The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-18
At His Request Hand Shaking
Reception Is Omitted.
REVIEWS THE TROOPS.
Visits Fort Smelling and Is
Greeted by Officers.
Spends Large Part of the Day
in an Automobile.

| minneapolis, Sept. 1SS.-FlagS and
other patriotic decorations, flying in
the breezes, waited a silent welcome
to President Taft, while the big crowd
which surrounded the exits to the
| Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul sta
| ton, gave the nations chief a noisy
greeting as he stepped from his pri-
vate car here today. Chief of Police
! Corrister with an ample squad of po-
| licemen kept the way clear to the
awaiting automobile. B. F. Nelson, of
the Minneapolis committee, and
Frank B. Kellogg for the ST. Paul
committee, greeted President Taft.
They rode with him in the first of the
three big automobiles, which carried
the party from the station along
washington avenue, south to the
and Eighth street. There President
Taft was given a breakfast by 80 of
the prominent men of Minneapolis.
The other members of the president S
party, occupied the second car and
in the third were w. w. Mischeler,,
DR.. J. J. Richardson, Senator Moses E.
Clapp and w. w. Heffelfnger.
In honor of the city's guests all of
the public buildings were decorated
with flags and especially elaborate
chamber of commerce building and
some of the large retail stores.
Even at the early hour of the pres
ident's arrival the streets along which
it was known the automobiles would
pass were lined with a throng anxious
to see him pass.
Reception Is Abandoned.
A reception planned at the city hall
from $50 to 1920, after the break
fast, but on account of the expressed
desire of President Taft to avoid as
far as possible all handshaking recep-
tions this part of the program was
omitted and the automobile trip about
the city parks and the boulevards to
Minnehaha Falls, the State Soldiers
home and then to Fort Smelling was
extended to fill in the time. From
Fort Smelling until the afternoon trip
begins returning to Minneapolis, Sena-
tor Clapp was to occupy seat In the
first car and from the city limits back
Cyrus Northrop of the University OF
Minnesota entertained the president.
At Fort Smelling the president re-
viewed the troops and was rendered
salute from the guns of the fort were
sounded at noon, the presidential par
ty boarded automobiles for the five
miles run for st. Paul by the Missis-
avenue to the ST. Paul auditorium,
where at p. m. luncheon was served
Luncheon Served in ST. Paul.
St. Paul Sept. 1S.-This city was
brilliantly decorated with flags today in
honor. of President Taft's visit and the
streets were thrcnged with visitors. The
committee having in charge the decora-
tons procured an immense supply. OF
flags of various sizes which were sold
to citizens at cost. Along the route of
the automobiles carrying the party
from Fort Smelling lawns were decor
ated with small flags spelling Taft
and from all houses along the route and
elsewhere were flying the national en-
blems.
The immense stage in the ST. Paul
where the luncheon was
served was a bower of flags, green and
autumn foliage from which thousan nds
Of electric lights glimmered.
An improvised banquet room 20 by
L16 feet in size was arranged in the
center of the stage. surrounded by a |
3lonnade of % white colmns, 80 feet
nigh and feet in diameter The spaces
between the columns were screened
,ver by evergreen and smilax. The
ceiling was trellised with foliage and |
therefrom were hanging |
baskets of flowers lighted with shaded |
lights. Three thousand Towering |