The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-09-16
TAFT'S BIG CHICAGO DAY President Gets Royal Vel come on Arrival There
 This Morning MINISTER CRANE LIJNCHES WITH HIM Reception of Thousands of School Children Pleas
 ing Feature
Special from United Pressa

ing Feature
 Special from United Press.l Chicago, Sept. 16.-This is Presi- dent Taft's big day. From the min- ute he arrived here this morning, he found himself the center of activity that kept him sufficiently "on the jump to entitle him to a place be- side Roosevelt for strenuosity It is estimated that half a, million persons, nearly half of them children greeted the President during this mornings automobile parade, the big spectacular feature of the Presidents day here.
 The Presidents special train reach ed the LaSalle station, shortly sbefore noon and was met by 8 reception com mittee representing the Commercial Club of Chicago. No time was lost in starting the festivities. The Presi- dent and his party were escorted in l automobiles and the parade was be- gun One hundred and fifty machines made up the parade, the President ac- companied by Captain Archibald Butt and two Secret Service men occupied the first auto. Secretary of War Dickinson also occupied an auto. | The party went through Washing ton Park, which was filled with 100000 school children. As the Presidents automobile approached, the children ing in unison Three Cheers for the | Red, White ahd Blue" Simultaneous | ly five brass bands and four bugle corps began to play, increasing the din.
 | Then. as the President drove by, lowing and smiling his broadest smile l to the little ones, 100000 children's voices were joined in singing "Colum- bia, The Gem of the Ocean," and the demonstration-one of the most re- l dently impressed the chief executive deeply.
 1 The demonstration which began with the approach of the Presidents auto. continued while the remainder l of the party sped by. Then the par l ty drove around town and brought up at the Congress Hotel, where the chief executive lunched and took brief rest in preparation for the remainder of the days proceedings. In the afternoon. the President was taken to the Art Institute, where the Commercial Club relinquished control of his movements as their guest and | formally turned him over to the Ham | iIton Club.
 The Hamiltonians at once put the 1 President through another round of activity. He was hurried to an auto mobile and followed by four thousand members of the Hamilton Club. dele gates to the Bankers Convention and prominent Chicago citizens, was taken to the West Side ball park.
 There he laid aside the cares of state temporarily to occupy a seat in the
 grandstand and prove that he is a real fam
 l According to the program, the most distinguished gathering that ever wit messed a baseball game in this coun- try is expected to be in the grand stand this afternoon.
 | The Chicago club still considered it. l self a pennant possibility and both
 Managers Chance of Chicago and Mo Graw of New York this morning prom ised the President would witness the
 game of his life. The President told I the Hamilton Club committee last | week that whatever else was left off his, program for to-day. he must see | the ball game.
 Elaborate preparations have been
 made at the ball park for the Presi-
 dent. several grandstand seats having been taken out to make room for an arm chair for him. The Presidents
 expressed preference for true fan
 seat in the stand. back of first base, | has been respected.
 After the game. the President and
 his party will return to the Congress
 Hotel. where the President will dine | informally as the guest Of the Hamll-
 ton Club at D. m. At o'clock the
 
 and the President will deliver key
 note' speech. Mayor Busse. who will introduce the President, will r--alize z the event by delivering the first public speech of his political career. | At Il D. m. the President will be | hurried back to the Congress Hotel, l where he is expected to attend the grand ball of the American Bankers | Association.
 This ball will be. the most elaborate and exclusive social function held in | Chicago since the famous ball given | in honor of Prince Henry of Prussia | ten years ago. Only POO members out side of the Bankers Association have committee has announced that these | 200 will constitute the ''cream of Chi cago society,""
 The President will leave the ball. room at midnight and will be escort ed to his special train. which will leave by the Northwestern Railroad at 2:3O a. m. for Madison, Wis. the Presi- dents first stop for tomorrow.
 Chicago. Sept 16.-All the strenuos- ity of President Taft's day was not crowded into the time he was in Chi cago.
 It began at a. n., when the Presi- dent arose and at once plunged into his work Calling his assistant Sec retary, Wendell Mfschler, to his state room, he dictated his address he will deliver here tonight. He also sign ed d. number of official documents that had overtaken the train during the night.
 Charles R. Crane, the new American minister to China, boarded the train at E1lhart, Ind, and was invited to take breakfast with the President. Crane sails for China Oct. 6.
 When the train reached E1khart, large crowd was at the station cheer ing vociferously and Taft appeared on the platform smiling broadly. After bidding every one a cheery good morning." the President expressed his pleasure at meeting so many of his friends at such an early hour.
 Just before the train reached La Porte, the Presidents valet went to the baggage car and brought back to the Mayhower the new scarlet presi- dential flag, which will be carried be- hind the executive whenever he ap- pears in a procession during the pres ent trip The Oklahoma star has just been added to the flag and when if