The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-22
BLUE AND GRAY;; ONCE ENEMIES:
 NOW COMRADES Taft Has Exciting Motor Trip Through Rain
 Storm
MANASSAS REUNION
 IS GREAT SUCCESS
Incident Is Dramatic as Blue and Gray Lines Clasp Hands. MT. Taft Speaks on
 Arbitration

Manassas, Va, July 21.--Mud spattered after a strenuous trip from Washington swollen creeks, President Taft today faced an audience made up in part of veterans who wore the blue and gray within a few miles of the scene of the first great conflict of the Civil war and was ap- plauded and cheered when he made a plea for international peace.
 The President declared a general arbi- tration treaty both with Great Britain and with France probably would be signed within the next ten days. He added that he hoped within the next few days to announce that the three other great powers would enter into similar agree ments with the United States. He did not go so far as to indicate the nations he had in mind, but it was generally thought that he referred to Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Japan ulti- mately may come into the far-reaching pact, but the negotiations with that em- pire as yet are said to be merely tenta- tive.
 President Taft reached Manassas late this evening after a tempestuous trip. It was so strenuous that the presidential party abandoned their motors here and returned to the capital by train. MT. Taft laughingly likened his troubles m get ing to Bull Run to those that Some folks 50 years ago had in getting away
  sentatives down with me from Washing ton,'' he said. And because of the exigencies of the road and the storm and strife of the. clements we came far more slowly than some senators and represen- tatives who come down here half cen tury ago, went back
 The Presidents trip from Washington heart of moving picture man. He left q. trail of stranded automobiles in his wake. made perilious voyages across streams ouk of their banks, stopped on his way to rescue party of marooned senator's demanding votes for reciprocity as a re- ward-plowed his way through rainstorms and mud and finally wheezed into this hiSeoiiN iiltiC NiildSt at SuliuONu. Car Balks in Midstream The car containing the secret service men which started bravely beside the President as he left the White House. held to the race gamely until within few miles of the battlefield and then gave despairing gasp and stopped in the middle of what once was peaceful brook, but which had become today a. muddy torrent. This stream had daunted the courage of the Presidents chauffeur. who. up to this time, had successfully navigated three other lords. So ihe sec ret. service car was sent ahead to test the depth of the water and the ma chine died in the attempt to make the crossing. By a detour the President man. aged to negotiate the stream at a more shallow point.
 Several of the rescued senators, slowed away with the secret service men after
 their automobile shipwreck at an earlier
 ford, this time were left stranded with
 the declaration by the President that they were a lot of stand patters." Ono
 of the White House stenographers, who
 had followed the President from coast
 to coasts and from Puget Sound to the
 Gulf of Mexico. likewise was abandoned in midstream and MT. Taft, for the first time since he became the chief magistrate of the nation, spoke without official rec-
 ord being made of his utterances. After the presidential party started
 from Washington they had not proceeded far when the storm clouds began to
 gather. Before the deluge came he had
 time to stop at Fairfax Courthouse to take look at George Washington's last will and testament and to get luncheon. Five miles out of Fairfax the Presi-
 dents car dipped down into a valley
 and discovered big touring car stalled in the middle of a stream that on ordi- nary days is two feet wide but which today was broadened into hundred feet of yellow. swrling water. Seated in it calmly waiting their fate, were Senators Nelson of Minnesota Bacon of Georgia, and Overman of North Carolina and Solic- itor General Lehman. Senator Brande- gee of Connecticut, owner of the car,
 had abandoned his friends in midstream
 and gone ahead to secure the services of
 horse or two to pull them out.
 Butt Reconnoiters
 Maj. A. w. Butt, the President's 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 right and left and finally waded
 across and back again.
 We can get across, said he, as he came back to the waiting White House
 car, bedragged but happy. The Presi-
 dent raised his hat in dignified fashion
 "Thank you. major" he said. "get in
 and we'll try it.
 As he passed Senator Brandegees ma-
 chine the President gravely saluted
 How do you do, senator" said he. The two machines that started from Washington with the President made the ford in short order.
 | On the further bank they stopped. Pass | ing carriages were called into service | and those nlarooned were lightered to | shore.
 Senator Nelson was taken into the Pres | ident's car. He glanced at his colleagues | sat back comfortably, took fresh chew | of tobacco and was prepared for the | worst. Two miles farther the scene was repeated This time the attempt at ford 1 ing failed niserably. in spite of Major | Butts gallant efforts 'o find crossing
 One of the presidential cars vas sent ahead manned by secret service men only 1 It died il. the channel and the secret service men waded back to shore. !, CONTINUED ON PAGE 8,