Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-19
TAFT ON CLEVELAND
Says Predecessor Defeated
Congress- Encroachment.
"PATRIOT PLAIN AND TRUE"
Peril Not Executive Usurpation, But
Legislative 0mnipotence.
PRESIDENT HAS BIG AUDIENCE
Mrs. Cleveland in Box-Chief Justice
Fuller, Roosevelt, Hughes and
Mcclellan Add Eulogies.

NEW YORK, March 19.-President Will
liam Howard Taft watched the making OF
a final pier in the book of all Presl-
dents when he sat In the center OF the
stage yesterday afternoon at Carnegie
Hall at the Grover Cleveland memorial
and heard the calm, post-mortem estimate
of the late President and OF his DEEDS IN
office.
The exercises began promptly at
O. clock. The opening invocation found the
house packed from dome to stage. with
standees behind the extreme seats or the
top gallery.
It was the first appearance OF the Presi-
dent In New York since his accession TO
office. He made a quiet and unostenta-
tious entry. little noticed. but cheered by
the few who had observed him.
AS he faced the audience he saw row
after row of attentive men and women
the former largely from the business ere
ment of New York. Francis Lyme Slee-
son sat at his left.
Guests on the Stage.
With President Taft on the stage were
Edward r. Adams, f. c. Benedict, Ed
ward r. Bacon. Joseph D. Bryant, Memo
las Murray Butler. Egerton L. Winthrop
ir.. George f. Parker. Francis Key Den
dleton whiteIaw Reid, Herman Rider
William F. Shehan. Edward NJ Sheparo.
William M. Sloane, Isidor Straus. Peter
b. Olney, Adolph 8. Ochs. Delaney
Nicoll. Frank D. Milett. John G. Milburn.
III. A. Metz. Charles D. Fairchild, john RI.
Finley, George Harvey. Thomas Hastings
ir, w NJ. Laffan. Patrick f. McGowan
st; Clair McKelway. John L. c IaaWaa VIII,
liam E. Curtis, Henry F. DimocK ana
many other prominent men.
In President Taft's party were COY
Hughes, Mayor Mcclellan, Alton b.
Judge George Gray, DR.. Lyman ABBOTT.
Oscar Straus, Levi p. Morton, Andre"
Carnegie, Richard Olney John D. Spooher'
William Guthrie and William B. Horn
blower. ,s,...,,
Behind the party was the Leiderkranz'
before them the Damrosch orchestra.
Mrs. Cleveland. widow of the former
President, declined post of honor. ana
in Difference to her wishes. she was es
corted to a seat in an inconspicuous box.
The Rev. William Roger Williams, Do;
offered the invocation. AS he repeatea
the Lords Prayer the entire, BODY joined
with him.
Francis Lynde Stetson introduced Mayor
Mcclellan as the presiding officer. In do
ing so Mr.. Stetson gave summary OF
the memorial movement and tod now
it was the direct and official tribute OF
the people of New York to the memory
ana WOrk OIL MI. \iSSO'oiiN.
Mayor Mcclellan's Tribute.
Mayor Mcclellan grouped the great
American Presidents in five epochs, say
ing that five stood pre-eminent IN Ameri-
can history-Washingto who made the
country; Jefferson, who saved II from
an aristocracy; Jackson, who preserved
it for the rule of the people; Lincoln,
who saved 1t and made 1t government
,l0x 10
of the people, and Cleveland, VINO Waoe II
a government by the people.
Gov. Hughes came as the executive
Of his state to pay tribute to Grover
Cleveland for the part he had taken IN
the affairs of life as New Yorker
The governor dwelt upon the fact that
Grover Cleveland had not followed popu-
lar clamor nor sought to make popular
clamor against established laws.
Richard Watson Glider read an original
poem eulogtstic Of the late President.
Following him came the venerable
Chief Justice melville w. Fuller OF the
Supreme Court of the United States: He
had been appointed by the PRESIDENT
whom he now came to praise; and he
made a feeling address that brought an
earnest response from the audience
Justice Fuller's Tribute.
The chief justice closed his address with
these words:
Think for a moment how he stood
like a rock for the public credit in the
financial upheaval arising from the silver
excitement. which had swept away the
majority of his own party; how he put
down the Chicago riots; how he averted
threatened national bankruptcy by the is
sue of bonds: how he faced with calm
serenity torrents of personal abuse, deser-
ton of friends, misrepresentation in the
public mind, and resolutely discarded the
temporary expediencies of the mere poll
tician.
Former President Roosevelt's tribute
was a letter of regret which was read.
It's most interesting part bore upon the
example set for eX-Presidents, i'll which
Mr. Roosevelt said:
"Moreovar. all Americans should pay
honor to the memory OF Mr.. Cleveland
because of the simplicity and dignity
with which, as ex-President, he led his
life in the beautiful college town wherein
he elected to live.
HE had been true to the honorable
tradition which has kept our Presidents
from making money while in office. ais
1t was the kind of life which it Is a good
thing to see led by any man who has
held position such as he held
Taft Eulogizes Cleveland.
When President Taft was introduced the
vast audience stood. He caused some
speculation as to what he meant when he
sounded militant note against legisla-
tive encroachment upon the rights of the
President, and urged the federal right to
uphold its position in the face of apparent
limita lions.
He touched, with some tone Of scorn, on
appointments to Office as necessary con-
cesson to the practical side of politics in
the maintenance of parties.
President Taft paid this tribute to the
late President
Grover Cleveland was as completely
American in his character as Lincoln His
directness of thought. sturdy honesty,
courage of his convictions and plainness
of speech, with sense OF public duty
that has been exceeded by no statesman
within my knowledge
I'VE hear much in these days OF the
usurpation of the legislative Jurisdiction
by the executive branch" said President
Taft. LAS long as the legislative branch
has the power Of the purse. the danger Of
executive usurpation is imaginative.
''The real danger arises from the dis
sumo that it has the omnipotence of par
Lament and may completely control the
discretion conferred upon the executive
by the Constitution.
THE country is under obligation to Mr.
Cleveland for having pointed out in his
controversy with the republican Senate
some of the limitations that there are in
the Constitution upon attempted legisla-
tive action to restrict executive discre-
controversy with the Senate
THE limit Of legislative restriction upon
executive action Is a difficult line to de-
fine. We owe to Mr.. Cleveland and his
courage in dealing with the Senate of the
United States the establishment Of these