The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-20
NO ESCORT FOR TAFT
New York Police CHIEF says President
Is No Better Than Mayor.

New York Dec 20-The president Of
the United States Travelled through New
ork streets last night without police
escort. such as has been customariIy as
signed for his protection during his visits
here
When President Taft arrived at s.s5
o'clock at the Pennsylvania terminal on
tWo-day visit to this city not a blue
coated employee OF the city was in sight
The presidential party was forced to
make its way to waiting automobile
separated from the crowd only by ten
colored porters whom the station master
had hastily pressed into service
Inescorted, the president went to the
home Of his brother. Henry W Taft in
" est Forty-eighth street There the first
sight of police officers detailed for duty
with the party was had The detachment
was made up OF three bicycle policemen
On his former visits ten policemen on
wheels had been assigned TO travel with
him, and ten patrolmen to handle the
crowd at the railway station
The three bicycle policemen accom-
panied the president on his drive TO the
Economic club dinner at the Hotel Aston.
where he was TO deliver an address. and
later escorted him to Brooklyn to attend
the New England society dinner a. the
Academy OF Music and Brooklyn Young
Republican club dinner
l. C Wheeler. d member of the secret
service force, made the usual request in
the morning for an escort for the presi-
dent, and il had been understood that
the customary guard would be furnished.
It was stated. however, that Police Com
missioner Waldo. when asked for the
escort. replied that in his opinion no
greater guard was needed for the pro-
mayor OF the city. and Ss>t no greater
one would be furnished On this occasion
He considered the president no better
than the mayor, the missioner was re-
ported as having declared
Police Commissioner Waldo said.
President Taft got the usual police
protection There were two motor
cycle policemen assigned to be with
r. 10 ,f-.=--
Iicemen and detectives were assigned
TO be in the station TO meet him. The
plain clothes men probably were not
readily recognized and that may ac-
count for the impression that the pres
ident had not been given ample pro-
lection
A Hint to the Senate.
President Taft made his first address
of the evening before the Economic
club. where he spoke in defense of the
pending arbitration treaties
The president had considerable 10 say
about what the senate calls its prerog-
gatives.
4 ike to remind my friends. the
senator's" he said, that their powers
or prerogat4res- or whatever name you
may give TO the faculties that they get
from the constitution are not any more
sacred than is the power of the execu-
tive-because the source Of the power
in each case is the constitution and in
respect TO foreign matters the execu-
tive has the advantage CT the senate
little in that the senate cannot begin
TO act until the executive shall say il
may II other words. the initiative in
foreign matters is with the executive
Continuing along this line. the presi
dent said that II the treaties with Eng
land and France could be concluded he
had no doubt that they could be made
with many nations. and when We have
made them with many other nations
then those nations may be induced 10
make them with each other
With the clause in the treaties that
nothing could be done Of a hostile char
acter until a year after the interna
tionaI dispute arose. the president said
there would be mighty few wars He