New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-31

the Waldorf at CHS O'Clock. He was ac-
companied by his aid, Major Archibald
Butt, and was Immediately shown into
a private room in the Waldorf apart
ments. with Major Butt standing guard
outside.
The President kept his lonely vigil in
the room for an hour. Major Butt, h.
coming restless, circulated among the
members of the reception committed
trying to discover the reason for the de-
lay. Nobody seemed 10 know just where
the hitch came.
President Escorted to Hall.
George c. Boldt, proprietor of the Wal
dorf, was the man to break the barrier
He went to the Presidents room, ac-
companed by members of the reception
committee. headed by Andrew Carnegie
and Henry Clews, and announced that
the banquet waited upon the President
Have they settled the matter" asked
the President, as though he understood
there had been much clubbing over the
arrangements.
He was then escorted to the main ban
quet hall, entering through rear door.
Inspectors McClusky and Hughes
were in charge of the police arrange
ments. In the banquet room were Chief
Flynn of the Secret Service. half dozen
of his men and men from the Police De
partment, all in evening clothes. They
al
ing whatever might happen during the
evening.
While the President had thus been
kept waiting in one end Of the hotel,
fifty Of the three hundred members Of
the reception committee wer" csconced
in the far end of the building. They
passed the time lightly enough, giving
an impromptu reception TO their wives
and other personal friends. Nobody APP
peared to take the lead, and things
dragged along in an inconSequential
manner.
Willard J. Boomer executive sccrc-
tary of the committee, was the man
upon whom the blame for the nights
with persistency. He was said to have
been due at the hotel with the seating
list at 6:3O o'clock or before that hour
When the time passed and there were
still no signs of Bloomer, persons began
to get uneasy. 1t was impossible to
seat the hundreds Of guests without the
formality Of that list.
Toastmaster Graves TeIephoning.
Finally John Temple Graves, toast
master OF the evening, ran to n tele-
phone booth and called up the printers
office. His voice could be heard, raised
above the ordinary conversational pitch,
issuing from the confines of the booth.
rs he there? Not there? How did he
leave? BY the subway? Why didn't he
take a taxiCab?" and Mr.. Graves hung
up the receiver with a clash
This was early in the evening. a little
later Mr.. Graves turned to a group Of
newspaper men and asked:
rs Bloomer trying to put one over on
the committee because of the way he was
censurcd the other day."
Nobody could enlighten him as to the
reasons for Mr.. Boomers shortcomings
and he tried other methods of producing
the ethereal secretary.
When it was $40 o'clock Mr.. Graves
was visiblv angry. He kept a firm grip
on his tongue. and his mouth was closed
tightly Samuel Bell Thomas. chairman
Of the general arrangement committee.
was as ignorant as any there concerning
Mr.. Bloomer and his seating list When
matters had reached a crisis, members
Of the reception committee engaged an
automobile and drove downtown TO No.
Spruce street. the printing establish
ment. and returned with the list.
An hour after the guests had sat down
Il, the tables Mr.. Bloomer walked into
the main banquet hall and kissed his
wife affectionately and In full view Of
those whom he had kept waiting. BY
that time everybody had been seated
and the reasons for his delay were not
made public.
President Taft Restless.
President Taft was restless during the
banquet. According to the scheduled
arrangements he was to have finished
his dinner and his speech at $50 o'clock
and left the hotel. AT that hour the
diners were not halfway through with
their dinner. The committee began to
hurry things along, but unlocked for de-
lays seemed to spring up on every hand
Complaints about the arrangements for
tho evening were heard frequently. PEG
pie wanted 10 know why all this trouble
about the seating Of the guests. the be-
ginning Of the speecEmaking and other
details had not been treated in logical
manner No one was there 10 enlighten
them.
One Of the features Of the evening was
the great reduction In the number OF
guests. The committee had announced