The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-23
President Faces a Crowd of |
Newspaper Men and Editors
at the Press Club and Frees
His Mind of Several Things. |
WHEN ON THE BENCH
HE ESCAPED CRITICISM
Hard to Get Used to Any Other.
Kind of Treatment but the
Executive Is Inclined to
|. Take a Philosophical View.
TRAVELLING HABIT FIXED

New York, March 22.-President
Taft, facing crowd of 500 news
papermen and editors at the New
York Press club this afternoon, in
directly apologized for his remarks
concerning the press made in a re-
cent speech in Chicago. He explained
his attitude after John A. Hennessy,
president of the club, had remarked
in speech that he did not agree
with the Presidents views.
Reference has been made by your
chairman. Mr.. Hennessy, to a speech L
made before the Chicago newspaper
club" said Mr. Taft 4 did not know
exactly what kind of a speech / was go
ing to make there any more than / do
now, but the chairman of the Chicago
club whispered TO me as L got up TO
speak: They want TO hear about the
press, so roast them And / am bound
to say the task was not so difficult.
This being President of the United
states presents a good many sensations
to one who came into the office under
the conditions that surrounded my COM
ing lin. / had been on the bench for
twelve years, and l think the bench the
only place in the country free from Sc
we're criticism by the press. And having
had that sort of training, it is a little
hard for me to get used to any other kind
OF treatment / am being educated, but
there are times at the White House when
you are exercising what is supposed to
be the power of the presidency when you
get really very, very discouraged.
Consolation Lacking.
Things don't go right Your motives
long walk and you say TO yourself, there
is one thing anyhOW-they cannot deprive
your children and your descendants of
having your picture on the walls of the
White House paid for by Congress-
And then you go home and you look
at the picture of Teddy and the picture
of Grover Cleveland and of Abraham
Lincoln and the others you have there,
and you come to the conclusion even that
it IS not a consolation.
But the truth is, the sensations a man
has, under the pressure of which he eX-
presses himself with heat pass.
Il don't go to the point of saying Moth
! ing much matters. That is not true. !
| believe good many things matter a
great deal, but / do not think that a
| long experience of the criticism of pub
J there be injustice, in such criticism
I vastly less important than it seems wheT
! they are having their hides cut, so tC
speak.
Irritation only Momentary.
After all everybody wants to be square
/ A great deal that is said in the superla-
| tive of our life is understood to be in the
pOsitive-a great deal that is said of al
irritating character is forgotten by th'
| man who uses it much more quickly
/ than by the man whom it hurts-which !:
an indication that the feeling he has to
does not evidence that real cruelty tina
would justify excitement on the sub
feet
Mr. Taft paid a compliment to tn,
newspapermen who travel with hin
wherever ne goes, This brought him nat
urally TO a defense of his custom of trav
cling.
This travelling business. 7 believe h,
said, has been made the subject of som
criticism. Well, / am a traveller. 1 go
into the presidency by travelling and
can't get over the habit. When you ar
being hammered. as sometimes hav
been in Washington, not only by tn
press. but by members of your owl
party, and feel there is not anything
quite right you can do, the pleasure o
going out into the country, of going int
a city that hasn't seen a President 70
twenty years and that makes fuss owe
him to prove to him there is somebod
that does not know of his defects, is
pleasure / don't like to forego.
"Now, my dear friends-for / hope {
call you such at least for this Afternoon
Ii shall bring my remarks to a clos
citation of the cordial welcome which yO
have given me-"
Had Strenuous Day.
It was a strenuous day the Presiden
spent in New York. He was pursued 70
a mile through Central park by bicycl
policeman seeking speed limit violators
his automobile led the fastest rae
through Fifth avenue and congeste
Broadway that the natives have wit
messed in many d day; he lectured a
assemblage of editors at luncheon at tn
residence of Henry Clews, the New Yor
banker; he discussed the far eastern sit
uatOn with former Vice President Fair
banks, conferred with county politics
leaders briefly-dll this besides the pres
club reception and the two banquet
which he attended tonight.
The luncheon at the Clews residenc
was private and was attended by nearl
every prominent newspaper editor in Me-
York. An announcement on the invita-
ton and menu cards stated the Presider
would speak after being introduced b
Mr.. Clews, but 1.-The guests will kindl
refrain from reply TO the Presidents re
marks or questioning him, as his time
exceedingly limited"
1t was said later at the Clews HON
that the President had given "heart-tC
heart" talk to the editors; that he ha
mentioned the recent criticisms in tn
public press OF the administration an
had endeavOred to show where the news
papers could be of material assistanc,
not TO the administration, but the gov