The Washington times., 1913-02-21
C|TY'S GOVERNMENT
PRAISED BY TAFT
President, in Farewell Talk to
Citizens, Declares He Will
Always Love Capital.

Declaring that his interest in the af-
fairs Of the District of Columbia will
never die; that he believes this is the
cleanest, most beautiful and best gov
erned city in the world; that he is in
ravor of the Districts taking back the
land that was' part of il until II was
ceded back to the State of Virginia, and
-sclaring that "if the Attorney General
can find any substantial reason for hop
ing for any success in such suit
will direct 1t before / leave office,
President Taft last night made his fare
well address to the citizens of Wash
ington. 80
Almost 400 citizens and palf a hun
dred Senators and Congressman attend
ed the dinner at the Willard, which
purpOrted to show the appreciation of
the citizens OF Washington for the atti-
tude of the retiring President toward
the affairs of the District during the
-FOUR years of his Administration.
The President declared he is PRO
Washingtonian,'' and that there was no
man without financial interest in the
city who Is more deeply interested In
making it /" the most delightful place to
live On Gods footstool"
Thinks Civic Standard High.
The President ridiculed the idea that
Washington is more or less under the
control of a set of men who govern
the tendencies and trend of values, and
who manage financial matters in the
city in such a way as to inure to their
own benefit and therefore to the detri-
ment OF the public.
Il have been here for the last nine
years continuously" said Mr.. Taf-, Il
believe 1 have, been in such posi- ion
as to know if graft orsundue gain al the
expense OF the public were rife Or had
er,h fo fior iSfa do
mean to say that every man in Wash
ington is as pure or as disinteres. ed as
II he were saint; but / do mean to
say that, as cities go, there Is no city
In the country where there is less graft,
where there Is less food for scandal where
there is less ma snipulation for the priv
ate exploitation of individuals at the ex-
pense of the public than in Washington;
and that among the citizens of WASH
'ington there is a great deal of earnest.
self-sacrificing desire to promote the In
terests Of the city at large and of the
people of the city,
The President declared "muckrakers''
have hard time in Washington, and
added Il mean with reference to local
AFFAIRS He said that although the
District did not. in many cases, get the
appropriations that the citizens want for
IL. Congress has. through the last two
decades, ultimately responded to the
municipal needs.
Would Acquire Land Again.
He reiterated his approval of the plans
of LEnfant. for the future develop
ment of the city, and expressed his
qualification at the passage of the bill
placing the Lincoln memorial on the
Mall, which insures the erection of an
appropriate and beautiful memorial to
that greatest American, Abraham Lin
coln."
IN referr3no To the re-anneYation of
the land which was once a part of the
District but was ceded to Virginia, the
President said that il this could not be
. obtained In one way, it should be OBJ
tained in another.
1--WE must acquire for the District
from the State of Virginia. that which
we had taken from 2us, and make II
again a part of our great National
Capital, and thus recognize our growth
from a day Of small things to one IN
which the National Capital has become
truly a metropolis, and in which its
ample territory shall make it, in ap-
pearance and in fact, the most gen.
erous municipal home of great ma
ton"
Will Always Love Washington.
In closing, the President declared
that wherever his lot might be in the
future, his love, hope and pride in
washington, the Natlon Capltal, VIII
never abate."
Daniel J. Callahan, chairman of the
citizens dinner committee. presided as
toastmaster, and paid a glowing tribute
to the President Theodore w. Noyes,
representing the citizens, made the only
other address, and reviewed the various
acts Of the President in his relation TO
the District. Mr.. Noyes discounted tire
idea of having the District governed
any other way than by Congress- ard
the expression of this sentiment brought
cheers from the audience.
The dinner was splendidly appointed,
and a musical program oy the Marine
Bands orchestra and the Mendelssohn
singers, directed by Sydney Lloyd
WHghtson were especially enjoyable
features. Therendition of the "Rigoletto"
quartet and the sextet from Lucia" Icy
the Mendelssohn singers brought forth
applause so prolonged that they gra-
ciously repeated. the selections
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