The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-01-01
Final Function of the Kind for
the Tafts Surpasses all Pre-
ceding Events at the
White House
COSMOPOLITAN CROWD
TnRONGS MANSION
President Has Hearty Hand
shake and Pleasant Greet
ings for All-Much Gold
Lace and Gliltering
Telegram BY United Press.

Telegram by United Press.
Washington, Jan The president
and Mrs Taft held their last New
Years reception in the White House
today The doors OF the executive
mansion We're thrown open to all, no
matter what their race, creed, Or color
was.
The reception, the last Of a Republi-
can president for at least four years.
followed a custom as old as the White
House Itself and varied in no respect
from the time.worn procedure except
that u was more brilliant. The diplo
matte corps army, navy, the judiciary
department executives. and Mr. Com.
mon People''-as cosmopolitan an as
semblage as was ever gathered al any
one event were represented And, to
an the President and Mrs Taft ex-
tended the same felicitatlons A
happy and prosperous New Year.
The diplomats and officials of the
government were received on schedule,
but the plain public took their places
IN line, some standing for hours be-
fore the massive gates awaiting their
slrn.
AS early as TO o'clock this morning
people massed themselves before the
mansion to watch the diplomatic corps,
the army and navy the supreme court
Justices and others enter
An the while the line Of those who
wished to pass through and shake
hands with the president grew longer
and finally extended further and fur
ther down Pennsylvania avenne The
reception was really theirs The ar
rival and passage Of the officials was
merely a preliminary part Of the pro.
gram adopted and approved by Gus
tom
The scene in the White House prop
er was brilliant one. The great east
room was furnished up with ever
green's and delicate blossoms from the
White House conseryalories. and the
blue and red rooms were sparkling
With flowers and greene1y Ii the
great hall Of the mansion was the
Marine band the presidents own
divided into Two sections, so that the
music would be continuous. While
one section PLAYED he other rested
When the line Of the Plain People ap.
peared at the White House Vestibule
Lieut. santlemann iodded to hts mu
sicians. One section struck up a live
ly two-step. playing it at a racing
tempo. uneonsciously the people shut
fled past the president in time to that
bewlldering music Throughout the
rest Of the reception the two sections
played only lively marches. Secret
service officials long ago discovered
that Quick-steps unconsclously gel
crowds in the habit of hurrying alonl
and the Marine band marches are {
fixed part of the New Years program
Promptly at II o'clock the fanfare
of trumpeting sounding through th,
lower hall Of the White House an
nounced the approach Of the Presiden
and Mrs. TAFT, Then the band strucl
up "Hal to the Chief" as the executive
and his wife came into view down th
steps from their apartments The.
were escorted By naval and militar
aides and behind them came the cab
net and the wives ol cahinel members
Last year Vice Presidens and Mr'
Sherman followed closely on the prei
dents heels. but sunny Iim's' deaf
left this place ia the line vacant t.
day. Secretary OF State Knox, pr,
mier OF the cabinet, and Mrs. Knoi
headed the second division of tn
party, and behind them ranged th
rest Of the cabinet members-the ma
ried ones and their wives, all In plac
strictly according 10 precedence.
The line turned from the hallway
the red room. and there the presidel
took his station just inside the do'
from the east room Opposite hi
stood Major Thomas L. Rhoades, b
military aide Archie Butt. the prCl
idents favorite aide, had the post la
year. but Archie" went down with u
lconElEued on Page Three.l