Evening star., 1909-05-18
TAFT FOR DINNER PLAN
Glad to Be Guest of Washing
ton Once a Year, He Says.
HE so ASSURES Mr.. EDISON
Project Given Unanimous Approval
of All Business Men.
MORE EXPRESSIONS OF VIEWS
Idea Excellent and Offers Opportu-
nifty to Advance Interests of Ma
tional Capital, Consensus of
Opinion.
MORE EXPRESSIONS OF VIEWS

That IN substance. is the statement
made by President Taft to John Joy
Edison. chairman of the committee in
charge of the recent highly successful
dinner at the New Willard, when Mr..
Taft was the guest of honor of repre-
sentative residents of the District of CO.
lumbia
With this statement went the assur
ance from Mr.. Taft that he had had not
only an enjoyable but profitable time,
listening to the views of the various
speakers apd expressing his own in re-
turn. He seems to concur in the senti-
ment. general throughout the city, that
would be beneficial both to the executive
and the National Capital.
Mr. Taft Sees His DUTY Clear.
There is no doubt but that Mr.. Taft
appreciates as much II not more than any
other President the peculiar responsible
ity that rests upon him in connection with
the District of Columbia. He is to all
intents and purposes its mayor. just as
the Congress Of the United States-the
Senate and the House-have been spoken
of as it's board of aldermen and common
council.
He is, from his utterances at recent
dinner unalterably opposed to suffrage
and stands for a continuance of the pres
ent relations between the District and
federal governments. Consequently he
seems to realize to the full, as do so
many of the representative citizens OF TINS TINS
community, that anything which will
lead to a better understanding between
the President and those citizens OF the
District of Columbia who do things. VINO
stands for progress and the best IDEAS
ND fnf O
velopment of the National capital, is of
known and acknowledged value.
There has been anxiety evident among
some of those gentlemen who were sub
scribers to the recent dinner In honor OF
Mr. Taft. with respect to his attitude
toward the suggestion that 1t be made
an annual affair. They did not-many OF
them at least-wish to come out In a
strong Endorsement Of the project until
they had learned that it was acceptable,
even welcome, to the President.
Now that Mr.. Taft has assured Mr.. Ed
son, who was chairman OF the recent
dinner committee. that he will be glad
to be the guest of the representative c1ti-
zens Of Washington at an annual event OF
similar nature. they are enthusiastic In
their Endorsement of the proposition.
Unanimity Of Approval.
I'm the comments that are heard upon
the exposition in The Star yesterday of
President Small of the Board of Trade,
of President Guide of the Chamber of
Commerce, of Speaker Cannon and of 4
number of other men prominently identi-
fled with the interests of this community,
there seems to be no discordant note. 1t
appears to be generally agreed that
nothing that could be thought of probably
would do as much for the present and
future welfare Of the District. for the
tweent White House and District build
ing, between municipal and federal treas
uries, between local and national admin
istrations, as annual gatherings or the
nature of those projected.
Once established as an annual affair.
with the sanction and frank approval Of
the present President of the United
States. there is no doubt that the
banquet by the representative citizens OF
the District Of Columbia in honor of the
President of the United States will be-
come, with one bound as it were, a regu-
lar function, an established custom In
Washington, something to be looked for
ward to from year to year, something to
be considered as of known value to the
community, something from which the
greatest good to the greatest number can
confidently be expected.
1t is realized that there is nothing
more to be done with reference to the
project at this time. 1t is just that
the subscribers to the recent dinner may
keep the fact in mind, that they may
consider it as settled that the dinner
is to be an annual affair, that the ar
rangements may be made next year with.
out preliminary agitation, and that they
may all be assured that the project has
the approval, not only of the subscribers.
but of the guest of honor as well, that
the facts in the case are set forth by
The Star at this time.
Business Men of One Mind.
To quote the names of those who are
enthusiastically in favor of making the
dinner an established annual event would
be to name over again practically the
entire membership of the Board of Trade
and the Chamber of Commerce. and add
thereto the names of hundreds of sub
stantial citizens of the District. not num-
bered in these two bodies, but inter-
ested. just the same. in the National
Capital and all that pertains to it.
Here are a few samples of the COM
ments made to Star reporter today on
the subject. For instance, Arthur G.
Moses. one Of the most active members
of the Chamber of Commerce, who is on
several of the committees of that body,
and who is identified with all movements
for civic progress, said:
Il am delighted at the prospect of the
President gladly becoming the guest each
winter of the citizens of Washington at
an dhdiE HOlucu dlOHS tIle lilies OI tlc
dinner given to Mr.. Taft the other night
am convinced that the annual ex-
change of views which will result, with
all the attendant benefits of increased
harmony and better mutual understand
ing. will result in real good for WASH
ington."
Isaac Cans. chairman of the civic ad-
vertising committee, is of the same mind
Il am sure said he. that the ex-
change of views at the dinner the other
night did Washington a great deal OF
real good. A frank conference Of that
nature is invaluable
I'VE now know right where we stand
with reference to the White House point
| of view. AS the President of the United
States Is virtually the ex-officio mayor of
| the National capital, that is a great
deal
Il am delighted at the idea of an an
nual affair along the lines Of the affair
! of the other evening. / am sure my
view, but comedies with the ideas of all
| those who have the interests of the Dis
trict of Columbia sincerely at heart
Other Endorsement Given.
| 1.-The suggestion that the dinner to the
President by the city of Washington be
made an annual affair is admirable in
deed" said James F. Oyster. president OF
the board of education. There should be
function of this sort where an inter-
| change of.views may be had
/ 1.-The proposition should prove attractive
to the President as we'll as the city. 1 am
glad the suggestion has been made and
that 1t has met with such general ap-
proval."
w. v. Cox, president of the Second Ma
| tional Bank, thought the idea an excellent
one. II have no doubt that good will re-