The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-10-13
BY Associated Press.


Salem. Ore, Oct. 1.-THE Fond du
Lac incident, the most interesting con-
nected with the recent travels OF a
president, was officially declared ON
board the Taft special when it stopped
for several hours here today on the
way to Sacramento and San Francisco.
And President Taft is looking forward
to his visit TO Fond du Lac in the In
surgent state Of Wisconsin with an in
terest greater than that felt in any
other city on his $4,000 mile itinerary.
The indications are that there win
be big time in Fond du Lac on Taft
day, October 26. For q while 1t looked
as though the gates Of the city were to
be closed against the chief executive
of the nation, all because they thought
1t was Oshkosh when it was really Ap-
pleton that wanted to be treated a
little more literally in the division Of
the presidents time on busy October
day in the home state Of Senator La
Toilette, a rival candidate for the Re-
publican nomination in 1912. In order
to give Appleton little more equitable
treatment, II was necessary to cut down
some of the time allotted to Fond du
Lac. This caused the storm clouds to
lower and while the tempest ragged the
telegraph wires were kept hot with
messages, which chased the presiden-
tial train all the way from Cheyenne
to the Pacific coast. The mayor of
Fond du Lac announced that If Fond
'du Lac could not have Mr.. Taft for
two hours and a half they did not
want him at all.
The announcement had been made
from Fond du Lac several days ago
that the city had withdrawn it's 1nvi-
tation to the president and would re-
fuse to entertain him, the entire off,
cial correspondence, by telegraph, was
given out here to make the situation
entirely clear.
It began with the following telegram
sent by Mayor Frank ]. Wolff, OF Fond
du Lac, to Secretary Hilles on the
presidential train at Cheyenne:
I'VE have made elaborate arrange
ments for the presidents visit to Fond
dst Lac We ere advised that eur TIN tin g
other points In the Fox river valley.
We would like to know definitely the
time allotted to Fond du Lac. 1t win
require two and half hours to carry
out the program and arrangements"
To this the secretary to the presi-
dent replied:
Telegram received. Railroads had
given only ten minutes to Appleton.
one hour and forty minutes to Osh-
kosh and two and half hours to Fond
du Lac. This was an error. Apple
ton was to have had one hour and ten
minutes. 1t win be necessary to re-
wise the program and deal fairly with
Appleton"
This message must have caused
some excitement in Fond du Lac, for
promptly this answer was sent from
Mayor Wolff and the 'chairmen of all
committees:
"As all arrangements had been made
to cover the presidents visit to Fond
du Lac for two and half hours, as
per original program, disappointing all
arrangements have been abandoned.
Give all your time to Oshkosh and APP
pleton."
: In the meantime Mr.. Taft had made
up his mind to go to Fond du Lac,
reception committee or no reception
committee.
In the following telegram from Sec
retary Hilles to Mayor Wolff the final
chapter was written:
THE president viii be pleased to
comply with the wishes of the COM
mittees."
And Fond du Lac viii entertain Mr..
Taft for two hours and a half on the
afternoon OF Thursday, October 26.