Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-19
PRESIDENT TAFT
SHOWS RESPECT
FOR DYING MAN
GOV. JOHNS0N'S CONDITION
MARS PROGRAM
TWIN CITIES ARE CORDIAL IN
PUBLIC RECEPTION
Nations Ruler Pays Remarkable Trib-
ute to States ExecutIve-Does
Not Mention TarIff-Insur-
gents Impressed
rBv Associated Press.1

III
AiA Minneapolis today, and with the
shadow of death hanging over the gov
ernor of the state received a cordial
but not demonstrative welcome. The
critical illness of Governor Johnson
probably the most popular executive
Minnesota ever has known, entered
deeply into the spirit Of the day and
dreaded eventualities threatened for
time during the morning seriously to
curtail the program OF entertainment
both here and In St. Paul.
The president fulfilled the program
outlined for his reception, but at every
pause in the rushing from place to
place he made anxious inquiries as 10
the latest word from the bedside OF the
governor, whose life hung in the bal
ance at st. Mary's hospital in the little
city of Rochester.
President Taft was deeply affected
soon after his arrival to receive
message of personal greeting from Gov
ernor Johnson.
The governors message was so un-
expected under the circumstances and
coming by dictation from the lips of a
man reported at the time as having
but the frailest chance of life, 1t called
out an immediate response from Mr..
Taft, filled with expressions of SYM
pathetic concern and fervent hope for
a speedy recovery.
Presidential Candidate?
At his auditorium speech in st. Paul
| the president called out prolonged APP
plause and cheering when ne declared
! of Governor Johnson: Il unite with you
in a fervent prayer9to God that he may
| be spared to you and to the country.
With his ability, his courage. his great
common sense, he cannot be spared
He is too valuable, not alone to the
people of this state, but to the people
| of the nation, who doubtless will insist
some time that he shall serve them"
President Taft also aroused enthusiast
| tic cheers during the day with his
many happy references to the civic
virtues of the neighboring cities, de-
tclaring them to be so much alike that
they should combine as one city, with
q borough of Minneapolis and borough
of st. Paul.
The president, arriving in Minneap-
oils shortly before a. M, began his
| day with q breakfast at the Minneapo-
lis club, where he is quartered during
! his stay here until tomorrow night as
the guest of the reception committee of
| the Twin cities.
| Next there was an automobile ride
through the business and residence sec
| tions of Minneapolis, around the lake
shore drives, to the soldiers home.
where the president reviewed q double
| line of blue uniformed veterans and
then proceeded to Fort Smelling, where
| there was a review of the troops sta
toned there and a brief reception at
the officers club.
Met by Cavalry
AS the presidents party entered the
military reservation the chief executive
was met by troop of cavalry and
salute of twenty-one guns was fired.
The presidents red fag, bearing the
- Int fnf 0Y1
the field of a big blue star surrounded
/ in turn by forty-six small white stars,
was borne by trooper at the presi-
dents side throughout his stay on the
| reservation.
The party then crossed the river into
| st. Paul, and after brief stop at the
Town and Country club motored into
the city, where the president was en-
| tertained at a luncheon served on the
stage of the st. Paul auditorium. When
| the luncheon had been concluded the
temporary partitions separating the
stage from the main body of the audi
torium were lifted and the president
faced an audience which filed the
building.
AS the crowd had assembled during
the luncheon each person had been pre-
sented with a small American flag, and
when the president turned from his
seat at the guests table he locked into
a waving sea of colors.
After a brief speech the president
was driven to the state capitol, where
| it had been intended that a public re-
ception should be held.
This feature was called of on ac-
count of Governor Johnson's illness
and the president appeared for only 9.
few minutes on the south balcony to
| express his gratitude to a great crowd
gathered on the terraced lawn for its
cordial greeting.
Returns to Rest
The president was then driven back
to Minneapolis and retired to his rooms
for a three hours rest before starting
for the banquet rendered him tonight
at the Minneapolis auditorium.
During the day the president made
no reference to the tariff
Among those who received hin-pol-
iticianS and business men altke--the
Winona speech of last night in which
the president made clear his position
with reference to the Payne bill, and
those members of the Republican party
who voted for and against that meas
ure, was the chief topic of discussion.
The speech evidently made a deep
impression in this section and repre-
sentatives Of both the insurgents and
standpatters in the center of insur-
gency were taken somewhat aback by
the thoroughness of the presidents
statements.
The fact that Mr.. Taft waited until
he got into 'insurgent'' territory be-
fore saying what he had to say of
those senators and representatives who
abandoned their party In the tariff
fight shared largely in the impression
of earnestness left by the speech.
Representative James A. Tawney of
| Minnesota, whose course In voting for
the tariff bill was upheld by the presi-
dent. participated In the Twin cities
entertainment today.
In his address at the st. Paul audi
torium the president said:
"When we entered upon this scene,
and there was nothing before us but
| Old Glory, I had 1t borne In upon me
what this greeting means
"It seems that you have seized the
opportunity of the coming Of the titular
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