Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-05-10
TAFT TRIES TO
CHECK ADVERSE
TIDE At BANQUET
President Reverses Himself in
Statements on Alterations
to Railroad Bill.
DECLARES NOW THAT
THEY ARE. NOT VITAL
Passaic Gives Him Great Recep=
tion-WhOle Regiment
Forms an Escort.

President william HI. Taft showed MS
versatility yesterday. He turned ora
torical sommersaults, narrowly escaped
a grade-crossing mishap and hustled
hack to Washington-all in the same
day. Opening the Actors Fund fair
in New York city, the President had
lots of fun. but at the Passaic BOARD
of Trade banquet last night he tried
his level best to be serious, dignineo
and convincing. The actresses gave
him a gold medal and the Passaic peo-
pie cheered. He had primed himseil
for talk on administration bills before
Congress and was all serious business.
His task was hard one and he ad-
,nitted that he was fatigued when pre-
naring 70 return to the National Capt.
tal to continue his fight with the
Democrats and Republican insurgency.
: The Passaic affair gave the chlet
executive an excellent opportunity 10
express his views on pending leglsia-
lion. He championed all his pet piiis
ana aaved his critics. His railroad bill,
of course, received the most attention.,
He tried to make himself and ms dis-
tinguished guests believe that the OIL
had not been emasculated, ana went
40 far as to say that he expected the
i hill, would pass both House and Sen
ate. and that 1t would become law
within a fortnight. The President last
waelS was SO dissatisfied with the
masculation of the railroad bill that
he declared he proposed to veto IL IL
passed. With emphasis last night ne
insisted that the changes made in the
railroad bill were neither substantial
nor vital. Never once did he refer 10
railroad valuation, which the House
Forced into the bill, and he ignored
the claim that the bill, as Originally
framed practically nuilifes the ahti-
trust law. II the real purpose OF tne
President was to place the TAFT ADMIN
istratiCn in a more favorable light II
was energy and words wasted.
raft Near Car Crash.
Victor L. Mason, president OF the
poard of Trade and assistant secretary
of the Republican National Committee
ia credited with having induced the
president to attend the banquet. line
presidential party came from New YORK
in automobiles furnished by Mr.. Mason.
n was nearly 6 o'clock when the party
reached Passaic Park. At the Aycrlgs
crossing Of the Erie there came near
sbeine an accident. An express Threw
the cavalcade escorting the president
- - disorder and unhorsed one OF the
-.scers riding near the Taft car, whlch
was within ten feet of the thnnderlng
locomotive. The journey to the Mason
residence was continued under the es-
oort of Colonel Edwin w. Hine ana ms
staff The Fifth Regiment lined either
s,de Of the street up to the Mason home
where the President remained tiii lie
went to the banquet hail
There were 10000 people along the
limo waiting for the President to pro-
ceed to the hall. Announcement iiao
.,soan, made that o'clock was the sched-
3,led time, and at that tirae troley car
were stopped. For more tnan an houi
trafflc was tied UP and the crowd wai'-
ed The delay was tfresome. me
President himself was responsible lo'
81 He wanted to rest after MS pusy
day so that he could be ready TO oe'
liver the carefully prepared dinner
speech. Fireworks lighted the way ano
school children waved flags and sang
The court of honor in Main street near
the depot was beautifully decorated
and brilliantly lighted. The President
was not introduced till lo.zo
Refers to senator Kean.
He preceded his set speech by pay
ine a compliment to the ladies in the
gallery and to the people of Passaic In