The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-23
TAFT IS GUEST OF
THE NEW WORKERS
Press Club Entertains Presi-
dent at Big Banquet
DEFENSE OF MOTIVES
He Spoke in Certain Strain at Chi
cngo and Speaks a Good Word
For Press Representatives.

New York, March 22.-Notwithstandin
the fatiguing day OF varied activity two
tanquets, both held at the Hotel Astor,
occupying the attention of President Taft
tonight. The first was a banquet of the
Peace and Arbitration league and The
second at which Mr.. Taft appeared had
its political Significance. At the peace
banquet men prominent in the life of
the nation. the state and the city and
foreign ambassadors, ministers and spe-
cial ENJOYS were gathered who expressed
their sentiments on peace.
Former Vice President Fairbanks, who
returned recently after trip around the
world, was a conspicuous guest
Otto Barnard, late candidate for mayor
of New York on the republican ticket,
presided at the Parons' or later banquet.
Places near him were reserved for the
President and Senator Root. Senator
Root and LLOYD Griscom, chairman of
the committee, were among the speakers.
The President addressed both gather
ings.
Taft Mt Press Club
President Taft, facing crowd of $50
newspaper men and editors at the New
York Press club this afternoon indirect
ly apologized for his remarks made in a
recent speech in Chicago. He eplained his
attitude after John Hennessy, president OF
the club, had remarked in a speech that
he did not agree with the Presidents
views.
Mr.. Taft then said:
Reference has been made by your
chairman, Mr.. Hennessy, to speech l
made before the Chicago Press club
did not know exactly what kind of a
speech I was going to make there any
more than [ do now. but the chairman of
the Chicago club whispered to me as |
got up to speak: They want to hear about
the press, so roast them And I am
bound to say that the task was not SO
difficult
>"This being President creates many new
sensations to one who comes into office
under the conditions that surrounded my
coming in. had been on the bench for
n years ard I think the bench the only
place II, the country that Is free of severe
criticism beyond the press. And having
had that sort of training It In little
hard for me to get used to any other
kind OF treatment. | am being educated
tut there are times at the White House
when you are exercising what Is sup
posed to be the power of the presidency
when you get really very very discour-
aged.
Motives discontinued
"Things don't go right sometimes.
Your motives are nisconstrued and then
you take long walk and you say
TO yourself: There Is one thing, any
how they cannot deprive my children
ond their descendants of having my
picture on the walls of the ! White
House paid for by Congress- And then
YOU go home and look at the picture
OF Theodore and the picture of Grover
and of Abraham and the others you
have there, and you come to the con-
clusion that even that is no consola-
ton.
But the truth is that these sensa-
tons a man has under the pressure
of which he expresses himself with
heat, pass
IT don't go to the point of saying
nothing much matters. That is not
true. L believe a good many things
matter q great deal of the time. l. do
think a long experience with respect
to the criticism of public men will
make men feel too less important than
they seem 10 De when tucy are CuttihS
their hide. so to speak.
after all, everybody wants to be
square. A great deal that 10 said In
the superlative in our life Is under
stood to be in the positive. A great
deal of what Is said of an Irritating
character Is momentary and Is for
gotten by the man who uses 1t much
more quickly than by the man whom
1t hurts. which is an indication that
the feeling that he has toward his
fellow man is only momentarily and
would justify excitement on the sub
Ject."
Newspaper Men Praised
Mr.. Taft paid a compliment to the
men who travel with him
wherever he goes This brought him
naturally to defense Of his custom
of travelling with them, he said.
This travelling business. / believe"
said he, has been made the subject
or some criticism. Well. I am trav-
eler I got into the presidency by
travelling. and don't want to get over
the habit. When you're being ham,
mered as sometimes l have been in
Washington. not only by the press but
by members of your own party In
Wash ington. and you feel that there
is nothing quite right that you can
do, the pleasure of going out into the
country: into a city that has not seen
q president for 20 years and then makes
a fuss over him in order to prove to
him that there Is somebody that does
not know OF his defects, Is pleas
ure that I don't like to forego.
Now. my dear friends. for I hope
to call you such at least for this aft-
ernoon," said Mr.. Taft, II shall bring