New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-12
PRESIDENT CLOSES
RECORD-DREAK|NC TRIP.
HReioiced to Get Home" He
Says, as He Speeds Back
to Washington.
JOURNEY WAS BENEFICIAL
Has Travelled More than 15, 900
Miles and Addressed Five
Million Persons-Last Day
in East Tennessee.

Bristol. Tenn. Nov. Hills second long
swing around the circle practically ended.
and his engagements from Boston to San
Francisco and back all marked kept" in
the records Of the White House President
Taft tonight is speeding through Tennes-
see and Virginia on his way to Washing
ton. At Bristol. the last scheduled stop on
the trip from Knoxville, where he spent
the morning. Mr.. Taft was a little less
than three hundred miles from home He
IL due 10 reach the capital early to-mOr-
row He will then take a day or two OF
rest before beginning the writing OF his
third annual message TO Congress. This
message. the Presidents friends say. will
be one Of the most important ne has ever
written.
Mr. Taft is in fine health. The hardships
o. the long journey have apparently had
no III effects upon him. for his step was as
light and his laugh as cheerful to-day as
when he turned away from Beverly and
started out TO tour the West in a private
car
Il am rejoiced to get home from a trip
Of upward Of fifteen thousand miles and
visit 10 about thirty states. in which 1
have had the pleasure of explaining from
my standpoint some Of the important is
sues of the day TO many hundreds of
thousands of people, said the President
tonight Il have been materially bene-
fitted by the information which l have re-
ceived as TO the attitude of the people in
the different parts of the country. as af-
fected by local conditions. The receptions
have been very cordial throughout, and
am certain that in taking this trip I have
improved a reaF opportunity. l am glad
also to say that, although the trip has
been a strenuous one, my health has con-
unued good. and 1 have suffered no i'll
effects from the strain"
On the Road Fifty-four Days.
When he leaves his private car in Wash
ington tomorrow morning Mr.. Taft will
bring 10 an end one OF the longest trips.
both in number Of days on the road and
IN number of miles travelled. eyer under
taken by a President. Ex-Presi5ent Roose-
Welt It was recalled by persons on the
Presidents train to-day, once made a
transcontinental trip that lasted sixty-hve
days. but on that journey ne stopped for
a long rest in the Yosemite National Park.
Mr.. Taft has been out of Beverly fifty
seven days and away from Washington
eighty-seven days, except for q stop OF
two hours last week He spent three DAYS
resting at Hot Springs. Va, so that the
total time in which ne kept pace with all
the engagements made for him was fifty
four days.
The Presidents train has travelled more
than fifteen thousand miles. and II auto
mobile trips We're 10 be included in the
calculation the mileage would easily exceed
the sixteen-thousand mark. The President
has climbed mountains. gone into a gold
mine. reviewed the greatest American feet
ever assembled, broken ground for
worlds exposition, voted at an election.
and been put through all the stunts" that
Secretary Hilles would permit his enter
tanners 20 invent.
He has delivered close to three hundred
and fifty speeches. passed through about
thirty states. and been seen by crowds that
Mr. Hilles estimates at over 100000
This, the Presidents last day on the
road, was given up TO Eastern Tennessee.
Knoxville got six hours Of the Presidents
time. and on the way 70 Bristol he made
rear-end speeches at FIVE small towns. At
Cireenville the President caught glimpse
Of the home and burial place Of Andrew
Johnson
Before he boarded his private car in
Knoxville the President called upon Mrs.
" G. Brownlow. widow Of "Parson"
BrownIow. Mrs Brownlow is ninety-two
years old. but her mind is alert. and she
talked with Mr. Taft several minutes.
Every President Of the United States who
toll
has called at the Brownlow home to pay
his respects.
For the last dinner on his car the Presi-
dent Mr. Hilles. Major Butt and DR..
Thomas L. Rhoades Mr.. Taft's physician,
ate Tennessee 'possum and Eaters" fur
nished by the residents of Johnson City.