The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-21
PLENTY OF INVITATIONS
Everybody Wants Him to Dine When
He Visits City and He Believes
It's Because OF His
Size.


three banquets here tonight and hold
ing political conference with repub
lican leaders while dodgins back and
forth through the streets in his auto
mobile, President Taft rounded out
strenuous day, the exciting features
of which began when "old south mid
die hall' at Yale caught fire while
he was attending chapel.
Despite the arduous program thai
he was forced to carry out, the presi-
dent was in a jolly mood and man.
aged to inject considerable good
humor into his three speeches. The
principal event was the dinner given
by the State Bar Association at the
Waldorf-Astoria. The first speech
was at the banquet of the Society of
Genesee, where the president spent
only about fifteen minutes.
President Taft prefaced his speech
by announcing that it was impossible
for him to say more than a few
words in the nature of greeting.
Whenever l come to New York. -
the president said, ''it seems to me
that everyone wants me to take din
ner with them. l have often wonder
ed whether the people of this great
/ city ever do anything but dine. Prob
ably 1t is because of my size thai
New Workers think they should all
ways invite me to banquets.
"Banquetting has come to be one OF
the chief duties of statesman and
il he is to succeed, he must be able
1 to take part in frequent affairs OF
this kind.
Whenever | think of the Genesee
valley l recall the Wadsworths, and
other famous families that lived
there. do not mean oreflect upon
men who have always lived in New
York, but the census report shows
that if it had not been for thousands
giving up the real life and coming
here, there would not be such a Won
derful city"
The president then closed his ad-
dress and started to leave hurriedly
when Mayor Eggerton, an "olu
guard leader of Rochester, and for
mer Senator Depew, left their seats
and greeted him warmly The three
engaged in earnest conyrsation for
/ few minutes, and the president de-
4 parted
The next dinner was at the Hotel
4 Astor, where President Taft was the
guest of the Twenty Four Carat Club,
an organization of manufacturing
/ jewelers..
When Taft entered the dining room
the $50 guests arose and waving
American flags, gave him warm
ovation President Alfred introduced
the chief executive, and concluded by
presenting him with the finest watch
of American make that could be pur-
chased
Taft's face was wreathed in smiles
when he arose to reply, and he made
a humorous speech which brought
forth cheers and laughter from the
audience
Il brought with me-" he said, mot
Goals to Newcastle, but watch that
wouldn't run. Maybe mere associa-
ton with me makes running difficult
At any rate, up to the present have
had hard luck with my watches.
when retire. here there
were cries of mo, No, not for four
!, years"
Then the president gave an une4
pected twist to his remarks.
, when / retire he observed, iii
will be to the practice of law.
81 understand that this association
. is not confined to gold workers but
also includes that old principle of the
;, democratic party, "a little silver.
Here is where l must leave you.''
AS the president concluded he was
. given another wild round of applause
From the Twenty Four Carat Club
Taft was whisked to the Hotel Wal