New-York tribune., 1909-12-14
Mr.. TAFT VISITS THE
MISSION BOYS.
Takes Them First by Surprise
end Then by Storm srith
Housing Speech.

..s-sas mastered with any intent, ap-
-,,.l,- that IL should ever he ade-
.-s,s,v described IL is a thing that
-. he heard. and that was easily done
-,,n,n a respectable radius from No.
.o- sou-e-v between lo:45 and II p. n.
-. President said he would not forget
!, hsvinr heard II. and he said IL in a
- that carried conviction TO the men
- hs6 first thought IL out and sent IL
,,-,h 50 they gave him another capa-
,,rv losd % il right then, and every one
vas satisfied
there NAV have been some time. some
-hsre. g. much pent-up interest and
,rrious crsuing Of necks by an audience
,sfo-e the arrival Of the principal
s,.sker q an evening as existed be
.wa.u the two narrow walls Of the
scvs-v Mission last night.
gso the occasion probably has not
..,,,s its place in history. The men
s,s not know beforehand that the Presi-
sert of the United States was going 10
s,or n on them for an informal. highly
i,snirfting nan-to-nan chat after his
sp4ech al Carnegie Hall They sang
,bs,- ssvorite songs with a vengeance.
s-ovuing the organ. which was pump
,,r away rner-ily enough, as could be
-,,ioed between the choruses. The man
xss there whose wife he'd driven him
.-o-, home when he was drunk because
she could not take care OF him and six
rhild-en and still pay the rent, who
had reformed. got JOB and now sent
money 70 her regularly. even though she
rersisted IN wishing 70 live alone. with
cs.lv The children. All colors and con-
eitions were in that sitting room filed
vith The rising steam from clothes that
were d-vinE for the first time during
ths day. ana apparently drying fast.
There was no standing room Police
-en. who knew OF the Presidents COM
,rr had 70 sidle up and down the aisles.
The Rev. J. =. Hallimond. superintend-
snt % the mission, said al 10 o'clock
rhat the meeting. according 10 rules, was
over. but for the men 20 wait a minute
GUEssEs ABOUT GUEST.
sseulehodv is coming here tonight"
~ added can you guess who?"
Andy Carnegie" yelled r.ssn an the
year
firmly shook his hesd.
~JuSge Gaynor." called a wag. in a
psy that showed he didn't mean II Sc
-ously.
The superintendent could no longer
rsstrsin himself
The President ot the United States,
William r.. Taft. is going 70 come here
and talk 10 you men" he shouted
triumphantly.
II was enough. II was more than they
Rad expected. That was all Mr.. Halli-
rond Rad opportunity 10 say just then.
That non-ps tenta0le but uninfringabl
seI - the "Bowery Boys" made the ris-
iIE vspor rise still higher. Then songs
were sung-favoritc songs. so announced.
and with apparent accuracy. The songs
cCuld not have been unpopular 10 judge
by the action and the snap and the
hearty sincerity Of the vocalization.
Speakers on the platform ard the police
men and The BoWery boys kept each ore
eye on the Presidential door. The fact
that rhe President might even then be
approaching may have had some in
fuence on the volume Of their song, but
ms is doubtful They sang as IL the
song was the thing. and there was
tine FOR al things-even a President
I don't ike 70 ask as big a man as
Bishop Darlington 20 act as a stop-gap."
ssid the superintendent. when. at 1890
he guest Of the evening had not arrived.
although there had been several false
alarms Bishop Darlington caught their
'sncy. and then. IN a few more minutes,
Rhen. IN fact. the last line Of Nearer.
Ny coo. 70 Thee" vas being splendi6ly
sung IN walked the President II he
aacnt smiled the reception undoub btedly
would have been equally fattering. But
ne did smile, broadly. with wonderful
nnoness and msn-to-manness. and tnat
Sss al tie Bowery boys permitted him
r. do until he sat down. evidently will
ing no await = change OF attitude. He
Vas Photographed from the front. and
from The flank. and then the Rev. Mr..
halhmond told them that the President
hse arrived. IN was no way 10 maintain
order. and il failed
CHEER FOR PRESIDENT.
"A7e SOU glad he is here?" was the
Unnecessary query then put 20 the men.
We are came back in caps.
Do you appreciate his coming. men?"
W. co." Was the answering roar.
u took man with a great. big. ath-
Fto heart T. make the journey from the
White House 20 the Bowery." said the
superintendent but when President Taft
arose Do contradicted THIS. He said that
he was about a. much surprised Al being
uiere a. they were a. seeing him Dr.
Louis klopsch. president of the mission
apo vice. president Of the national Red
cross had. he said, asked him 10 attend
meeting on the Bowery. He knew that
ir klopsch would never lead him where
- should not go. and he Was mighty
gisc % be right where he stood
u has been my fortune in life 10 be A
nsurehead q good deal Of the time" said
NE President. Some men do things.
sou know, and other men are Just ng-
areheads Well nature has developed
ne IN such q way that ] play pretty
eopo part as a figurehead. So they put
ne a. The head Of the Red Cross. There
Was able 20 know and understand ne
work that is being done by Ir- kiopsch
bhd he associates 10 relieve human SUI
ieFing. wherever found.