Omaha daily bee., 1912-01-02
They Are Followed by Judges and
Other Federal Officials.
MANY NEW FACES IN LINE
Mrs. Taft Remains Beside Her Hus-
band Nearly Two Hours.
ADMIRAL PATTON IS INJURED
Veteran Falls Down steps OF Navy
building as He IA Leaving to At
tend Reception at the white
House,
House.

WASHINGTON. Jan. l.-President and
Mrs, Taft presided today for the third
time at the historic New Years reception
at the White house. The function was
carried out i'm accordance with the pro-
gram, a replica OF the many that have
gone before.
President and Mrs. Taft stood IN the
blue room of the White house. sur
rounded by the members and ladies Of
the cabinet. 1t was IL o'clock when
they descended from the upper floors
with the marine band playing "The Star
Spangled Banner" Military and naval
aides were plentiful. The diplomatic
corps already had assembled in the state
dining room. All the foreign representa-
tives were in court costume and their
presence added briliance of colorings to
the scene.
After greeting the diplomats the preSi-
dent received the supreme court and
other federal judges, government officials
of all ranks senators and representa-
tives, Officers of the army and navy and
members Of patriotic societies.
Last in the line came thousands OF
private citizens. 1t was a day of open
might shake the presidents hand.
Baron Hengelmuller. ambassador from
Austria Hungary, dean OF the diplomatic
corps, and the French ambassador. NJ.
Jusserand, second in rank, were absent,
and the first place in line fell to the
British ambassador, Mr.. Bryce. Japan
also was unrepresented by an ambassa-
dor, but with these exceptions the ma
tions which maintain ambassadors here
took their accustomed places.
Three new faces in the line of ambas-
sadors were those of George Bakhmeteff,
OF Russia; Senior Crespo Martinez of
Mexico, and Domicio da Cana of Brazil.
Most of the ministers accredited to the
United tSates were in town but in some
instances their countries were represented
by the legation staffs
WASHINGTON, Jan. Rear Admiral
William p. Potter was injured this morn
Ing by fail on the steps OF the navy
department building as he started to
the White House reception. II was at
first reported that he was seriously in
jured, but at the naval dispensatory,
where he was taken by fellow officer,
it was found that he had only suffered
broken nose. Admiral Potter tripped
at the head of a flight Of stone steps and
fell against a railing.
The reception proved to be one of the
most notable ever held by any president
An official count showed that s,O92 per-
sons shook hands with the president
Last years figures were a little above
$780,
Mrs. Taft remained in the receiving
line one hour and forty minutes while
callers were being received and then
retired.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 1.-Speaker Champ
Clark received New Year callers today
at the headquarters his friends have
opened in furthering their plans to have
the speaker receive the democratic
presidential nomination.
Speaker Clark's friends issued a state
ment which said that the Clark boom Is
receiving fresh impetus dary. They de-
MED that there is possibility that the
speaker will withdraw from the race for
the presidential nomination.