New-York tribune., 1911-12-20
mot A POLICEMAN ON
HAND TO MEET TAFT
President Speaks at Dinner in
Manhattan and Two in
Brooklyn.
ANSWERS FOES OF TREATIES
Seems Party Is Staggered at
Times, He Says, but Is Sure
It Will Be Intrusted with
Power Again.


last evening to speak before the Eco
nomic Club, in Manhattan. and the
Young Republican Club and New Eng
land Society, in Brooklyn.
Not a sign of policeman or detective
greeted the train which glided with him
iato the bowels of the Pennsylvania Sta
tion.
Henry w Taft. his brother. was on
hand, however, and the two mingled
with the outpouring throng Of passen-
gers. which punched about the nations
chief magistrate and followed him to his
brothers limousine as small boys trail
a circus parade Secret Service men
were the only ones to look after his per-
sonal safety.
No trouble was encountered in get
ting the President 10 the home OF his
brother. at No. Sc West 4Sth street.
though his conveyance, due to the lack
Of the usual escort of mounted police
lad TO take It's chances in the jam OF
traffic at that hour. Gas o'clock. There
was time enough for him TO dress for
dinner there and then proceed immedl-
a;ely to the Hotel Astor, where a null
titude Of diners, members OF the Eco
norlic Club Of New York, and their
euests, were waiting to welcome him
with cheers
Two bicycle patrolmen accompanied
Mr.. Taft on his trip after he reached
the Hotel Astor.
Police Commissioner Waldo dropped
into the West 3Oth street station early
this morning with Inspector Hayes.
When he was Informed Of the lack OF
police protection, he said:
President Taft got the usual police
protection. There were two motorcycle
policemen assigned to be with him. and
a number Of plainclothes policemen and
detectives were assigned TO be in the
station TO meet him. The plainclothes
men probably were not readily recog-
nized, and that may account for the I'M
preston that the President had not been
given ample protection"
Mr.. Taft was the only speaker at the
Economic Club dinner, held in the hotels
grand ballroom. An unwritten law re-
quires that the President shall be the
last TO speak at any dinner or meeting
he attends, and as his engagements in
Brooklyn made it necessary that he
speak first on this occasion his was the
only address.
Peace was his subject-peace and the
arbitration treaties-and in the course
of his remarks he tore TO shreds the ar
guments of the majority in the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations which
recently reported against the pending
treaties with England and
France.
At the dinner Of the Brooklyn Young
Republican Club the President said he
was not 'in favor of playing politics for
the purpose Of putting somebody or
some party in the hole
Further alcng he said Every once in
a while it seems as if the old party is
a little staggered by blows from inside
and out. but we shall see it recover and
see it intrusted with the power Of gov
ernment."
Taft Heard by Nearly 1900.
The Astor's grand ballroom held a vast
company of white bOsomed men, repre-
senting New York's aristocracy of brains
and energy. while the two tiers of boxes
above them bloomed with womankind,
whose rich costumes painted a double
border under the Illuminated ceiling.
Men and women together, they num-
bered about 1,SOO sympathetic and in
telligent hearers, an audience which in
spired the President TO one of his best
or so the diners generally con-
sidered his address.
Mr. Taft spoke from a rostrum placed
in the middle of the rooms east
side. The American colors framed his
huge person. John G.. Milburn, presi-
dent of the Economic Club. in introduce
ing him. merely asked the diners 10 rise,
and they rose and cheered, waving the
little silk flags which most of them car
rjed twisted through the lapels of their
coats. The famous Taft smile spread its
ravs fan-wise into the remotest corners
of the vast hall, doing scout duty, as
il were. for the clear, rasping voice that
was 10 follow.
1t was plain that every one present
agreed with the Presidents premise that
mankind needed a substitute for war.
The first applause TO interrupt his ad-
dress followed when he said the only
he could think Of was AN
arbitral court of nations into which all
nations agree that every nation must
enter"
Means More than Arbitration.
That is a long way ahead he added.
ct means "A great deal more than arbi-
tration 1t means arbitration by con-