New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-22
TAFT In SWARM
OF BROOKLYNITES
Fx.president Talks to 1900
at Y. NJ. c. A. and 1000
More in Streets.
PRAISES WORK
OF ASSOCIATION
Machine to Turn Out Good Gov.
eminent and Be Fool Proof
Needed, He Says.

professor William II. Taft met with a
rsmarkable demonstration yesterday al
,,rnoon when he visited Brooklyn 70
.ossk under the auspices Of the Bedford
ranch Of the Young Mems Christian As
.ocia,ion After fifteen hundred men had
hacked themselves into the auditorium Of
the building a thousand more gathered
outside and called upon the eX-President
far a speech as he alighted from his au-
,omobile He complied briefly, but the
crowd was not satisfied and hung about
the corner OF Bedford avenue and Monroe
street for nearly two hours 10 get fare
well glimpse of the eX-PreSident as he
left the building.
Judges. city officials ana prominent
Brooklyntes sat on the platform with the
OK. President. Edward T. Lyon, presiden,
of the Young Mems Christian Association
Of Brooklyn. presided. rhe Rev. DR.. j. j.
Heischmann. Of St. Peters Lutheran
Church. read the Scriptural lesson, and
the Rev. John r. Carson, eX-moderator
~ the Presbytery and pastor OF the Cen
trail Presbyterian Church. opened the
meeting with prayer and closed it with
the benediction. The Worldwide lnfiu-
srce OF the Young Mems Christian As
ISOLATION" was the topic Of Mr.. Tafts
address.
Americans have been so successful in
the use of machinery in all lines of pro-
5uction. he said that we have thought
that II we could only devise machine
which would turn out good government.
which would be fool proof and which
,ould be left to run By itself, we would
nave invented the highest kind OF de-
,ce. He continued:
We think il possible-at least. every
nan who puts his hand TO the helm OF
he ship Of state for the first time does
mt ultimately We come TO the conclusion
hat we can't lift ourselves by our own
,oot straps, that the only way 10 lay
.ure foundation for good government Is
~ taking the individual citizen in hand
md training him until he, united with
mis- fellows shall make the government
what it ought to be.
That is the reason why l always take
an interest in the Young Mems Christian
Association. There is no machine about
IT, Il works on the individual IL does
NOT remove temptations from him. but II
yiyes him something else TO think ABOUT
and makes him able 10 appreciate that
the only good thing in life is to build UP
a character which will entite him TO the
respect Of the community.
THE older YOU grow the more intense
becomes your feeling that what Is worth
living for is a righteous character ana 10
- able to say that you have struggled
he hest YOU could TO help your fello"
men. ] say to my boys: If / could oh'E
make you believe me when J tell you
what have learned by experience is
necessary to make you happy / couid
reform the world But / can't
We want 10 teach the young man that
he Is able 10 learn from others who nave
experience, and that when he let's MS
appetite get the better Of him ne VIII
suffer In his own opinion OF himself
There is nothing worse than to have the
feeling that you have not made the most
Of your opportunities eternally. IheIe
is some good about every man. and IL Is
our duty TO bring that good out, ana the
time spent thinking evil OF others ana
rherishing resentments, or hopes OF re-
yenge is lost"
His information about the real Work
OF the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton, Mr.. Taft said, came to him IN the
Far East, where the organization is
ioins missionary work.
The missionaries are the outposts OF
Christian civilization he went on and
are having a profound effect, especially
on China. The missionaries are Few IN
number. but are host in themselves.
The bishops Of the Methodist Episcopal
Protestant Episcopal and Roman Catho-
lie groups are frequently called into con-
sultation by officials. Their influence ana
the influence of the associations work
ers are needed to counteract the inhu-
ence for bad OF the business men from
Christian countries who go to the Far
East after they have worn out their wei
comes. at home"