Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-19

oI uedtn hanging over the governor OF the
state. received cordial, but not a de-
monstrative welcome. The critical illness
of Gov. Johnson. probably the most popu-
lar executive Minnesota has ever known.
entered deeply into the spirit of the day,
and dreaded eventualities threatened for
time during the morning seriously to
curtail the program of entertainment Doth
here and in St. Paul. The President full
filled the program outlined for his re-
ception, but at every pause In the rush.
ing from place to place he made anxious
inquiries as to the latest word from the
bedside of the governor, whose life hung
in the balance at ST. Mary's Hospital in
the little city of Rochester.
President Taft was deeply affected soon
after his arrival to receive message OF
personal greeting from Gov. Johnson.
The compliment was SO unexpected under
the circumstances, and coming by dicta-
ton from the lips of a man who was re-
ported at the time as having but the
fralest chance for life it called out an
immediate response from Mr.. Taft, filled
with expressions of sympathetic concern
and fervent hope for speedy recovery.
Sympathy for Sick Governor.
The President many times during the
day, in making little speeches here and
there in Minneapolis and st. Paul. re-
ferred to the governors fitness and ex-
pressed anew his distress to have been
met this morning by the despairing news
from the patients bedside.
In his Auditorium speech at St Paul,
the President called out prolonged ap-
plause and cheering when he declared Of
Gov. Johnson:
II unite with you in a fervent prayer
to God that he may be spared to you and
to the country. With his ability, his
Ii
not be spared. He is too valuable. not
alone to the people of this state, but to
the people of the Nation, who doubtless
will insist in time that he shall serve
them.''
President Taft also aroused enthusiasm
with his audiences during the day by his
many happy references to the civic vir-
tues of the neighboring cities. declaring
them to be SO much alike they should
combine as one city, with a borough of
Minneapolis and a borough of st. Paul.
The President. arriving in Minneapolis
shortly before m, began his day with
a breakfast at the Minneapolis Club.
where he Is quartered during his stay
here until tomorrow night, as the guest
of the reception committee of the twin
cities. Next there was an automobile ride
through the business and residence sec
tions of Minneapolis, around the lake
shore drives, to the soldiers home.
where the President reviewed a double
line of blue uniformed veterans, and then
proceeded to Fort Smelling, where there
was a review of the regular troops sta
toned there, and a brief reception at
the Officers Club.
Guns Fire Presidents Salute.
AS the Presidents party entered the
military reservation the chief executive
was met by a troop Of cavalry and a sa-
lutte of twenty-one guns was fired. The
Presidents red flag, bearing the coat OF
arms OF the United States on the field
of a big, blue star, surrounded In turn
by forty-slx small white stars. was borne
by a trooper at the Presidents side
throughout his stay on the reservation.
Leaving Fort Smelling, the party
crossed the river into the outskirts OF
the city of ST. Paul, and after brief
stop at tthe Town and Country Club mo-
tored direct into the city, where the
President was entertained at a luncheon
served on the vast stage OF the ST. Paul
Auditorium. When the luncheon had
been concluded the temporary partitions
the stage from the main body
of the Auditorium We're lifted and the
President faced an audience which filled
floors and galleries to their utmost ca
pacity. AS the crowd had assembled
during the luncheon each person had
been presented with a small American
flag, and when the President turned from
his seat at the guests table he looked
into fiuttering sea of waving colors.
Alter d DTlcI speech the tGeSl0ent was
driven to the state capitol. where 1t had
been intended that a public reception
should be held. This feature was called
off on account of Gov. Johnson's illness,
and the President appeared for only
few minutes on the south balcony to
express to the great crowd on the ter
raced lawn his gratitude for the cordial
greeting.
Once more in an automobile the Pres
dent was driven back to Minneapolis,
and retired to his rooms at the club for
three-hour rest before starting for the
rendered him tonight at the Min
leapolis Auditorium by the people of this
.ity.
Made a Deep Impression.
During the day the President made no
to the tariff. Among those who
'eceived him, politicians and business men
like, the Winona speech of last night, in
which the President made clear his posi-
ion with reference to the Payne bill and
hose members of the republican party
Who voted for and against that measure.
vas the chief topic of discussion.
The speech evidently made deep i'm
,ression in this section, and representa-
ives of both the Insurgents and
stand pat" elements In this center OF
were taken somewhat aback
~ the thoroughness of the Presidents
tatement.
The fact that Mr.. Taft waited until ne
,ot into .'insurgent" territory before saw
ng what he had to say of those senator's
nd representatives who abandoned their
.arty i'm the4tarif fight shared largely In