Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-12-17
TAFT Sees
BOWERY BY GAS LIGHT
He Addresses Mission and
Watches the Bread Line.
Changes Morning Plans.

NEW YORK, Dec. 14.-President Taft,
after his busy hours of dining and speech
making, spent the night at the home OF
his brother, Henry w. Taft. He had
planned to leave at o'clock this morning
for New Haven. where he is to attend
meeting of the Yale corporation today
and address a meeting of the New Hav-
EN- Chamber of Commerce tonight. This
morning, however, he changed his plans,
and decided not to leave for New Haven
until a later hour in the forenoon.
Mrs. Taft and her sister, Mrs. Laughlin,
expect to remain in the city shopping un'
til tomorrow or Thursday. The president
expects to be back in Washington by
Wednesday morning.
SEES THE BOWERY.
After speaking last night at Carnegie
hall at the Diamond jubilee of the Meth
odist missions in Africa. President Taft
motored through a driving rainstorm to
the Bowery mission, where he made an
address to a typical Bowery audience. He
afterwards inspected the ''gread line"
room, where each night hundreds Of the
unemployed are given food.
The president in immaculate evening
clothes, presented a striking contrast TO
the men of the mission who rose to their
feet and cheered him as he entered the
long, church-like room, from the rear
The president met a number OF the
Bowery mission workers among them
Mrs. Bird, 1.-The Mother of the Bowery.
and DR.. Hallimond, superintendent of the
mission. The president was introduced
by Louis Klopsch. who established the
mission. DR.. Hallimond, first spoke to
the men.
ct wonder if you understand what an
honor it is to have the president of the
United States come down here to see
you?" he asked.
we do" came a chorus of answers.
GAVE THEM CHEER.
''It took a great man with big athletic
heart to come all the way from the
White House to the Bowery." said Mr..
Hallimond, ''but the wings of the eagle
are very wide, and he has come right
from the seats of the mighty to the bot
tomless pit of despair to encourage you,
Now give him three rousing Bowery
cheers"
The audience responded with will.
"As I look i'm your faces" said the
president in his address, ct see you to
be earnest American citizens. Some OF
you are down on your luck perhaps, but
you are responding in every fibre to the
same sentiments of loyalty and decency,
love of country and the same aspirations
for better ideals that I hope every man
In this country mas.
CHAsM NOT so GREAT.
ct am glad to be here, If by being here
and by saying so I can convince you that
the so-called chasm between you and
those who seem for the time being to be
more fortunate is not so much of a chasm
after all and that there is between them
and you a deep feeling of sympathy on
their part and an earnest desire that you
shall have that equality of opportunity
of getting on your feet. of earning a de
cent livelihood and supporting your fam
lilies which we hope every man who lives
under the Stars and Stripes enjoys.
ct On glad to testify to my interest in
the work of this mission, which hope al
ways will help you and others over the
and everybody else seems to be against
you-tO help you at such times to believe
that there are people in the IVORY who
sympathize with you and hope you will
achieve all that an equality of opportu-
nifty will give you and to help you to
better things"
After inspecting the Dread line" room,
the president was whirled in his automo-
bile to his brothers home, where he
spent the night.
NEW YORK, Dec. H-President Taft
left this city for New Haven over the
New York, New Haven and Hartford
railroad at II o'clock this morning. He
was accompanied only by Capt. Archi-
| bald Butt, his military aide.