens. some
of you are down on your luck perhaps,
but you are responding in every fiber
to the same sentiments of loyalty and
decency, love of country and the same
aspirations fer better ideals that hope
every man in this country has.
st am glad to be here If being here
and by saying so I can convince you
that the so-called chasm between you
and those who seem for the time being
to be more fortunate is not SO much
of a chasm after all and that there is
between them ard you deep feeling OF
sympathy on their part and an earn
est desire that you shall have the equal
ity of opportunity of getting on your
feet, of earning a decent living and
supporting your families which we hope
every mar who lives under the stars
and stripes enjoys.
"I am glad to testify TO my interest
in the work of this mission which
rope always will help you and others
over the hard p1aces-the times when
the Lord and everybody else seems to
be against you-to help you at such
times to believe that there are people
in the world who sympathiZe with you
and hope you will achieve all that an
equality of opportunity will give you
and to help you to better things.
ct know 1t is difficult for you to be-
leve that I who am receiving a large
salary from the government and living
in comfort can understand or take to
my heart the feeling that you may have
of desperation and you have not had
the chance that other men have. But
in spite of the seeming difference your
fellow citizens are not all greedy and
srasping, their hearts are more open to-
day and they are more ready to help
the needy. out of their difficulties than
at any time in the past. And that feel
ing is growing every day. So let me
say to you to struggle on in the hope
that the future will bring brighter for
you"
After inspecting the bread line"
room the president again entered his
automobile and was whdrled up town
to his brothers home, where he spent
| the night.
AN NJ. S. q. AND X. q. ROMANCE.