New-York tribune., 1910-05-10
TAFT OPENS ACTORS FAIR
Chief Executive Enthusiastically
Greeted by 5000 Persons.
OVERCOME BY GENEROSITY
Warm in Thanks for Gold Medal
and Enters with Spirit in
Freedom of Bazaar.


President Taft established precedent for
The Chief Executive of the country yester-
DAY when he personally opened the big
Actors Fund fair in the list Regiment
ArInory in this city 1T was the first time
President had been prevailed upon to
start the theatre folk on their largest
"henefit performance" and several thou
sand Of them from all parts Of the land
showed their appreciation of the high COM
riirent paid TO their calling by giving the
President d rousing welcome He appeared
II the arnory al O'Clock, accompanied by
Captain Butt, several Secret Service men,
Assistant Secretary ". W Michler, Otto
7. Barnard and Charles T. Burnham. man
s-cr Of the fair, who had met him at the
Pennsylvania Railroad station in Jersey
CITY.
some Of the best known women of the
stage. with Miss Marie Tempest as chair
man constituted q reception committee
which met the President as he entered the
his dri1 hall, which had been transformed
into a reproduction of the Garden of Ver-
ssiIles with lavish and artistic decorations,
and escorted him TO the raised dais in the
centre Of the Court of Honor" a score
n flower girls dsintily dressed in white,
preceded the President and scattered roses
ana carnations in his path. Thousands of
miniature American flags had been sold
among the spectators, and in the galleries
enc on the floor there was scarcely a per
son who did not possess one. They were
sli waved in unison and lent lively color
sccempaniment % Hail 10 the Chief"
Mayed by q combined hand and orchestra
~ ore hundred pieces and the hearty
cheering as Mr.. Taft made his way 10 the
ylsrform
Fiv. Thousand Greet President.
About five thousand persons crowded and
jcstled one another on the floor TO gain
1sntsge point in the excitement which fol-
lowed the Presidents arrival, and the 20
lice had q difficult task TO maintain
Eerablance OF order
There was TO person present who entered
more into the spirit of the occasion than
Nj Taft himself William H. Crane and
Francis Wilson were among the first to
greet him on the platform. With a crowd
of pretty girls and others pressing close
about him Mr.. Taft nimbly mounted chair
when II came his turn to respond TO the
introductory remarks of Daniel Frohmau,
president of the Actors Fund of America,
md Nr- Crane. who gave the President a
large gold medal which had been struck off
ju appropriate design especially for him as q
tribute of esteem from the Actors Fund.
Mr F'rohman welcomed the public to the
fair and said he wanted TO voice the senti-
ment of the dramatic profession in ex-
pressing appreciation of the great honor
done by the presence of the principal actor
IN the big drama of the American nation,
the President of the United States
As was expected. Mr- Cranes address
contained more lumor than pathos, and he
brought ! broad smile he
face when he said if there was ever a time
when he was threatened with stage fright
II vas right there and then. As the come
dian concluded Mr.. Taft reached for his
hand and shook It, saying: You are a little
rew at the business, but you were all right
when you got into your stride
Repeatedly Cheered While Speaking.
The Presidents remarks were brief and
IL good humor. He was repeatedly cheered.
4 should be wanting in personal graft
Iude" he said, IF / did not seize this
opportunity TO come here and give my
thanks TO q profession 10 which l per
tpnally owe so much.
y 90 not like TO compare you either
with lawyers or with politicians There
l. one respect at least, in which We are
I'll alike: The money that we rnake seems
10 come easy and to go easy. You are
different from lawyers and politicians in
.hat ont of the generosity of your hearts,
you take care of those who have played
their parts in your profession and have
reached time when they are dependent
on others. 1t was no meaningless phrase
wien | said 10 you that owed much TO
Hour profession. There is nothing that /
Snow of in nerve-straining life that
equals the relaxation of a good play, well
mounted and well played: And you put
Ell humankind under obligation by holding
81 the mirror TO nature.
And now. my friends l did not deserve
this referring to the medal presented(, and
feel overcome by your generosity But
-jncerely hope the fact that you can give
'o one visitor such mark of appreciation
ss this indicates that you have a lot behind
Tor other. weak old men.
Enjoys Freedom of Bazaar.
Accompanied by President Burnham and
oJ.er members of the board of directors
- the fair. the Chief Executive made a
round Of the hundred or so layishly ar
anced booths. Mr.. Taft stopped at sev-
sTal Of them and made few purchases.
~ the large crystal soda fountain the
President ordered glass OF vichy water
md was promptly served by Miss Mary
Ryan. who refused the profered dime.
That's me- she said.
We'll. if YOU won't take my money
all give you nay love" Mr. Taft quickly
-ot,rted
- the MacDowelI Club booth. where the
New York Association for the Blind has
a- exhibit. the President was received by
,i,s Winifred Holt, the secretary, and
A,!so Robinson Smith. To a blind stenog-
al,he-. Miss Grace KeatoT the President
5Ictated the following message:
! have q great deal OF interest in fu = /
7i-anS TO the blind the means of enjoying, |
IL nd OF forgetting the deprivation which |
r'eirs
Miss koItor then read. by means Of her |
singers the dictated statement
Tfr Presidential party went downstairs 4
o rbe cafe chantant and messroom, where !
actresses. young and old. and their escorts I
,rov-5sd about him and insisted shaking 4
-ands He shook hands with many of them I
and then tarried to listen 10 a musical pro- /
.rsu1ne. during which David Bispham sang |
Damn. Deeyer" and Miss Augusta Close |
tang My Rag Dolly" The President ap- /
laj.ded both artists vigorously.
j. took almost an hour for the PresideIs-
ial party TO complete the circle of the !