Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-03
TAFT IN THANKS
FOR MANY HONORS
President Says the Country Has
Been Good to Him in Civ
ing Him Offices.
FAREWELL TO PRESS MEN
Princeton NeIehbors Give Farewell
Demonstration for President
elect Wilson.

Washington, D. c., March 3.-Presi-
dent Taft. addressing several hundred
newspaper men Saturday night, said
farewell to the National Press club
and delivered the last speech on his
list as chief executive.
He acknowledged his "besetting
SIM" said that he would be nothing
but Kicker and a squealer" if he re
GREETED what fortune and the country
had given him, and said he expected to
return to Washington in the future to
sit and chat with his newspaper friends
over the doings of another administra-
ton. which, like his own, might make
mistakes.
It was a most unusual speech, one
of the frankest those who have observ-
ed the presidents addresses closely for
years had heard or read
IN OFFICE MANY YEARS.
81 have never wanted Office. but
have been in Office since | was q,
said Mr.. Taft. 81 have served on the
bench, in the Philippines, in the war
department, and in the presidency.
There has never been a time that /
didn't have my plate up at the right
time and that Office didn't fall on the
plate and l held it as long as / prop
erly could.
Now, gentlemen. after that record,
still in health, do you suppose that |
regret anything; that have an occa-
sion for kicking and squealng? What
kind of a man would be if ! did. with
the measure all on my side? Now /
am looking to see if I cannot repay The
country and fortune for the good
things given me and If | cannot work
in the cause Of good government
GRATEFUL COR GOOD THINGS.
81 think that one of the mental pro-
cesses that help mankind is that abiI.
ity once in while to sit quietly and
take stock and see how the world has
treated Him. 1t is difficult for me not
TO feel grateful for what has happen.
ed TO me When ! look back over my
/ 50 years OF life and see how every good
, thing has come TO me and little bad, II
seems to me that | ought to brace my
, self against what might come in the
Z future and Offset the good luck thai
: has attended me before.
= MY sin Is an indisposition to labor
+ as hard as / might; a disposition t.
r prOcrastinate. and a disposition to en-
] Joy the fellowship of others more thai
ought
Il hope to leave a pleasant havol
: with you because / want you to know
4 that l would be grateful to renew oul
friendships. am not of a mind u
treat defeat as exile from Washington
: and l expect to come back here ant
sit down with you again and talk witt
you about some others IN office wit
a certain sort Of sympathetic satisfac
ton"
Princeton, n. J., March 3.-Thou1
ands Of the home folk OF Princeton an
T with them the students of Princeto
university gave Woodrow Wilson
farewell demonstration Saturday nigf
as they babe him God speed to th
White house
A brass band, a glare Of frewori
and continuous cheering brought II
president-elect TO the door Of his bu
o galow Just as the procession Of st
q dents and residents turned the corn,
e. of Cleveland lane, marching by II
i. house where Grover Cleveland live
lie and died. When the marchers reac
s. ed the Wilson home, a great che'
e went up.
1e GIVEN LOVING CUP.
Al. c. s. Robinson, a republican, and
RI S. Leigh, a democrat, bore silver 10
o ing cup. Colonel David NJ. Flynn pr
Il. scented It in a brief speech. The pre-
d. dent-elect stood on box Just outsi,
I'D the portico OF his home and said goo
ne by to his fellow toWnfolk.
Mr. Wilson said he meant TO en!C