The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-23
But Declares That Roast.
ing Task Vas Not
So Difficult.
SPENDS BUSY DAY
IN NEW YORK CITY.

1nents-Defends His Gus
tom Of Travelling Ae.-
vocates World Peace.
New York, March 22.-Prcsident
Taft, facing crowd OF 500 newspa-
per men and editors at the New York
Press Club this AFTERNOON, Indirectly
apologized for his remarks concern
Ing the press made in a recent speech
in Chicago. He explained his attitude
after John a. Hennessy, president or
the club. had remarked In speech
that he did not agree with the Pres
ident's views Then Mr. Taft said that
the chairman OF the Chicago Club
whispered to him as he got up to
speak: "They want to hear about the
press, SO roast them" land am bound
to say that the task was not so diff
cult the President added.
This being President OF the United
States. presents a good many new SEN
sations to one who came into the OF 81
flee under the conditions that SUR
rounded my coming In. had been on =
the bench for twelve years, and I
think the bench the only place in the
|country-n the United States, at least
that is free from severe criticism by
the press. And having had that sort
of training, 1t is a little hard for me
to get used to any other kind OF
treatment. am being educated. but
there are times at the White House
| when YOU are exercising what Is SUP
posed to be the power OF the prest-8
deney. when you get really very dis
couraged.
Heart to Heart Talk.
Things don't go right. Your mo-
tives are misconstrued. and then you
take long walk, and you say to your
self: There is one thing anyhow
they cannot deprive your children atd
| your descendants OF having your pic
| ture on the walls of the White House.
| paid for by the Congress-. And then
you go home and look at the picture
OF Teddy, and the picture of Grover
!. Cleveland, and of IS bra ham Lincoln.
n and the others you have there, and
y you come to tho conclusion that even
!, that isn't a consolation. But the
& truth is that these sensations that a
III man has, under the pressure of Which
: he expresses himself with constdera-
I bic heat, pass don't SO to the
: point of saying nothing much matters.
5|BThat isn't true. I believe a good
4 many things matter a great deal. but.
II do think a long experience with re-
spect to the criticism of public men
will make men feel to be less iln-
portant, the injustice. If there be In
Justice. in such criticism vastly less
i important they seem to be when they
are cutting their hide. so to speak.
After all. everybody wants to be
square. a great deal that Is said in
the superlative3 In our life Is under
\ stood to bo in the positive-a great
deal tina Is said of an Irritating char
acter is momentary. and Is forgotten;
by the man who uses It more quickly
than by the man whom It hurts
4 which is an indication that the feel
Ing that he has toward his victim Is
/; only momentary. and does not eyi-
j dence that real cruelty that would
4 justify excitement on the subject"
Mr.. Taft paid a compliment to the
/ newspaper men who travel with him
i wherever he goes. This brought him
i naturally to a. defense Of his custom ofl
4 lbtraveling. 3Ss
Defends Custom, OF Travelling.
This travelling business, l. believe,'s
lFhe said. "has been made the subject
Of some criticism. Well. am a trav-5
eler I got into the Presidency by
\ travelling, and IaScant set over the
habit. When you are being hammered.
as some times have been in Wash
4 lington, not only by the press, but by
\ members Of your own party in Wash-9
a ington. and one feels that there isn'Ej
I anything quite right that lie can d o.
I the pleasure OF going out into the!
country, Of going into q city that
hasn't seen q President for twenty
years. and then makes fuss over
: him in order to prove to him that
: there is somebody that does not know3
J OF his defects. is a pleasure that +
> don't like to forego." IN,
Although the assemhlagc at tho,
Press Club sang In chorus 10 the tune
8of "Old Uncle Ned q parody de-
scribing the recent events In the
House of Representatives., President
Taft made no reference to the Cannon
episode in his speech. He beamed
. genially, however. and nodded hts
!, head when The crowd sang this chorus
? "TIang up the gavel and cigar, cigar,
!! Close up the House and Senate bar;
There is trouble and woe for poor
/ Uncle Joe, WI
NJ Cause he went Just little too far"
1t was certainly strenuous day
that the President spent In New Y orle.
II ITe was pursued for mile through
! Central Park by a bicycle policeman,
]. seeking speed limit vlolators: his au-8
4
"A Fifth Avenue and 8congested Broadway
n that the natives have witnessed N In
many a daN: he lectured an assen,-
, blage of editors at luncheon at the
( residence of Henry Clews. the New.
: York banker. he discussed the I'sr
!, Eastern situation With former Vice.
\ President Fairbanks, conferred With
$ county political leaders hrte Hy-,-all
t this beside tho Press Club reception,
Z and two banauets which he attended
! tonight.
. Luncheon Mt CIcws Residence.
The luncheon at tho Clews residence
! was private and was attended hs'
nearly every nromlnent newspaper ed j
stor In New York. .tnlong the aeditors
: We're many who had strongly on pposefl
sl3his election. sIS 5s IN
u ut was said later at flews's hons
!. that the President had given a 'hea rr
to hnart talls'' "a the editors, n l,at Y l'c