Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-31
PRESIDENT IN PITTSBUUC
Chief Executive is Guest Of Asso-
ciated Yale Clubs and City.
VISITS THE BASE BALL PARK
Address at Bsnauet Of sons of Eli
In the EVenInE-VisIts the base
Ball Park with Brother
Charley.

a = - e
cares Of state at Washington. away from
the tariff and the task Of filling federal
offices, President Taft thoroughly enjoyed
himself saturday through fifteen hours OF
play and continuing excitement. He made
four speeches at as many different places,
rode many miles by automobile and special
trains, played pitcher in . game OF ball
at the Allegheny Country club In the
early afternoon and then. returning to
town. sat through the eleven nnins OF
the contest between the Pittsburg and
Chicago teams OF the National league.
The president assisted at the dedication
OF a fountain in Arsenal park, attended
a business meeting Of the Associated Yale
clubs, had luncheon at ~Sevickley Heights,
fourteen miles out OF the city, and tonight
the principal speaker at the brilliant
banquet which brought to a close the
annual sessions Of the Western Yale
clubs.
Pittsburg's welcome to the president
was a continuous ovation. Wherever he
went he was met by crowds of cheering
thousands. The streets through which he
passed were fairly blocked with humanity.
After the ball game, while the presi-
dents automobile was threading it's way
through Sixth street, there was at one
time a seemingly impossible human bar
rier across the t~horoughfare. The police
finally opened a way, however, and the
presidents car passed safely through. The
president. during the early part of the
day, was the guest of the city and the
state. Later ne was turned over to the
Yale men. He left the sons of Old FL
at play at the Country club while he
journeyed back TO the city to witness the
professional game of base ball.
President at Ball Game.
The ball game was a departure from the
original program, which caused some dis
appointment to the Yale men, but which
apparently brought Joy to the 1900 Pitts.
burg fans gathered on the grandstand
and bleachers and OVERLOOKING into the
playing field. Private boxes in the uppeI
part of the big stand were rendered the
president, but he chose to sit in the mar
body Of the grandstand surrounded by q
perfect jam of Pittsburg "rooters." On
either side of the president were Secretary
OF State Knox. a staunch supporter of tn,
Pittsburg team, and Charles p. Taft
principal owner of the Chicago Cubs.
Consequently the chief executive was TORI
by conflicting emotions. He wanted both
teams to win and was happiest when tho
score was a tie, which Il was from the
seventh to the eleventh inning, when a
whole flock of bears" crossed the plate
and broke up ar exciting game, by a score
of s to 3. President Hadley of Yale also
sat with the president. Captain Archi.
bald Butt, military aide to the president
was in the party and nearby TO explain
the fine points of the game in minute de
tail. was President Charles w. Murphy oil
the Chicago club. Secretary Knox and tn,
presidents brother had great fun in wager
ing as to the outcome of the contest and
appealed In turn for the presidents sup
port. mo, SIR" replied the president, 'l
insist upon maintaining a judicial attitud,
on this matter" .
In ~Pittsburg's half Of the lucky sew.
enth'' the president set the crowd to cheer,
ing by standing for luck" with the resi-
of the great crowd. All through the gam,
there we're calls for cheers for the pres
ident and hey were given in great waves
of sound which echoed back from the high
Mills overlooking the park. The president;
assistance to the Pittsburg 'rooters' il
the seventh resulted in the local team ty
ing the score. with the score still TIED
at the end of the eighth the president ex
claimed:
II hope it goes beyond the ninth; ther
we will get more for our money"
1t was suggested to the president that 4
he remained for the finish OF the contes
he would be late for the banquet tonight
He replied that he could get a dinnei
most any old time but seldom coulC
see a better game of base ball.
Pitches in College Game.
The president made his debut on the dia
mond at the Allegheny Country clul
where, following luncheon at the residenc,
Of H. r. Rea, he held a reception ant
mingled with the Yale men, who were tn,
guests of the club for the afternoon. Tw,
teams OF resident and visiting Yale Alumni
were matched In a ball game and the pres
ident pitched the first two balls for tn
visitors.
In the p~arlance of the game he ha,
little or no speed and utter lack O
control" but was taken out of the DO,
before much damage was done. AS
matter of fact, the two balls which tn
president threw at the batsman hit tn
home base and reached the catcher on tn
first bounce.
First bounce used to be out" the pres
dent protested, but he was unceremoniousl
relegated to the side lines.
The day Of the presidents visit was on
OF blue skies and brilliant sun. The after
noon grew intensely warm and the pres
dent before going to the country. change
from the forma dress OF the morning t
a sack suit and straw hat. Secretar
Knox's wardrobe was not so convenier
and he wore his top silk hat until h
reached the Country club, where, unde
the pretext OF having his picture take
with the president in the same sort {
headgear worn by Mr.. Taft, he borrowe
a panama hat from a friend and pos
lively refused to return until the day wa
done.
Kemper. Hemphin & Buckingham.