The Washington times., 1911-09-26
TAFT INTEREST IN
PEORIA~LUKEWARM
Middle West City Cordial But Subdued in Reception of
President-Big Merchants Support Executive, But
People Blame Him for Conditions.

I Federal aid. President Taft approved
the grant of $50, 100 for the Ohio, but
not Oae cent for the Illinois"
Banker Stands BY Taft.
President Curtis. Of the Dime Savings
Bank, said he locked uron the Taft re-
ception yesterday as a cordial one.
You wouldn't find any more en-
thusiasm exhibited except in the heat
of a campaign" he said. President
Taft is like Grover Cleevland In one
! respect. He does not inspire spectacu-
lar demonstrations Of admiration. That
was thoroughly characteristic Of Mr..
Cleveland, who, however. will go down
in history as one Of our greatest Presi-
dents.
THE President, believe, has the un-
wavering support Of the business men
Of this city. I think he is an able Presi-
dent and worthy of reelection. Per-
hidebcnnd % one fp1Si II william OIL Iortmer rGr q
were a candidate for an office I would
not vote for him. On the other hand. I
would not vote for radical like Sem
ator La Toilette unless there was a
The head Of one of the largest insur-
ance agencies in Peoria said Senator
Cullom evoked more enthusiasm, than
did the President.
Il am a lifelong Republican and I mix
some in local politics" he said. II be-
lieve in President Taft and would like
to see him reelected. But 1 realize the
chances are none too favorable. He Is
not popular with the people at large.
The people seem to be possessed by a
d shakeup of the Republican party
would be a good thing. Take this dis
trict which the Republicans lost last
year. We wouldn't have lost If It
hadn't been for Joe Gran sticking TO
against Cannonism was loud In these
parts.
THE Lorimer scandal has added to
the state of unrest. The people of
Peoria believe Mr.. Lorimer's seat was
purchased and they have no use for
public officials who can perpetrate or
tolerate such corruption. I believe Mr..
Taft will he renomlnated, but that this
state Of public unrest will result in :hn
election Of Democrat"
Comments on Cool Reception.
A tailor, who was born in Belgium,
had this to say in a marked foreign
accent:
Mention no names. please, but you
can say that reception was too cool
for a President of the United States.
A town ought to do better than that.
1 uOH hHO" why IL ls, OuI my WIG
won't go four blocks to see Mr. Taft
She waited two hours in a mob to see
Roosevelt. I'm a Republican and
think Mr. Taft good President. He
is ali right on the tariff"
The proprietor of the biggest depart
ment store in the city said one reason
for the lack Of enthusiasm in the Taft
reception was a bit of local JEALOUSY.
The board OF education invited the
President to lay the cornerstone Of tho
Washington school. But he was un-
able to accept because he was the guest
OF the knights OF Columbus. That
aroused some bitterness among the
Protestants
Hoodwinked BY Cannon.
"I think people here believe Mr.. Taft
Is honest and sincere" said the mer-
chant, but he certainly made political
mistakes. He tied up with Mr.. Can
non and Mr.. Aldrch because he thought
they would put his program Of legisla-
ton through Congress. But they hood
winked him all along the line. Then
he signed the Payne bill and defended
ii in his Winona speech.
"If he had come out and fought Mr..
Cannon and Mr.. AldrIch to a finish
right from the start there wouldn't be
a more popular man in the country to-
day than w. H. Taft. But he didn't,
and the people are dissatisfied with him.
It was the same feeling against Can
nonism that beat Mr.. Graff last year."