Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-18
JERSEY D. A. R.
GIVES PRESIDENT
HISTORICAL RELIC
Mrs. William Libbey Presents
Taft With Chair on Behalf
of State Society.

WASHINGTON, April 1S.-What
promises to be a most eventful con-
vention of the congress of the Daugh-
tiers of the American Revolution
opened this morning at 1890 O'Clock
In Continental Hall, the handsome
home of the organization, which has
Just been completed. The presence OF
President Taft added to the interest OF
tn opening session. during which he
extended to the delegates a warm well
come to Washington.
Nearly 1000 delegates are in attend
ance, and their interest in the con-
vention, which is the nineteenth that
has been held by the congress-, is in
tense. Following the address by Presi-
dent Taft the convention was called
to order by the president, Mrs. Mat
thew t. Scott, after which formal ad-
dresses were made by John Barrett,
director of the Bureau of American
Republics. and Morris B. Beardsley'
president-general of the sons OF the
American Revolution.
The congress was called to order by
Mrs. Matthew T. Scott, the president
general. amid a scene of patriotic color
and enthusiasm. President Taft was
heartily greeted by daughters as he
entered the hall to the strains of the
s'Star Spangled Banner" played by the
United States Marine Band.
In presenting Mr.. Taft to the con-
vention Mrs. Scott said It had been
rumored that the President OF the
United States was not in favor or
woman suffrage, and that undoubtedly
he had reached hat conclusion as a
matter of principle, after a careful
consideration. but be that as it may,
the Daughters of the American Revo-
luton, who had been fond of Mr.. Taft
the man had fallen in love with Mr..
Taft the President, and welcomed him
to their midst.
Suffrage speech Echo.
In response to this c of the
woman suffrage convention the Presi-
dent paid a gracious tribute to woman.
He confessed that when he came into
Continental Hall he did not expect to
have presented to him matters or
controversy and said he would ad-
dress the association without discussing
the power and plane of woman, which,
he said. we all agree is so high that
1t ought not to be a matter of contro-
yersy.'' He congratulated the Daugh-
tiers upon the erection of Continental
Hall, which, he said, gave the impress
sion of substance n -permanence to
the Daughters Of the Revolution, which
aimed to promote the patriotism of the
citizens of the country. You have as
fine a site as there is in this country"
he said. "and no association has a
right to a finer site"
He praised the aims of the society to
keep constantly before the nation the
persons. the places and the events
whose memories aroused in every true
American heart the love of country. He
said the Daughters of the Revolution
proceeded on the theory that patriot
ism should not be an occasional out
burst every four. five or ten years, but
a constant feeling of allegiance which
every mar and woman entertained.
The President said that at one time
he was not in favor of Journalism, but
he realized that forms in civic life, as
ir religion, were necessary. He APP
proved the clothing of judges in the
robes of their office to show that they
were performing a sacred duty for
their country. In like manner the flag
of the country was a symbol of patriot
ism.
1--WE of the Anglo-SaXon race" he
continued, ARE a little disposed to fear
at times that we may be taken to be
hypocrites in regard TO courtesy and
politeness. We ave much to learn from
the Latin races in this respect ne
added. "Our theory that politeness and
courtesy are only skin deep. and every
word spoken in this vein must be the
absolute truth, is not borne out by the
history of the human race, he said.
Courtesy and good will toward each
other were substantial virtues of the
races. and it was by form that they
We're preserved. 1t is to such forms as
organizations like the d. A. r. that
patriotism was preserved. He would
not minimize the sacrifice and memory
of the soldier, but said there were
patriots in the civil walks of life as
well as on the battlefield. The citizen
who did his duty, not in the easiest
and most convenient manner, but in the
Wav which would benefit his country,
was a true patriot.
Mrs. William Libbey, State regent of
New Jersey, presented to the President,
as a gift to the nation, a chair made
from wood ohf the British frigate Au-
gusta, which was sunk in the Della
ware during the Revolutionary war by
the Continental batteries at Red Bank.
The vessel was recently raised by the
New Jersey Daughters, who are pre-
serving it's parts as relics of the war
for freedom. The chair is constructed
in the style of colonial days, and Mrs
Libbey asked the President to place 1t
in the White House beneath the por-
trait of Washington which was res
cued by Dolly Madison.
The President gracefully accepted
the relic, and said that while he could
not place it in the executive mansion
beneath W~ashington's picture, because
1t would be in danger of "confiagra-
ton he would nave it placed in the
same room with that portrait and
promised to carefully preserve it dur
ingh his term of office.