The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-11-03
His Swing Around the Circle Has
Strengthened Him With the
People Of the
Country.
FRANK WITH THE PUBLIC
Trip Not Planned to Secure Renomi-
nation But as Chance for
People to Meet Their
Leader.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3.-When
President Taft reached Washington
he had completed the tour of the coun- /
try as originally outlined, which was
to include twenty-siX states and Gov
er mileage Of $4,000 miles. In the
past few days he has added to his
tour, but the original tour was finish
ed when his special train drew into
union station here.
Any summing up of the results of
the tour must start with the conces-
sion that the president has strength
ened himself with the people Of the
country. To this must be added the
discovery by the hundreds of thous-
ands he has addressed that their pres
ident has as an important part Of his
anatomy well-balanced, thorough
ly-buttressed and well-supported back.
bone, surmounted and reinforced by
a well-balalced mass of gray matter
at its northern terminus, controlled
by a six-cylinder heart action of the
rceipI coating kind which automatical-
ly pulsates IN fsrmony with their
feelings ard emotions For through
ont his long journey Mr.. Taft has
been having heart-to-heart talks with
the people. He has been open and
frank and sincere on all occasions,
and it has done him good.
1t must be conceded that he has
strengthened himself even in the most
hostile communities he has visited.
Any one who travelled with him at
any stage Of his journey was struck
With the fact which was SO evident
thai II could not be detracted from
by the follow stories'' which several
Of the big newspapers printed day
or two hehind the presidents visit to
the various cities and towns On his
itinerary.
TIE sober second.fhought whicn
vas sought 70 be reflected IN these
follow stolies" seems to nave start
ed out with the text ''the people like
Taft, but not his policies and this
was stuck to the entire route. Those
with the president had better oppor
tunity Of judging how the president
was received, and how his speeches
affected his hearers. The fact re
mains that the president throughout
his tour was received everywhere by
large outpourings of the people and
they waited to listen to him. They
not only rendered the courtesy OF
hearing, but they manifested theil
approval of his sentiments. There
was lack of enthusiasm often in the
enemy's country but everywhere Mr.
Taft was given respectful hearing anc
the people seemed to like the frank
open, sincere heart-to-heart manner
in which he talked to them. They
were convinced of his sincerity anc
of ms good intentions.
The trip was not planned in order
to secure Mr.. Tafts denomination
That was conceded before he started
But the president felt, in view o.
criticisms that had been made, ina
the people had right to know IRON
lin at first hand his position on burn
lsr public questions, and adopted THIS
irethcd of conveying the information
% Il EN- He did not pose either al
stand-patter or an insurgent, bu
az one honestly trying to perform IN
duty as head of the nation, yet there
is good reason for believing that TN
country regards him today as more
party leader than ever before