The Washington herald., 1909-10-31
TAFT DISAPPOINTS
WATERWAY HOSTS


the steamboat line or government owner
ship of stations along the river. The Pres
ident reiterated that he was in favor of
pushing the Ohio River Improvements to
completion and issuing bonds 90 do il.
The Improvements in that river. he said.
had been proved TO be practicable.
IL am not IN tavOr." he said. "of delay
ing the Mississippi River Improvement
until the Ohio River Improvement is COM
pleted. but l am in favor OF finding out
succincty what you ought TO do in the
Mississippi River and knowing what 1t
will cost before you spend your money
The President is in favor of having Con-
gress give the Mississippi River commits
sion the additional S2O00.CO0 a year which
IL says 10 needs 20 carry on the work OF
reinforcing the river banks at the bends.
Good Word for Cannon.
The President had good word TO say
for Uncle Joe" Cannon. It was the first
he has uttered since leaving ST. Louis
and 81 VIII hardly satisfy Uncle Joe s.
friends. who believe the President ought
10 speak Up for him as strongly as he did
for Aldrich
Il am sure the Speaker OF the House
is working as hard as he can 70 reach a
just solution OF this great question, was
all the President had 10 say.
New Orleans was added 20 the list or
Mississippi River cities that have had
their Taft celebrations spoiled through
the plumbers OF the 81. Louis Business
Mems League in arranging the running
schedule OF the deep waterways feet
More than 10000 persons. many from
neighborlng towns and cities. were dis
appointed. = score - military com
panies, including regular troops. militia
and the jackieS from three war ships
that had come to swell the Presidential
welcome. were drawn up at the ievee.
ready 10 fall I'm behind Mr.. Tafts car
riage as soon as ne landed.
Five hundred carriages OF the twenty
Ave governors, the Ia Representatives.
and the other distinguished visitors also
were Ga line AT the steamboat landing
and Of brass bands there seemed 10 be
no end
The New Orleans reception committee
knew nothing or the Presidents direc-
ton 20 omit the parade until he had
landed u was then ! o'clock. consider
ably past the time that had been set
for a Presidential luncheon at Archbish-
op Blenk's palace.
The President allowed ne could not
cut the luncheon engagement and
ordered the reception committee 20 drive
him at once 20 the palace. The streets
We're packed with people, and only a few
Of them recognized the President az he
was driven unesc0rted 10 the Hotel St
Charles
Later. the parade moved of without
the President. and the crowd spent its
time az guessing which OF the siIk-hatted
Representatives IN line was Taft The
reception committee tried 20 arrange an
other street parade. but failed
There was also miX-up over the
Presidents attendance al a football game
The University ~ Louisiana was playing
the University Of the South IN one part
was lined up against the University OF
Mississippi on another field He compro-
missed 10y speaking few minutes at each
game.
Kept Crowd Guessing
The most impressive part or Mr.. TatCs
New Orleans reception was on the river
before he landed. For miles down the
Mississippi he was greeted with the toot-
ing OF steam whistles and calliopes. the
baring Of brass bands. and the booming
OF guns Three torpedo boats and two
desuoyers met him ten miles above the
city
The battle ship Mississippi and the
cruisers New York and North Carolina
were az anchor near the landing. with
jacbies manning the rails and bridges.
Each fired twenty-one guns as the Presi-
dents flagship Oleauder passed.
In The evening the President was a
guest Of the Pickwick Club at dinner. ar
ter which he attended a French opera
The President viii deliver another aG-
dress tomorrow afternoon on the Tulane
University campus