The San Francisco call., 1909-10-06
Is this a one man job?"

Is this e one man job2"
This question was Illuminated by the
. famous Taft smile. and the crowd
roared as the president bent down again
and splashed more mortar beneath the
cornerstone OF the new Young Mems
Christian Association building yester-
day afternoon. The incident illustrated
the spirit of the gathering and the
spirit Of the president throughout the
exercise-one Of good humor and laugh
ter, but serious matter at bottom for
all that. President Taft's address after
he had seen the stone firmly in place
showed how substantial a matter he
considered the association and its work
Two thousand persons found room
on the platform surrounding the presi-
dents position TO listen in comfort
while Taft made the first speech de-
livered in San Francisco on his pres
ent tour. The Columbia Park boys
band crashed out in music and the
Grand Army Of the Republic members
seated in places OF honor sent up a
hearty cheer for the nations chief ex-
ecutive.
REDWOOD GAVEL' FOR TAFT
After the speech making was over
seven
; presented the president with red
wood Eavel, and he replied in q witty
speech declaring the women the con-
trolling force in the G. A. r.. even
though they never fought in the war.
I am much obliged for this evidence
Of generosity and welcome from the
ladies' who represent the Grand Army
Of the Republic" Taft said genially.
lingering the gift. The donors did not
exactly take part in the war. 1 un-
derstaud but they are the wives and
daughters OF those that did. Now.
doubtless. they are the controlling
force. and so accept this as a present
from the whole body-including the
men"
PRESIDENT KISSES CHILD
One Of the prettiest features Of the
welcome given the president and his
RESPONSE was when great silk fla z
viven bv the c. A R. to the Y. NJ. C A.
vas broken out by Ruth Elizabeth
mccoy. aged s. and Henry James Nc
Gov. who owns up to having seen 1
summers AS the tots pattered back
70 their seats the president reached
out and. catching the little girl in his
arms. bestowed upon her hearty kiss
The Young maiden on her part snug
eIed her arms around the presidents
neck and returned the salute with q
resounding smack And again the
popuiace cheered.
Taft's speech dealt in part with the
sepsration of church and state in this
country. His reference to the Young
Mems Christian association, he ex-
risfnsed. were made from personal ex-
nerfence with the organization. He
nafd 2 high compliment 20 Henry J.
Mccoy. general secretary Of the local
Y. NJ. c. A. by dwelling at length on
the work OF such officials Of the asso-
citation.
TAFT TOLLS UNDER HOT Sun
The actual laying Of the cornerstone
proved TO be more than merely me
chsnicsl affair. chiefly because of the
stlrprisinE interest Taft took in that
Dsrf Of the exercises. After shoyeling
mortar under the foundation stone for
What must have seemed q long time, as
he toiled in the hot sun, the president
brought down the house" with his
.hesrtrending question. rs this a one
man sobz" Then he was allowed to
stand while two men almost completed
the work, but before il was finished
be was back again. working away with
the little silver trowel at the pile of
. mortar
aTn help out here. I guess" he said
genially.
Finally the block Of granite was al
lowed 70 settle in the bed of mortar.
and Immediately the president was "on
the job" He placed the waiting spirit