Omaha daily bee., 1911-07-23
TAFT SPEAKS AT BULL RUN
Presidents Auto Traverses Flooded
Roads and Fords Swollen Greeks.
MAKES PLEA FOR WORLD PEACE
France VIII sian Arbitration Tready
with Great britain - Three
other Powers Are Also
Ready 60 sign.

with Great brttnhn - IhTcc
other Powers Are Also
Ready 60 sign.
MANASSAS. Va. July 22.-Mfud-bespat-
tered after a difficult trip from Washing
ton by automobile over flooded roads and
through swollen creeks, President Taft Fri
day faced an audience made up in part OF
who wore the blue and the gray.
within a few miles OF the scene Of the first
great conflict OF the civil war and was
applauded and cheered when he made
plea for International peace
The president declared that a general
arbitration treaty with Great Britain and
France probably would be signed within
the next ten days. He added that he hoped
within the next few days to announce that
three other great powers would enter into
similar agreements with the United states.
He did not go so far as to indicate the
nations he had in mind, but 1t is generally
believed he referred to Germany. Italy and
The Netherlands. Japan ultimately may
come into the far-reaching peace pact but
the negotiations with that empire as yet
are said to be merely tentative.
strenuous Auto Trip.
President Taft reached Manassas late
this evening after a tempestuous trip. 1t
was so strenuous that the presidential
party abandoned their motor cars here and
returned to the capital by train. Mr..
Taft laughngly likened his troubles in
getting to Bull Run to those that some
folks fifty years ago had in getting away.
The presidents trip from Washington to
Manassas would have thrilled the heart
OF moving picture man. He left trail
Of stranded automobiles in his wake, made
perilous voyages across streams out OF
their banks, stopped on his way to rescue
a party of marooned senators-demanding
votes for reciprocity as n reward-plowed
his way through transforms and mud and
finally wheezed into this historic little viii
age at shutdown. The car containing the
secret service men held to the race gamely
until within a few miles of the battlefield
and then gave a despairing gasp and
stopped in the middle of what once was
brook but which today had be-
come a muddy torrent
Senators Abandoned.
Several of the recued senators slowed
away with the secret service men after
the formers shipwreck at an earlier ford,
this time were left stranded, with the
declaration by the president that they were
a 'lot of standpatters,"
One of the White House stenographers.
who had followed the president from coast
to coast, and from Puget sound to the
Gulf of Mexico. likewise was abandoned in
midstream and Mr.. Taft for the first time
since he became the chief magistrate OF
the nation spoke without official record
being made OF his utterances.
Five miles out of Fairfax the presidents
car discovered a big touring car stalled in
ha - ha m Salad N
it. calmly awaiting their fate. were three
United States senators, Nelson of Min
nesota, Bacon of Georgia and Overman OF
North Carolina. and Solicitor General Leh-
mann. Senator Brandegee of Connecticut,
owner of the car. had abandoned his
friends In midstream and had gone ahead
to secure the service of a horse or two to
pull them out.
Major Butt the Hero.
Major A. w. Butt, the presidents per-
sonal aide, took one look at the stream
and another at his shining yellow boots.
Then the boots came off and the major
was in the torrent up to his waist He
secuted to right and left and finally waded
across and back again.
I'VE can get across said he as he came
back to the waiting White House car. The
president raised his hat in dignified fashion.
Thank you. major" he said get in and
we'll try it,"
The two machines that had started from
with the president made tho
ford in short order.
On the further bank they stopped. Pass
Ing carriages were called into service ana
the maroons were lightered to shore.
Senator Nelson was taken into the presi-
dents car. He took a glance at his coll
leagues. sat back comfortably, took a
fresh chew of tobacco and was prepared
for the worst. Two miles further south
the scene was repeated.
This time the attempt at fording failed
in spite OF Major Butts gallant
efforts to find a crossing. One OF the
three presidential cars was sent ahead
manner by secret service men only. IL
died in the channel and the secret service
men waded back to shore.
Major Butt, wet to the arm pits, came
back disconsolate to meet the presidential
salute. At this crossing a few neighbour
hood farmers with their wives had gath
ered also checked In their efforts to get
10 Manassas. They looked at the president
n awe and at the major in some amuse-
nent.
Hasn't he got handsome feet" said one
rs she gazed at the unshod feet of the
presidents aide
Back over the same road they had just
travelled the White House car, now con-
aiming another senator. Travelled with care.
Behind 1t came a second car loaded with
more senators and secret service men. At
he ford they had crossed a short time be-
ore they had 10 resort once again to
iorse and carriages, but once across they
got into the machines again. and by an
'ther road sought the battlefield.
Major Butt. wet 10 the skin. hung his
locks on the windshield OF the presidents
ar. At times he was forced TO quit tho
ar to quiet frightened horses, for the laws
( Virginia require an automobiles TO
perform this duty and the president would
hey It,
Having arrived at Manassas, the presi-
lent was introduced by Governor Mann.
lie referred with feeling to the loss of life
md suffering during the civil war ana
declared he deplored armed strife and
Wished IT could be abolished.
Saying that men who have been to war
Know what It is and want no more OF II.
he president added;
Therefore look at you veterans of the
'ivil war to aid In the movement for
,eace."
The presidents visit to Manassas was al