The San Francisco call., 1909-10-03
SCHOOL CHILDREN
GREET PRESIDENT
Taft Deeply Moved by Sight of
10000 Youngsters Who
Give Him Welcome
Confined from Page IL

outburst of cheering from the fresh
young voices. which continued with un-
abated enthusiasm until President Taft
had taken the place arranged for him
on a stand directly facing the flag" I"
Then he witnessed a drill by the chill
dren which. combined with their cheers,
inspired him, he declared, as had no
other sight in all his travels.
Following the motions of a leader,
the children stopped from view, then
sprang TO their feet with a cheer which
fairly pierced the ear and waved red,
white and blue banners in a perfect
storm of fluttering colors.
SPELL THE WORD .'TAFTr
Then. at the command of the leader
to spell Taft one set of children,
with a loud shout of IT" held up yell
low banners to form that letter Then
came the "a" the e. and the final st.
followed by a crashing cry of Taft
which seemed to echo back again from
the far distant mountains.
During the exhibition the president
stood with eyes fixed upon the efferves-
cent children. He asked that the
spelling be repeated, and it was then
that the tears came. A waltz. played
by a band, was followed by the chill
dren in a rhythm of moving colors
u0cOQSClOuSlX
nod his head from side to side in uni
son with the music and the flowing pic
ture before him. When the drill was
ended and the children had been called
TO attention the president addressed a
few words to them.
SPEECH TO CHILDREN
i do not intend to make a speech. !"
he said. but 1 have been so inspired
by you that I can not refrain from
expressing my gratitude for your
wonderful drill and this beautiful
effect. 1t inspires us who see il. and.
I hope, you who participate in it, with
a sense Of patriotism and q love of
country. l have been greeted by the
school children of nearly every city
] have visited, but no exhibition, no
demonstration has been more beautiful
than this. You call your city the
City of Roses because OF the beauti-
full flowers, but ! look now upon 10000
human roses. upon which / congratu-
late your city and your parents much
more. / hope that you will cherish
this occasion as one which will bring
back with its memory the loyal thought
of love of country God bless YOU ALL"
AN AUTOMOBILE RIDE
The president arrived in Portland at
O'Clock this morning and his day
Portland as guests of the local COM
mittee of entertainment Then came
a ride by automobile through-the prin-
eipal streets of the city. The city was
splendidly decorated in the presidents
honor and the crowds which lined the
route of march suggested a holiday.
The ride Of the president through
the city was made the occasion of a
military display by the United States
forces stationed at Vancouver bar
racks under Brigadier General Marion
P. Ma1s. commanding the department
of the Columbia.
VISITS FATHERS FRIEND
The president paid a flying visit to
former Attorney General George II.
Williams, who served under President
Grant and is now in his eighty seventh
year. General Williams is confined in
the Good Samaritan hospital and was
much cheered by the presidents call
He is your grand old man of Ore
gon," the president said later in the
day in the course OF an address. lie
was the warm and devoted friend of
my father and has in turn honored me
with friendship which l deeply prize -
Taft was the luncheon guest of the
citizens of Portland in the carefully
selected menu of which fresh straw
berries We're a decided feature to the
eastern visitors. Following luncheon
the president had five hours of time
TO dispose of as he wished. Gathering
up Senator Bourne of Oregon as a
partner and John Hays Hammond and
Captain A. w. Butt, his aid. as oppo-
nents. he motored out to the Wayerly
golf links for s holes at his favorite
game.
In a brief speech delivered at the
lunceon today the president said:
There has been some suggestion
that the post at Vancouver barracks be
abandoned and that the headquarters of
the department of Columbia be re-
moved TO point near Seattle. ] want
10 tell you that ! am not in favor Of
any such proposition
The Roosevelt Policies
PORTLAND. Ore, Oct. 2.-President
Taft was escorted TO The Armory to-
night b. detachment of the national