Arizona republican., 1909-10-14
President Taft Publicly Promises His Powerful Aid in
 the Struggle of Arizona for Admission
 the Territory His Comforting Address At the City Plaza Reception at he Capitol and our of the Country North the City

For two hours yesterday Phoenix basked in that good humor which con- stantly radiates from President Will liam H. Taft The whole surrounding country was within the circle of it's genial influence.
 The president and his party were constantly in action. At no place where the president had stopped in his long journey had he covered so much ground in so brief a time; in no place had be seen so great a number of people in ratio to the entire popula- ton; in no place had he been more cordially welcomed. and in no place had people felt that they enjoyed a greater measure of his good will and sympathy.
 A Record Breaking Crowd
 The surrounding country had been pouring its multitudes into Phoenix since early in the morning The trains from the south brought in per haps two hundred. but the main body of tEe crowd came from the valley. It was estimated that at the time the president reached the platform at the city hall plaza 10000 people were con- gregated within the triangular space in front of it. while 2OO0 more were on the sidewalk or on the plaza at the ends of the city hall, out of sight and hearing of MT. Taft.
 But that was by no means all of the crowd. Hundreds who had lined the streets to catch glimpse of the fly ing automobiles which had brought 
 mittee from the capitol. sought points of vantage along Center street to see the automobile parade after it left the plaza. other hundreds had stationed themselves about the Central school building. where 250O children with waving flags were feverishly awaiting the coming of Mir. Taft.
 There were never so many people in Phoenix; never so many gathered in Arizona A noticeable thing was the absence of Indians. who so much swell gala day crowds in Phoenix.
 The Waiting Throng
 The presidents train did not arrive until half an hour after the time it was expected. The thronging Of the plaza was begun an hour earlier and soon after word was received that the train had passed through town and that the distinguished guest was at the capitol building Every shady spot was filled and in ten minutes there was no space in the spots upon more than usually fervent October sun shone.
 The platform from which the presi- dent was to address the people had a
 
 ness of the timber of which it was constructed was artistically hidden. It was faced with bunting of red, white and blue. The floor was covered with Japanese rugs and overlaid with Navajo blankets. There were beauti- ful. though not profuse, floral decora- uons. From the rear of the platform to the rear of the hall by which the president was to enter the building a carpet of red velvet was laid.
 A Precaution
 Fifteen minutes before the arrival of the presidential party all the rooms of the city hall were enptied, the win dOws closed and the doors locked after an inspection which showed that no soul was within. Whether neces sary or not, this was a precaution on which the secret service men had in sisted. Soldiers of the National Guard watched the entrances to the plat form.
 Then came the president. welcomed with a mighty cheer. With him was the ever faithful Butt and newspaper men known throughout the country But the audience had not come to see them. John Hays Hammond, the greatest mining engineer. and F. F. Calvin, power in the railroad world, and others whose advent ordinarily would create a stir, were passed un- noticed. They were mot President Taft
 Now the crowd was alert The October sun was no longer annoying. It had become as obscure as MT. Ham mond or MT. Calvin or the newspaper correspondents.
 Governor SIoan's Introduction
 Governor Sloan as the forerunner of the president was nightly cheered: that IS, nightly" for Phoenix. which has reputation for being uneffusive It was impossible in that crowd |,