Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-20
At HAMPTON SCHOOL
President Taft Exercises Duty
as a Trustee.
ADDRESS TO STUDENTS
Reviews Cadet Battalion and Wit.
nesses Athletic Exercises.
STARTS HOME THIS AFTERNOON
In Speech at Norfolk Declares Him
self in Favor Of a Fortress
at the Capes.

HAMPTON. Va, November oO.-Presi-
dent Taft today took up his duties as a
member OF the board OF trustees OF
Hampton Normal and Agricultural In
stitute when he attended a meeting OF a
board at the Office Of President Frisseli,
and later delivered an address in which
he lauded the work that industrial insti-
tutions like Hampton and Tuskegee are
accomplishing for the colored people of
the south.
President Taft arrived here this morn
ing on board the naval yacht Mayflower.
The yacht had remained over night at
Norfolk, where Mr.. Taft yesterday had
a day Of strenuous sightseeing and enter
tainment.
Robert e. ogden, DIR. &. w. Eliot OF
Harvard. Andrew Carnegie and prominent
educators were here today to attend with
the President the meeting of the board,
and to participate In the reception to the
President this afternoon.
Reviews the Cadets.
AS soon as he had reached shore the
President was taken on an inspection
tour Of the buildings and grounds. Fol-
lowing the meeting Of the trustees, Mr..
Taft reviewed the school battalion of
cadets and the whole student body Of
girls and boys. visited the students din
ing hall and was entertained at luncheon
at Dr. Frissells home
Following the luncheon came the exer-
cises at the gymnasium. where President
Taft. Mr.. Carnegie, Mr.. Ogden and DR..
Eliot spoke. series of tive-minute ad
dresses were delivered by five Hampton
graduates on characteristic phases OF
the schooIs work in agriculture, educa-
tfon. social welfare, Indian work and gen-
eral work for the Improvement Of the
negroes and Indians. President Taft will
leave this afternoon for Washington. Mr..
Carnegie was his guest today OH the
Mayfiower.
Fortress at the Capes.
After making his open-air address in
Norfolk yesterday the President was
taken By special train to Cape Henry
for the old-fashioned oyster roast. In
order to make himself heard at the
roast. which was held In Iow-oeiifng
pavilion, the President stood on a chair.
Next to him sat Andrew Carnegie.
In his speech the President dwelt again
upon the necessity of taking UP water
way improvements on a basis of sound
business sense, rather than on ideals and
oratory.
II feel like an OYSTER" began Mr. Taft,
land / ought to be as dumb as one, but
when you get on the soil Of Old Virginia
there Is something about 1t that makes
you feel like talking, and so / have ac-
cepted the Invitation to make few brief
remarks. 1 am glad to be here by the
oceanside. l am glad to taste the best
oysters with the best flavor that I have
ever tasted before. / am glad to be here
! where. in spite of the views of my dis
tinguished neighbor. Brother Carnegie
We ought to put formidable fortress
right here Both Brother Carnegie and I
are working toward the same end. and
we believe in peace, but I am not quite
so near the millennium as he is but we
| are working in the same direction and
| with the same principles, and we don't
differ so much.
Hit at Speaker Cannon.
Now. about this waterways assoc.a-
tion 1 have heard gentlemen-I think l
heard our distinguished Speaker intimate
| that he did not see what was the neces-
sity of a waterway when IL was only q
biscuit throw over into the ocean, bat
that Is because he comes from Illinois
II in the discharge of his duty Il had
been his fate, as ii has been mine, to
go around this neighboring Cape Hat
teras, he would understand the difference
In biscuit throw. He would know that
there Is something in quiet water. II he
does not believe ii, let him get on the
Sylph or the Mayfower and travel up
from here when there is a good strong
wind blowing in Hampton roads and tell
the difference between Chesapeake bay
and the Potomac river. He would tell II
In his stomach.
seriously speaking, my dear friends
think 1T is a ripe moment to say that
conventions are good and speeches are
good or general character, in stirring
UP movement toward a result but you
don't reach the result and you never
will until you get measurements and
facts and details with which those who
are responsible shall become familiar, Sc
as to enable them to make plans, draft
legislation and feel confident that the
result Of that Legislation when carried
out will bring about specific benefits.
You have got to be specific. You
have got 10 come down to facts in Or
der to get dollars. At least. that is
the attitude that Congress is going to
take I don't know what the scope of
your vision is. but mine is limited by
Congress. 1t is the question what the
representatives Of the people will do
with reference to accomplishing re-
forms