Milford chronicle., 1911-11-03
TAFT ATTENDS
CELEBRATION
Star Attraction at Centennial Of
Steam Navigation in Rivers.
PITTSBURC is ENTHUSIASTIC

President Praises Roosevelt In His
Speech and Views Mine Explosion
Tests.
President Taft's second swing around
the circle as originally planned came
to an end in Pittsburg, Pa, in the
most enthusiastic and by far the nois-
lest demonstration he has experienced
in all the 1900 miles he has tray-
eled.
Pittsburg celebrated the centennial
of steam navigation on western divers,
and Mr.. Taft was the star attraction
In the celebration. According to SUI
perintendent OF Police McQuaide
there were close to 10000 persons at
the wharf on the Monongahela river
when the president was taken aboard
the steamboat Virginia to review the
fleet" anchored there.
For five minutes after the presiden-
tial automobile turned down over the
cobblestOnes to the river bank every
whistle on every steamboat, river tug,
barge or motor boat within miles was
tied down. The noise in its intensity,
reminded the president of target prac-
tice by fleet Of battleships with
twelve-inch guns.
1t died down long enough for Mrs,
Alice Roosevelt Longworth to chris
ten a replica" of the New Orleans,
the first steamboat on western waters,
which was navigated down the Mo-
nongahela and the Ohio 100 years ago
by her at-grandfather, Nicholas j.
Roosevelt
There was quiet for a moment again
while the president spoke briefly
praising former President Roosevelt
for his successful efforts on behalf of
the Panama canal, but when the Vir
ginia. the flagship of the fleet, turned
out into the stream the noise started
again. For more than an hour and a
half the Virginia, with the president
in the pilothouse or on the upper
deck, steamed down the Ohio and then
back to the wharf Both banks of these
rivers were lined with people
President Taft refused to go on
record as favoring woman's suffrage.
A handsomely dressed young woman
approached the clerk at the hotel
where the president was lodging and
asked to see him. When told he was
in his room and could not be disturb !
ed. she requested that the clerk send |
to him the paper which she handed I,
him The clerk complied. and a short !
time the paper, a petition favoring !
woman's suffrage, was returned with |
out the presidents SIGNATURE or ON /
ment
At that moment the governor of (
Pennsylvania entered the lobby and /
was pointed out to the woman She |
FASTENED to his side, and unfolding |
the document, asked him if he he
Iieved in women voting.
- believe in all ntell'gen persons
voting" replied the governor
Then sign this, please" she said
The governor ran his eye over the
petition and the names appended. and.
handing It back to the woman, walked
AWAY without another word The
young woman gave her name as Rose
Aaritzer, and her residence as Pitts
]urg. She said she represented the
Socialist party
Ten thousand persons crowded the
yrand stand at Forbes field and cheer
ID the president as he st cd and
watched with absorbing interest the
EXPLOSIONS under the direction of the
,ureau of mines, and the work Of
orty rescue teams from all parts of
he country Once he pressed a but
on which exploded a charge.
Instantly smoke and flame burst
rom the long steel gallery erected in
he park and a rescue team dashed
or the main opening. They were clad
n the armor provided for such hap