The San Francisco call., 1909-10-06
TAFT FINDS IN
SAN FRANCISCO
DAUNTLESSCITY
Everywhere Is the Evidence OF
InGOmitabIe Courage and
Loyalty TO Nation
Hum of Industry HaIts for Brief
Spell as Citizens Welcome
the President

troops Of cavalry.
Then came the moving point which
was the center yesterday of San Fran
cisco's activity, interest. zeal and curl
osity. The presidents carriage was
drawn by two black horses-''Taft"
and sherman" were the names of the
snimals-and they were somewhat OF
q show in themselves, for they were
the Kelly team which won the first
prize at the workhorse parade.
THE JovIAL PRESIDENT
On the rear seat OF the maroon car
Tiage sat q large man waving a black
silk hat The mans face was tanned
from the exposure which would come
when he had TO address chain OF open
air meetings which linked Beverly.
Mass, with san Francisco, Cal The
large mans eyes were puckered from
the sunlight which was beating relent-
Iessly on the fhinly thatched head. The
president has developed q sort OF tom
sure.
AT times President Taft thought he
might ca s,h a respite from the enthu
siasm. but he could not. The moment
his weary arm would stop the undula-
items Of the high hat there would break
forth voileys Of cheers from right and
left flank and the honored man would
have 10 draw his handkerchief as a
flag OF appreciation, not OF truce-no
fag of truce was needed yesterday, no
matter what might have been said
bout national politics and Aldrich tar
IFS previous TO the parade The white
handkerchief was simply to supplement
The indefstigable hat.
with the president rode Mayor Ed
ward Robson Taylor. Governor James
\. GUlett and Captain Archibald Butt,
the presidents military aid. Mayor
-Ta~lor had the seat OF secondary honor
hfsf 1fn1f1xp =
time mayor Of this city who once occu-
pied similar position in relation TO
another president, Mayor Taylor did
not rise and bow, approprlatlng the
patriotic applause for municipal con-
sumption. Behind came IL other car
l-is ges: but when the president had
passed. people would say; 1T is over
now.
From the Folsom street dock to the
end OF the route the presidential party
had clear field between two high
TERED lines OF humanity.
SCENE IN MARKET STREET
East street was jammed from pave
rnenr TO the top Of the tallest sailors.
boarding house. There were flags and
banners, but the fun glory of the day
was not apparent until Market street
was reached The sun shone- 1t could
have done nothing more graceful either
for sunny san Francisco or for the
sunny srsliIe Of Taft There Eas enough
breeze 10 play artfully with the flags.
They would fu with the little caps OF
wind and glisten with their new red
and white and blue
In anticipation Of the Portola festival
Market street has been strung with
electric lights. and in the sunlight the
bulbs glistened like Christmas tree or
naments. There was color and bright
ness.
And ever there was the swelling
cheers-the "Oh. you Bill" the anec-
tionate fiippsncy Of the American
There used. in the school readers, to
he A typical poem about the little girl
who went
TO see the King go riding by
And all the eager people cry,
Hail to the King, and long life he :"
"OH. YOU BILL"
The phrase Eager people" is the
only one applicable. to the affair OF yes
terdav That the San Francisco people.
- ger TO see their ruler" cried. was
almost Invariably, ooh, you BILL One
original genius became respectful and
cried, oh you William"
Up Market street, over Montgomery,
California and Kearny and out Market,
the president went. under hanging gar
dens blooming with the merry faces of
the girl stenographers and clerks,
perilous points. stood young men.
That was the parade.
LAYING THE CORNER STONE
The corner stone laying at the new
Y. NJ c. A. building was a pleasant in
terruptiOn TO the line of cheering thou
sands-hundreds OF thousands. Presi-
dent Taft had the appropriate word to
say. lie made a pungent comment on
charity. ,reople have almost as great
difhcultss-' he said. lin giving money
where II will do some good as in max
ing the money in the first place. but
YOU can give as much as you choose
10 the Young Mems Christian associ-
alton and may be sure that every dol
ar viii give you its full worth in re-
turn.
Then the president laid the corner
stone of the new building. And he laid
il. He was not TO be a dandified lay
figure. TO spread tentatively a silver
trowel Of mortar where il would do
the most harm. He put his eye to the
spirit level and saw that the granite
block set right and plumb. The foun-
dation Of God standeth sure" declared
the text from Timothy, 2:ls. craven
on the stone, and Taft was not to have
il stand any other way.
AT UNION LEAGUE CLUB
From the ceremony of the stone
placing the president went through
other cheering crowds down Market
street TO Grant avenue. to Post, to
Stockton, 10 O'Farrell, TO the Union
League club, where he was celebrated
as an honorary member. Then TO the
ST. Francis hotel, where he rested and
received friends, including little Ruth
Esther Jordan, who won the Taft prize
cup for being the prettiest baby at the
Santa Cruz baby show.
Then came the official reception BAN
quet at the Fairmont. where oratorv
and wit broke forth and sparkled and
where choice breads were broken.
VISIT TO PRESS CLUB
The day was topped off with 2 visit
10 the Press club late at night, where
the president met the men who work
by night and was made an honorary
member Of that organization. too. the
third honorary membership he had re-
ceired in san Francisco, the second
being honorary membership in the Sa
Francisco society of Sons of the Ameri-
can Revolution. an order to which
President Taft is eligible as a regular
member. owing TO the inveterate pa-
triotism Of the Taft family.
Then the day was over for the presf
dent This morning he will awake to
bid farewell 10 sen Francisco. the city
which he conquered with the bonny