The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-02-18
PRESIDENT TAFT AT
TOMB OF LINCOLN
Great CROWDS Greet Executive
at Springfield, Ill

Springfield put on gala attire for the
visit OF President Taft On the inn
posing pile which shelters the supreme
court OF the state and on modest cot
iages festoons OF bunting. the stars
and stripes. pictures OF the president
OF today and OF the martyred presi-
dent OF half century ago and other
decorations were flying
Springfield was crowded as II has
been few times In It's history. The
estimate was made that more than
10000 strangers were In the city
Governor Deneen, Lieutenant Gov
ernor Oglesby. the Joint reception
committees OF the legislature. the com.
mittees from the Springfield chamber
OF commerce and the Lincoln centen-
NAL association and the legislative
newspaper correspondents left Spring
field at 9 a M. 10 meet the presiden.
tial party az Decatur and escort MIR.
Taft TO the capital, The return trip
was made by trolley, one OF the few
occasions II not the only one. when n
national party OF such prominence has
travelled across the country in an In.
terurban car.
All other service on the stretch OF
the trolley system OF Congressman
William Il. Mckinley between Decatur
and Springfield was suspended while
the presidential party was speeding
west The ride took a little longer
than an hour. arrival in Springfield be-
Ing at 1850 p. nj. Three trains OF two
cars each made the run. The first. or
pilot train. contained the newspaper
men. The second train consisted OF
the private car OF the president and
his suite and the car OF Governor De-
neen and the official committees. Jus
tees OF the supreme court. state Of
ficials and others had places on the
third train.
The Danyille battery OF state mill
tia had a place on the state house
lawn and started firing the salute OF
twenty-one guns, the world wide token
OF respect 60 nations ruler, the mo-
ment the president beSan TO ascend
the broad steps OF the capitol. Along
the wide. curving walks OF the grounds
and the three blocks between the cap
itol and the executive mansion were
stretched solid lines OF soldiers OF the
First regiment from Chicago
In his address 10 the legislature
President Taft made another plea 10
the people 10 support the proposed rec
iprocity agreement with Canada. BY
citing the details OF several OF the
tarlff schedules covered by the pend
ing agreement Mr.. Taft pointed out
the benefits that would come 10 Amer
lean agricultural and manufacturing
interests. He specified particularly
the benefits which would como TO the
people OF Illinois. but declared that
every state would BIO benehcially af-
fected by the pact.
A dash by automobile after the ad-
dress in the legislature. first TO the
old frame home OF Lincoln and then
TO the mansion. next 10 the Lincoln
tomb and monument In Oak Ridge
cemetery, and then back TO the eI-
ecutive mansion for the reception by
Governor and Mrs. Deneen at p. m,
was the program carried out. At the
tomb Robert T. Lincoln. son OF Abra-
ham Lincoln. and president OF the
Pullman Palace Car company, was a
spectator.
President Tafts official activity
ceased with the banquet at the state
arsenal There was no effort 10 con-
tinue the program longer. as he was
believed TO be a man OF aba temious
dining and early hours. From the
banquet the president was escorted
10 his private car and retired before
II left Springfield for Washington at
o'clock In the morning.