The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-19
TAFT AT THE ALAMO.
Calls Historic Building a Cradle of
American Liberty.

San Antonio. Tex, Oct. 19-At the
Alamo here President Taft was in
troduced by Mayor Callahan. THE
remarks of your chief magistrate ac-
cord with my own feeling in empha-
sizing the historical feature of the
spot upon which we stand" said the
president. This is indeed one of the
cradles of American liberty. Here
the people of Texas wrought out their
own individual liberty and linked it
with that of other peoples of the
United States.
within a stones throw of that
building in which we offered up those
sacred lives at the Alamo one can not
but lay tributee at the feet of the
state of Texas as entitled to something
little more than one of the thirteen
states; that she worked out her des-
tiny without outside aid.
1.-TWO days ago it was my good for
tune to take part. as the representa-
tive of the people of the United
States in a ceremony tending to show
the peace and good will and the bond
of friendship that now exists between
the United States and the great re-
public of Mexico.
Happy those who after quarrels and
battles and bloody wars can live to see
the participants taking part in a cere-
mony of union and peace and sincere
good will: and that sentiment is devel-
oped as / look behind me and find on
one side the soldiers of the Grand
the confederate veterans, gathered here
to pay their respects to the chief mag
istrate of the nation under the starry
flag they all love so well.
Where Audience Was Different.
1T Is a distinction between the great
throngs that / have had the honor to
address heretofore and this one that
there is so much historical Renaissance
suggested by your presence and the
surroundings that can hardly dwell on
the material prosperity that is evident
also on every hand.
1T takes, in order to appreciate what
you have done, in order to show how
you have overcome the natural OBJ
stacles to success. such a trip as I took
yesterday from Ell Paso to this city, and
men who can make wealth and make
products of the soil out of that coun-
try are entitled to the congratulations
Of the whole nation"
Referring to the army post at San
Antonio which he called the most de-
ightful post in the United States" the
president added:
81 feel a sort of personal pride in
that post, because through the instru-
and myself, we were able to
treble its size and secure maneuver- |
ing ground in the neighborhood.
you can constantly count on the |
attention of the army of
the United States and you can count |
On their gratitude for the expression |
Of good feeling that you have made to |
them by the erection of that beautiful |
chapel upon their grounds.
"I appreciate this cordial welcome |
rs your tribute of loyalty to the chief |
executive of the nation, to the man |
who for the time being represents |
5our sovereignty and as such I am pre- |
pared to receive it,
During the review of the troops at
Fort Sam Houston the president wit
lessed runaway. The horse ridden
~ Major John Stone of the medical
corps of the army became unmanage-
lble. The animal ran for 800 yards
lirectly across the parade ground,
lead. The officer was unhurt.