Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-09-01
Lays Corner Stone Of The
Beverly Y. NJ c. A.
Has 10 Weld. Trowel and The
Crowd Enjoys The Fun.
Has Several Political Callers Not
Mixing. In New York State.

| beverly, mass, Aug. SIN laying
the corner stone of the new Y. M. c.
A. building in this city today. Pres
| ident Taft officially announced that
Beverly would continue to be the
| sumner capital of the country at
any rate" for two years more. Mr..
Taft had intimated earlier in the sea-
son that he found Beverly much to
his liking but his official public an
Inouncement today called out great
cheers from his hearers. Melville
Woodbury.. the presiding officer at the
ceremonies, referred to the President
as "Beverly's most distinguished sum-
mer boarder.''
The President worked hard at the
corner stone. The big block of gran
| tie measured three by four feet and
not an ounce of mortar had been
| spread on the foundation when the
President took up the silver trowel.
He worked in silence for nearly five
minutes, and then with somewhat
Redeemed face he looked up and laugh
ingly inquired:
Where's the mason? Where's my
boss?"
Everyone laughed and the mason
stepped forward. He gave some d.
rections, but he did not offer to re-
lieve the Chief Magistrate of the trow-
ell and Mr.. Taft resumed his job. When
he had applied the last of the cement.
the mason smoothed off the edges and
the stone was lowered to it's place.
To make his service thorough, the
President seized hold of the granite
block and helped swing it onto the
foundation. The crowd which had
watched with much amusement. APP
plauded vociferously. At the conclu-
sion of the exercises President
joined the throng in singing America.
In his speech Mr.. Taft said of the Y.
NJ. C. A:
1T served a great many purposes; but
the one that impresses me as the most
useful is the furnishing of Christian
club to Young men at a time when the
devil is very near and will get them If
he can. 1t is in their idle moments that
they contract the habits that lead them
downward. and it is in their leisure that
they can make their character what 1t
ought to be; and under the auspices of
the Young Mems Christian Association
numbers of young men who would go
down into the gutter are rescued from
there. but are kept from there. and are
led onward and upward to become the
best members of the community.
This is not idle praise. Everyone who
knows of the operation of the Young
Mems Christian Association knows the
truth of what say. 1T is organized on
business basis. The money that it put
in is not wasted. The men who conduct
1 h., of a nr0fpS-
sion of teaching, A peculiar profession
the secretaries of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association have. but it is real
profession. They make the money that
they have go as far as it will. and they
are able to offer to the young men who
come into the association aid and COM
fort, without giving them the impression
that they are receiving charity from any
body. In other words, they take what
comes without losing in any regard their
self-respect."
Representative w. S. Bennett of New
York. one of the Republican gubernatoriai
possibilities in that state. spent an hour
with President Taft this afternoon. Hen
~ A. Wise, United States attorney for
the southern district of New York. also
came to Beverly today. The two jour
neyed out to the Presidents house to-
gether and while there they discussed
the New York situation.
Mr.. Bennett had nothing to say regard
ing his BOOM Mr.. Wise was equally
uncommunicatiye as to his mission. 1t
was said that the Sugar Trust prosecu-
tons were mentioned.
There is little likelihood that President
Taft can again be drawn into the New
York state fight. He regards the prima-
ry question as one of easy adjustment
Mr.. Taft also believes that the state lead
ers. including Colonel Theodore Roose-
welt, are entirely competent to handle
the situation. He Goes not regard 1t as
the duty. or within the province of the
Chief Executive of the people. to mix in
state political fights.
Charles G. Dawes of Chicago. formerly
controller of the currency. also saw
President Taft this afternoon
Secretary Norton returned late today
from st. James. Long Island