New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-21
TAFT JOLLY AT AUTO DINNER
President Eschews Topics of
State in His Speech.

Touching only on the question OF goon
roads as one OF the problems OF the federal
administration. President Taft sought re-
lief last night al the dinner OF the Auto
mobile Club Of America from the serious
topics Of national government and spoke in
light and humorous manner OF things
suggested by the automobile.
The President appeared in high good
humor. and the hearty reception that greet
ed him when ne rose to speak seemed TO
deepen his smile There were cheers from
the fifteen hundred men and women who
filled the grand ballroom of the Waldorf
Astoria and the Presidents remarks made
the occasion one OF exceptional good feel
ing and apparent enjoyment.
The dinner had also the aspect OF inter
national interest through the presence not
only Of representatives of foreign govern
ments but also representatives OF Euro
pean automobile clubs. President Taft sat
between Henry Sanderson, president of
the club. and General Horace Porter.
Others al the Presidents table were Count
]. H. Won Bernstorff. the German Ambas-
sador: Governor Dix. Senior Don Juan
Riano V Gayangos, the Spanish Minister;
Dr. John II. Finley. Lieutenant General
| Nelson A. Miles. Melville f. Stone. John
| G. Milburn. the Duke OF Newcastle Henry
w. Taft, William Barnes jr.; Chauncey
NJ. Depew, Frank A. Vanderlip. Ebert II.
Gary, Patrick Francis Murphy, F. NJ.
Schmolck, representing the Nederandsche
Automobile Club; Rear Admiral Leutze,
Jacob H. Schif, Henri Martin represent
ing the Automobile Club de Suisse: Morgan
J. O'Brien, +. S. Martin, Colonel John
Iy,o
the Automobile Club de France; Walter II.
Page. Major Thomas l.. Rhoads. NJ Clar-
holm. representing the kung Automobile
| KIubben; Major Archibald W. Butt, L. s.
A; Dave II. Morris and Justice Victor j.
Bowling.
The President was introduced by Mr.
! Sanderson. and spoke in part as follows
I have never quite understood the kindly
persistence that your president and his "a
| sociates showed i'm inviting me 10 thls
vestaI occasion | never belonged TO what
/ always used 10 call the carriage class.
| | walked or rode in streetcars, ana "hen
| the automobile took place OF that more
dIgnihed method of procedure i transferred
| The carriage class" to the automobile
! class" and considered myself still excluded;
II IS true that the accident or once ana
| the generosity Of a Republican Congress
| have given me-for a time-the privilege
of understanding the fascination OF travel
! ling bv this new method, put mere Is no
I / ern,anoncy Of tenure In the machine or IN
| The office and therefore | beg OF you 10
| understand that | appear here only In a
! temporarily representative capacity.
| ! am glad 10 be here IN any capacity,
clad 70 learn Of how much the automobile
and its uses have contributed TO interna-
| tional friendship among those VINO can AZ
/ ford 10 carry automooles tnrousn a cuSI ba.
! been made 10 the limitation on my power
The truth Is that in the pursuance OF my
official duties ] do not meet AWNING out
r,,,it tions and your presiding officer has
,,oid ION that his power in certain regards
vas much longer than mine. have no
doubt Of it. and il he can get as ne says,
value through Loeb In the Custom House
| here he can exceed any power that nave
The President then spoke Of the progress
r,sda IN the automobile industry. stating
tina, the automobile had come for real use
and Ike the telephone and the rural free
delivery. had done much TO increase the
comfort Of life on the farm Turning 10
the question Of good roads. he said:
The question Of good roads is dffcult
ono not only because NJ the perfection Of
. road for the purpose Of resisting ths
much heavier travel but II is also dlfncult
because OF a question who is IN pay for the
| roads Are they 70 be built by the state
| Arc they 10 he built by the county, ana
| yrho is 10 take care OF them (which Ia
much more important question-but heFr
! the earnest patriot-and N does not make
| anv difference how ne CONSTITUTES the Consti-
| union. II there is any plan n running
| national road near his farm-I hear the
earnest patriot say. IT is the business Of
| the general government N build those
| roads Lets have a national road running
| from New York 10 San Francisco. to teach
| the world what q model road Is 30 But
THAT would II Cost2' oh. what difference
| does It make what II costs? You can strive
| and hunt WAYS Of saving 100000 I'm the mat
| Ter Of employees AZ Washington, but when
| If comes 10 building roads what Is hun
| dred million between friends" And there
is the difficulty gentlemen. ! admit that
| the central government has The power, for
| the purpose Of promoting interstate com
! merce to build national roads but / ques-
ton the wisdom of opening that method Of
| spending federal government money.
Count Won Rernstorff responded TO a toa 81
| 10 the Emperor ~ Germany. He said that
the United States had no warmer friend on
the other side Of the ocean than his sover-
eign