Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-02
SHORT STOP AT TACOMA.
Taft's Closing Hours at Seattle
Made Exciting by Auto Speeding.

TACOMA, Wash. October 2-President
Taft reached Tacoma last night and re-
ceived a cordial greeting from an audi
ence that thronged the big armory. He
left at midnight for Portland. Mr.. Taft
on arriving here had completed 5000
miles of his 1S.OOO-mIle trip. In elapsed
time, however, his journey Is less than
one-third completed.
The Pacific coast has gone the noun
tain states one better. 1t not only Is
using the President as an advertisement,
but Is using his picture in ads. Also.
automobiling out here Is more thrilling
than farther east. The steep hills of
Seattle, with sharp curves on wet roads
combined with an utter absence OF speed
limits, made 1t probable that the expected
smash-up would happen yesterday. But
it was reserved for some other town.
though Seattle did its best.
Instead of keeping in line the Seattle
fair grounds this morning, cutting cir
cles around one another. 1t was great
entertainment for the crowd and at
tracted much attention to the local COM
mtteemen. But the Taft luck and the
tires have held up to date.
Exposition Managers outwitted.
Seattle got a glimpse Of the President
without spending its money on the fair
yesterday. Though he asked that his
route be printed yesterday. the local COM
mitteemen carefully ignored the request,
SO that every one would have to boost
It OK ONCE receipts. Capt. Butt late
Thursday night announced that IL yester-
days route was not printed by the COM
mittee's order he would have 1t done
himself 1t was printed Friday morning,
and the streets were lined with thousands
OF people.
President Taft viewed the live stock at
the fair, patted bulls and horses on their
noses and made a speech to the effect
that he did not know anything about
stock. He wiped a perspirtng brow and
heaved a sigh Of relief when he finished.
Mr. Taft was taken to the Country
Club, where he played golf with II. c.
Henry and c. J. Smith. two of the prin-
cipais in the Cunningham claim of the
far Alaskan coal lands. That claim fig
ured in the charges l.. r. CLAWS brought
against Secretary Ballinger. and for
which Mr.. CLAWS was discharged from
the government service.
In an after-dinner talk Thursday night
President Taft reiterated that he will
carry out the Roosevelt policies and
satirically remarked that he probably
knows better what the Roosevelt policies
mean than do most of his critics He
prayed for patience to preserve his good
humor under fire of complaint from men
who would out-Roosevelt Roosevelt.
Promises to Come Again.
President Taft promised to attend an
other exposition on the Pacific coast one
that Is to be held in 1915, in celebration
OF the completion of the Panama canal
Mr.. Taft said the date was beyond his
term or Office. but that his interest in the
Panama canal and In the extension Of
trade on the Pacific had been SO great
for so many years that he readily gave
his promise to attend.
The invitation was extended by Col.
D. G. Collier. director general Of the
Panama-California exposition, which is
to be held in San Diego. CAL the nearest
western coast American city to the Pa
cific entrance of the canal.
The President was entertained at dinner
at the Union Club in Tacoma after maxi
ing the trip from Seattle on board Ctle
yacht Ell Primero. owned by Chester
Thorne. The torpedo boat destroyer
Perry escorted the yacht.