The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-05-17
LARGE CROWD
GREETS TAFT
On His Visit To MI. Vernon
Wednesday
Makes A Vigorous Defense
Of His Administration
And VehementIy DenounCes
Attacks Of Roosevelt
Asks If Roosevelt Can Be
Given Third Term
Why Not Fourth, Fifth, And
So On Indefinitely

come and gone and Mt. Vernon has
settled down again to a normal con-
dition.
The much-heralded coming of Pres
ident Taft to bring his campaign for
denomination right into the heart
stones of the people of Knox county
brought together a large crowd OF
people to hear what the president
had to say in defense OF his admins
tration and the charges that have
been hurled against him from day to
day by Roosevelt
A more propitious day could not
have been had for the occasion. even
though it had purposely been made to
order by the ardent supporters OF
President Taft.
At 1880 o'clock the Mt. Vernon
City band emerged onto Main street
from its quarters and marched to the
square with lively tune and there
rendered several selections before go
ing to the station. Preceding the band
a stream of people wended it's way
on West High street and by IL o'clock
the portion of the street by the sta
tion and the railroad grounds were
thronged with people. All points Of
vantage were seized by the crowd.
even the tops OF surrounding build
ings and freight cars standing on side
500 people were present. The public
schools had been dismissed at an
early hour and Young America was
very much in evidence and full OF en-
thusiasm, at times TO the great annoy
ance of those who were attempting TO
listen to the address of the president
A one time a group of boys became
so noisy that MIR Taft had to appeal
to them to be quiet
AT IL o'clock the Cooper works and
the Bridge works shut down and the
employees turned out en- masse to hear
the address. At IL o'clock the whis-
tie at the Cooper works was given a
prolonged blow in honor of the COM
ing OF the president
1t was very noticeable fact that
the large crowd present was made up
almost entirely of Mt Vernon people
While there were a number of repre-
sentatiyes present from surrounding
towns, vet there was a noticeable alb
sence of farmers
While the speech of President Taft
was attentiveIy listened to by those
VINO could head despite the noise
made by the children. vet there was
an absence OF enthusiastically
few times was applause evoked
The special train composed OF a
day coach and two PuIImans was 20
minutes late in arriving and pulled
slowly along the track so as to not
endanger the lives OF the crowd as
sembIeJ. Members of the police
force were present to keep the track
cleared OF people. The train stopped
shortly after clearing High street
and the crowd massed towards IT,
When the train came TO a halt.
Hon H. II. Greer. who had gone to
Newark to accompany the president
to Mt Vernon appeared on the rear
platform accompanied by Mr. TAFT
Some cheering went up as the crowd
caught sight of the president 8Ir-
Greer made a brief Introduction OF
the president and he at once launch
ed into his speech Right in the Op-
ening be stated that he was here from
a sense of duty. and asked az the
hands of the people justice and
square deal for an Ohio president
tie stated that four years ago he was
commended TO the people by ROose-
welt in language so glowing thar he
(Taftl hardly recognized it himself
and row ne is denOGncing him IN
language as strong and indecent
Who has changed he or t. Wig
OrOugIy called out the presideH5-
Roosevelt exclaimed a bys5anI-
er.
Thanks responded the Vre=t-
dent
President Taft declared that he had