The independent-reporter., 1910-07-28
PRESIDENTS MAINE
HAS ENTERTAINED
Taft is the Fifth Who
Has Visited Bangor

,.,gor on Saturday noon 1t was the
sst,, time in its history that Bangor
- had the pleasure of entertaining
PRESIDENT of the United States. In
..ts connection it Is of interest to
sots that Taft is the sixth President
to visit Maine.
of those Presidents, but two pre-
.,o,olv have remained long enough
:. give the people of Bangor an op-
.ortunity of doing them the honor
~ desired. The first was President
crant and the second was President
o,ovalt In both cases, they were
,;nod and entertained royalty, for
.hair coming was great event. the
arst marked the completion of all rail
connection between the United states
.nd tbe Maritime Provinces, while the
.ooond was at the beginning of new
.ocb in American politics. On the
o.casion of both visits, people poured
;.to the city by thousands and ac
,ommodations we're oyertaxed
The first President to visit Maine
was President Polk, who came TO Au-
,,,sta on July 3 1847. The Presden-
tal party came from Boston to Hal
lawell on board the steamer hun
tress, At that point the President
was met by committee consisting
of r. D. Rice, G. w. Stanley, W. A
nraw D. Bronson, G. White, j, H.
wflliams and j. A. Pettingill From
uallowell. to the capital city, dis
,4nce of about three miles, the party
came in carriages. For some rea-
con which history does not chronicle,
tbo Hnntress was much behind time
wben she reached Hallowell. For
hours before the chug, chug, of her
hig paddle wheels plunging into the
water was heard, or the first glimpse
NJ her lights was had, hundreds had
lined the river banks and hills back
nj the main street, to get an carry
olnDse of the honored visitor. 1t
was after dark when the craft was
sighted and her appearance was the
signal for a joyous and noisy well
ccme Bells on the churches and on
the public buildings were rung, while
Presidential salute of q guns was
fred by the old field pieces of the
Maine militia, ~as the Huntress came
alongside the wharf.
The President was entertained al
the home of Hon. Reuel Williams, on
the east side of the kennebec above
old Fort Western. The President was
accompanied by Hon. James Bucha~
nan secretary of State; Capt. Stein,
o. the United States army and GOV
Moulton of Louisiana. The President
was in poor health and retired early
that night, but the others in the party
sal until a late hour, discussing with
tkeir host and hostess the political
situation and national affairs in gen
eral.
II is to be doubted if there was a
more disappointed woman in all
Maine than Mrs. Williams on the fol
lowing morning, for she hunted the
markets over for such delicacies as
seemed to her must tempt the Presi-
Dental palate. But when her guest
seated himself for the morning meal
all he would partake of was bread
and milk and when breakfast was
finished he declared that it was the
best tasting meal he had had since
leaving the White House. Secretary
Buchanan. so the records say, made
up for his chief by eating heartily OF
the good things provided.
Many Augusta and Hallowell peo-
pie, as we'll as those from the sur
rounding country had driven into the
city, and by the time breakfast was
finished, the Williams yard was full
In response to the cheers OF the
crowd, the President stepped to the
door and bowed to the crowd. The
act was greeted with a wild cheer.
AS the President stepped back into
the house, Mrs Daniel Williams, a
neighbor, said, MIR. President, you're
making a great many of your people
happy"
Madam" returned the chief execu-
tive, with a courtly bow, they are
my masters; | am their servant"
His words were heard by those
nearest the steps who repeated them
to the others. The sentiment eX-
pressed touched the crowd, and its
applause and cheering were such that
the President again bowed his ac-
knowledgements.
Later in the day, President Polk
was escorted to the State House
where he was officially welcomed by
Governor Dana. The House of Rep
resentatives and the State Senate as
sembled in joint convention and the
President spoke at length on the
growing greatness of the country; the
necessity of union and the needs OF
the nation. Later, a banquet was
served at the Augusta House, and
tradition says that rum to the value
OF Sl09 was there consumed
WHEN GRANT CAME TO MAINE.
President Grant was in Maine on
thfee or more occasions, but only
once when President. That was in
M, when he came to Bangor to at
lend the ceremonies connected with
,ne opening of the European and No
american railway, now the eastern di-
VISION Of the M. G.. railroad This rail
road was built with Government and
eIate aid, for the purpose of giving
ulieet rail communication between
Tue nited States and the Maritime