The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-23

Now York, February 22.--Prcsldent
Taft, making what Is probably his final
public appearance outside of Washing
ton before retiring from the White
House. spent one OF the most c,entrul
days he has ever passed in this city
Arriving here from Washington In time
for breakfast. the President was taken
hero and there about the city by AN
automobile and tugboat. Attending sew
orai functions guest Of honor. and
retired late to- might, planning 10 re-
turn TO Washington tomorrow alter
noon. During the day he broke ground
for an Indian monument overlooking
the harbor dedicated lighthouse
settlement for the blind, after watch
ing sightlcss children drill. attended
Il private reception Of the Sons of the
Revolution at the Tavern. where Wash
ington rend his farewell address. and
tonight spoke at a dinner of the Amer
lean Peace and Arbitration League.
which presented aim with Il gold medal
in recog milton OF his efforts In behalf
OF universal peace.
Chiefs Watch "Great White Father"
\ band of Indians from Western
reservations watched their Great
White FAchcr" overturn patch OF
earth with n spade and at the spo,
where sixty-foot statue of an Indian
warrior. the national American Indian
memorial. will arise at Fort Wads-
worth The "red men, signed an oath
of allegiance TO the United States after
Presidcnt Taft, in brief speech. re-
ferred 10 the North American Indian
rs a force with great and immediate
and direct Influence upon the settle
ment and development OF this country
by the white races"
The Lighthouse" which the President
dedicated Is the new club building OF
the New York Association for the Blind
In East Fifty ninth Street, of which he
laid the corner stone a year ago. Miss
Hclen Keller sat at the Presidents
right Joseph H. Choate. former am
bassador TO Great Britain, presided AZ
the ceremonies. Blind Boy Scouts sa-
luted the President as he entered the
lighthouse" and acted as his guard OF
honor.
The President declared he often won
dered when reading the Constitution
what blind persons thought of the text
that "all men arc created free and
equal" In the sense In which that is
generally understood. we are not all
created free and equal. equal In oppor-
tunity," he said. and for the blind
every effort should be made to bring
about as near an equality OF oppor-
tunity as possible.
Those of us who are blessed with
sight feel that those who have no sight
have not been given a square deal.
The blind will he helped through the
State and every other agency of mod
ern life. We find in the course Of at
tempting to help these unfortunates
that cannot see that we do best for
them when we offer them the oppor-
tunlty to help themselves-to apply
the faculties they have in place OF
those they have not.
Tribute to Choate.
My friend. Mr.. Choate. and ] have
been the fgureheads OF this movement
for the last three years. ] want to
testify, II only as a Roland for his
oliver. the pride that this country has
In him. He is eloquent and sweet In
his old age. and he Is growing younger
every day for the inspiration OF the
whole country"
After the President left It was an
nounced that he had subscribed $500
toward paying the lighthouses debt
In the room of Frances Tavern
where Washington said farewell to his
officers. the President was formally
received by members of the Sons OF
the revolution. of which Edmund Wet
more is president-gencral. The relics
of historical interest that have been
collected by the organization were in
spected by the executive.
The President went then to the home
OF his brother. Henry w. Taft. for q
brief rest before going to the peace
dinner.
Twenty full-blood Indian chiefs
from Western reservations bedeck et
IN the regalia of their rank. marched
stolidly-up the hill at Fort Wadsworth
station Island, to-day with their 'Great
White Father" President Taft, ant
members Of his official family At thu
crest OF the hill. tho highest point o.
the Atlantic Coast between New YORK
and Florida, they formed silent grouI
20
of earth, breaking, ground for the Ma
tional American Indian Memorial :
sixty-foot bronze statue of an Indiar
warrior, which will tower 165 fec
above the highest elevation around
New York harbor. tribute to van
ishing race.
Tho guns of the fort roared n ma.
tonal salute of twenty.oic guns at tn,
moment the President placed his foo
OF tho spade. AS he stepped back
Chief Hollow Horn Rear. OF the Yank
.~S-e
Continued on SECOND PaEa