New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-10-19
TAFT SEES ELLIS ISLAND.
Extensive Inspection Made at
Commissioners Request.
CONDUCTS APPEAL HEARINGS
Welsh Miner Staggered When
Head of Nation Discloses HIS
Identity TO Him.

Identity to Him.
President Taft stood on the nation
threshold yesterday and welcomed 10 the
land Of promise a Welsh miner ana MS
seven rnotherless children. For the sec
ond time in its history Ellis Island sup
ported the person Of a chief magistrate.
and the fates decreed that his well hlazed
.rail should at this point cross the op-
ecrre path of William Thornton. the
humble miner from over the seas. 1t was
a red letter day for Thornton, ana no
doubt a hundred years hence his descend
sn1s will treasure an exaggerated version
of the meeting as a priceless heirloom
The President however, did not brave
the fog bound treachery of the Norlh
River and narrowly escape the dangers OF
a collision just 10 greet Thornton he
visited The island at the urgent request of
Commissioner William Williams 10 STUDY
the conditions there, and he spent four
hours framing over the place and peer
f5ng into the little tragedies and comedies
enacted all dav long there. Behind him
On his slow. winding progress through the
buildings trailed J. twos and threes Sc
lcret Service men. officials. friends and re-
lporters.
An automobile whisked the President
fand his party from the home Of Henry W
Taft. in West 4Sth street TO the pier az
iE0th street and the North River at 9:l5
O'Clock in the morning. There the gov
lernment cutter Immigrant awaited its dis
S-inguished passenger, and without delay
81 plunged into the uncertainties of the
Hog.
Fog Compels Slow Trip
4 triumphant L not cheerful, chorus
of foghorns. bells and whistles marked
the entire trip down stream, a slow trip
because the cutter dared only feel her way
along OF Chambers street, but near the
Jersey shore. the big Erie ferryboat
.sEoshen suddenly took form in the mist
t5-lst off the Immigrant port bow. Cap
izain Page and Quartermaster German
swung the cutter round just as the ferry
iloat veered sharply from the threatened
impact. and the Immigrant passed the
iGoshen's stern with only twenty feet 10
itpare The funnel Of The cutter obscured
The Presidents view OF the narrow escape,
iand the passengers on the Goshen were an
.sware how near they had come TO bump
l3ng into the Chief Executive. The police
lboat Patrol. which was acting convoy.
was lost in the fog.
President Taft and Charles Nagel Secre-
rary Of Commerce and Labor, who was a
t7nerlber Of the parry. conversed together on
LCon,rlisciorer Williams and Assistant Com
,zniss3cnc- Chi met them and escorted them
10 the main building where the party first
.visited the statistical bureau. Then they
-aent VI 70 the roof Of the executive offices.
syhicn commands view Of all the buildings
srn the island. and later descended TO the
gallery which f-inges the great room where
the inspection OF the immigrants takes
place, only the usual attendants occupied
St a. the tiIne. and The President passed on
10 an inspection Of the dormitories in the
female detention ward. after which he
tered the Commissioners Offices
Taft Clears Calendar.
Here Mr. Williams ordered ten appeal"
cases brought before him for disposition.
All but one were persons suffering from
some nhysicaI ailment which the doctors
Lad certified affected the subjects ability
10 earn a living. The Commissioner invited
President Taft 10 conduct the hearings
himself and the President speedily cleared
-1he calendar, coming at last 10 the case OF
Thornton.
How much have you?" asked the Presi-
.den1 f the miner. VINO halls from Maestag,
Wales
one hundred and sixty-fve dollars and
two hands" vas the reply.
That seemed 10 win the President. and
rs the miner was able 10 convince the au-
l1horiues that IL, could support himself and
alis seven children. they were all admitted.
DO you know who is President Of the
1-nited States asked the Chief Executive.
William H. Taft" promptly responded
ishe mineI.
Would il surprise you 10 learn that I am
fNilliam II. Taft?'
The immigrant whipped off his hat. re-
fgarded the Presidents face a moment, and
then smiled in recognition.
When the President asked Thornton If
The could sing. evidently recalling the Welsh
ohoirs that visit these shores, the miner
gshook his head, saying:
7 cannot. bit have the maxim among
these kids" pointing TO the awestruck
tseulicircle behind him. composed Of George
nineteen. Marie. seventeen: Joseph. fifteen;
William thirteen; Edward. eleven; James,
eight. and Sarah. TWO. Marie carried lit
lie Sarah IN her arms. having taken her
mothers place in the family. Father and
schildren will 20 10 the home Of a sister in
IPittsbUrg.
Next the Presidential regiment. with
COMMISSIONS Williams ahead as scout in
,r-aded the mems dining room. and then the
linens 9ornitory. They passed a stairway
ishoked with Immigrants coming down from
iThe roof. VINO ChoereC and Clapped their
ihands rs the President raised his nat
he observed:
= see they soon learn American ways"
on reaching the ciScharginS Office, where
the newly landed ones crowd each other
behind q wire grill and deyour with their
ewes the friends and relatives inclosed in a
pen on the other SIDE Of the room whom
they have come way across the mighty
deep 20 join, the President wore his IA
nous smile He leaned against the rail
which bounds the discharging desk and two
Secret Service men stood behind him, each
with a hand on the rail The officer ;n
charge called q Finnish wonlan's name and
night after il the name Of pink slipped
girl in the pen. The Finnish woman
stepped out and stood irresolUte behind the
Secret Service men. but the slim girl in
pink vigorously pushed the President and
his guardians aside and caught the wait
Ing woman in her arms with CRY.
President Taft laughed and made no
comment Then followed more affecting
reuniors. and the Presidential smile grew
Thin and passed away. Its wearer finally