Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-11
The Presidents Great Journey.

President Taft has returned To mead
quarters after q remarkable trip which
has carried him into every section OF the
country. He has faced several million
people and addressed them on numerous
occasions on many subjects. He has VS.
-dted a great exposition commemorative OF
an important extension of the American
ksrritory and has broken precedent by
Areadinz upon foreign soil TO greet the
kxecutive of . neighboring state. His
tourney will long stand as an exceptional
4performance productive Of great good
Ahrough the establishment of personal re-
Aations between the President and the
people
Mr. Taft IL well equipped for such an
expedition. He is a good traveller, en-
e3sys the rush Of the train and change Of
ecene. meets people easily and with an
Snformality that never menaces the pres
ervation Of his Official dignity. He ad-
HUsts readily to circumstances. Is equally
- home at q ceremonious reception or in
Fthe rough life Of camp. He speaks freely
and attractively on q wide range Of SUBJ
kects without shocking sensibilities or
~arousing prejudices and yet without yield
Ing his own views.
Both the President and the people have
Gle" The President has with his own
eyes seen the country and observed the
actual present conditions on the farms.
in the cities and on the rivers. He has
heard from many sources the needs OF
particular sections and states. from bank
ers and merchants. from political leaders
and from unclassified citizens. He is
bringing back to his desk an immense
store Of information that must be Of value
TO him later when confronted with ques-
lions affecting any part Of the land
through which he has lately travelled.
On their part the people who have met
the President have gained a direct per-
sonal communion with the government
thereby and cannot be other than better
citizens for the experience. No longer Is
the federal administration a remote, in
tangible thing to them. An encounter
with the President gives them a sense Of
the personal share in the welfare Of the
whole country which is the privilege and
at the same time the responsibility Of all
Individuals. They have seen the Presi-
dent. have shaken his hand, have heard
his voice and have listened to his views
and have become aware that he 10 q man
OF their own kind, courteous, considerate
and keenly alive to the questions that af-
feet the welfare OF the neighborhoods
through which he has passed. A visit
OF this character is stimulating to their
practical patriotism.
Washington welcomes the President
home. It has followed him through the
course OF his long journey with the keen
est interest as its most distinguished citi-
zen, and 1t rejoices that he has accom-
plished the great circuit without delay or
mishap. without any unpleasant expert
ence and with so abundant a proof that
the enterprise was helpful to him and to
the people whom he met. The capital
feels that the President of the United
States Is q member OF the community,
and especially In the case of Mr.. Taft
do the Washington people regard him a.
one Of them, and now at the end of this
remarkable trip the citizens of the Dis
trict offer him their congratulations upon
an accomplishment of such magnitude
and Importance.