Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-17
TAFT SEES CUBS LOSE
Fans Delighted With Presi-
dents Informal Ways.
REFUSES SEAT IN A BOX
Shakes Hands With Members Of
Both Teams.
RISES FOR LUCKY SEVENTH
Over 10000 Persons at the West
Side Park in Chicago Yester-
day Afternoon.
RISES FOR LUCKY SEVENTH

CHICAGO. September 17-"Put me
with the other fans exclaimed Presi-
dent Taft, when he was taken out
to West Side Park yesterday afternoon
to see the Cubs play the New York
Giants. So they gave him a grand
stand seat instead of a private box
The President saw his largest base ball
crowd More than 10000 people were
packed into the stands and beachers
and overlooking into the playing field.
The President sat in one Of the open
sections of the double-decked stands
and thoroughly enjoyed brilliant game
in which the two greatest pitchers of
the league-Mathewson of New York
and Brown of Chicago-faced each
other.
New York won by to 1. but the
crowd had some compensation in cheer
ing the President. who remained to
the end and waited to wave a farewell
to the bleacher throngs that poured
across the field in a perfect cavalcade
when the last Cub had struck out.
Shakes Hands With Ball Players.
When President Taft first reached
the park he went down on the field and
shook hands with the members of both
teams. When he turned to go to his
seat the reception committee started
to lead him around through an aisle.
"Oh, this will do said the President,
climbing over the backs Of two or
three seats to his place.
The fans yelled with delight at his
informality.
He then held an impromptu recep-
ton, at which he met Pop Arson. the
famous old Chicago player; Garry Herr
mann. president of the national. base
ball commission, and John A. Heydler,
president Of the National league.
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
owner, also was with the President for
part of the game.
Invited to San Antonio.
Texas" Reilly, editor of the San An
tonic Light and Gazette, who rode horse
back all the way from San Antonio to
Chicago to present formal invitation to
Mr.. Taft to visit that city, also met
the President at the ball game. He was
in typical cowboy costume and had reach |
ed Chicago on a horse from the Taft
ranch in Texas only yesterday morning.
The President assured Mr.. Reilly that
he was looking forward to his visit to
San Antonio. October II, with great |
deal of pleasure. |
About this time the photographers were
roosting like lot of chickens at dusk On |
the backs of the seats in front of the |
President.
Tell them to get out: can't see the |
game,' the President complained, and the I
police swooped down on the flock.
Mayor Calvin of Cincinnati called in
the stand to pay his respects and re-
ceived hearty Hello. JOHN from the
President.
Secretary Dickinson of the War Depart-
ment sat at the Presidents right, Gov |
Deneen at his left and Gen. Frederick D. |
Grant just in front. In the surrounding
party of the Hamilton Club, host to the |
distinguished visitor. |
Rises for Lucky Seventh.
Mr.. Taft received many hearty cheers |
from the base ball enthusiasts, especially |
when he stood up with the rest Of the |
fans at the beginning Of the lucky |
seventh" Although the inning brought |
only blank for the home club, the |
crowd appreciated the Presidents good |
intentions.
Mr.. Taft was asked by one of his party: |
mir. President, whom are you for, Chi |
cago or New York?' |
I'm from Cincinnati" declared the |
President, with an anxious look at the |
score board, which doomed 3-to-3 tie be- |
tween Cincinnati and Pittsburg in the |
seventh inning. But just then the score |
board boy marked up four for PittSburg |
in the eighth and two in the ninth, and |
the President declared amid laughter that |
he was dumfounded.
After the game the President was en- |
tertained at dinner by the Hamilton Club, |
and after that he delivered his address |
in Orchestra Hall.