The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-30
TAFT CALLS HIM
FORMER FRIEND
Continued from First page)
streets and at the meeting place &c
greet the present executive.
No Wild Enthusiasm.

No Wild Enthusiasm.
His speech nowhere met with any
wild enthusiasm. At most, 1t was re-
ceived with hearty handclapping. This
probably was because 1t was SORT of
negative address, with the speaker
nearly always on the defensive, and
speaking In an unspectacuiar way.
The president himself. though, was
warmly cheered from morning until
night.
The greatest reception Of the day
was at Brockton. In this shoe town
holiday had been declared in schools
and shops, and of the $1,000 popula-
ton there was considerably more
than 1000 assembled about the sta
ton and lining the streets leading to
the city theater. Eight thousand
school children. each with a waving
flag. and "a shrill voice. formed lane
through which the presidential motor
had to move at a tortoise gait. Bands
and militia and postoffice employees
| lined up In front of the Federal build
| ing. added to-1he joyousness OF the
greeting. Brockton proudly ANNOUNCE
| ed that II had to borrow forty police
man from outside to argument It's
| sixty-two regulars In this, the most
enthusiastic of all the towns, 1t was
especially noticeable that ii was the
man rather than his utterances that
was cheered.
Draws Many Thousand.
The little old whaling town of New
Bedford turned out probably $4,000
persons. 900 Of whom stood on the
slop,ng banks OF the common and
listened to Mr.. Taft's remarks. the
town hadn't seen a president for 39
years. and ii bound To show this one
its appreciation.
There was great interest among
those accompanying the president as
to how I.awreut e---just over It's long
and troubleous factory strike--would
receive the candidate. But Lawrence
| was IN happy mood, and with
partial holiday declared about 20. 00e
citizens gave Mr.. Taft pleasant.
thorough, not thrilling reception. 1t
began to rain here in mtd-afternoon.
after a pleasant sunny doy. But the
president didn't mind the moisture.
and spoke In the open air. His au-
| dienee was more than twice as large
| the natives say. as Colonel Roosevelt's
! had been in the morning.
Little Giri Grects Him.
| Another factory town. Fall River,
gave Mr. Taft hearty greeting. The
! mill workers were released from their
! Iabors betw cen and 10 o'clock, and
| cheered him noisily from their fac
! tory windows, and then marched out
behind his automobile procession to
| the ball park. From platform
| erected over the pitchers box he
| spoke to IA grandstand and field stand
| hat held perhaps 10000 persons.
! A pretty little incident occurred in
! this town. The children OF Catho-
al, Rty1w .
Mr.. Taft's motor approached. One
tiny girl in white stood In front.
| with a huge bouquet. The priests
and nuns efficiently hesitated about
stopping the Presidents car. But
he observed the situation. ordered the
| stop himself. and gracefully accepted
| the flowers. shaking hands with the
| little girl and the pastor.
~ Flowers For Sick Friend.
At Lowell. which was visited in the
midst Of a downpour. Mr.. Taft per-
formed another little act Of courtesy.
He heard that former Justice William
n. Moody was III at his home there.
so he wrote him letter Of sympathy,
and ordered some flowers sent along
by Il special messenger.
Lowell turned out another OF the
10000 crowds which marked the day.
! Although 1t rained hard and the meet
ing was In one OF the parks. SO great
was the crowd that 1t was impossible
for one afoot to approach within a
block Of the little stand from which
the President spoke.
Altogether, according to his most
ardent supporters. 1t was one Of the
biggest days ne has ever had since
he was inaugurated. He was hailed
by perhaps $4,000 or 100000 per-
sons. but there were few. II any. who
could arouse ardor over his speeches
There was shout them too much APP
peal to "giye me the benefit Of the
doubt" too many explanations Of ac-
cusations made by his former
friend" His words and ideas and
delivery all seemed to lack positive
ness
Euggcets Constitutional Amendment.
At Lowell. where the President
spoke In the opera house. he was
greeted by another large and en-
thusiastic gathering. He declared at
the beginning Of his address. that he
was sorry II was necessary for him TO
take part In a political campaign. He
then suggested an amendment to the
constitution enabling President to
serve six or eight years and then
be ineligible for reelection. An
amendment Of that kind. he said.
would prevent such spoctacles -
Masea chusettA had witnessed today,