Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-05
Vice President Marshall Takes Oath in Sen
ate Chanber==62d Congress Adjourns==The
63d Will Meet, Today, In Extra Session.
CITIZEN WIN. X. TAFT.


Washington, March 4-William H
Taft, public servant since he was 81,
said his farewell to public life, today.
and became citizen of the republic
that he has served over the seas and
throughout the world for so many
years that he has almost forgotten
when he enlisted. His goodbye was a
smile and handshake for the mem
bers of his cabinet; a courtly bow to
the women friends who braved the
Inaugural ton discomforts to bid him
and Mrs. Taft good speed in the
Union station; a wave of the hand
and another smile for the people who
stood in the train shed and watched
his train pull slowly out for the South.
The last that Washington saw of the
27th President was the dim outline of
a big smiling figure in frock coat,
with hair Il little awry standing ON
Ihe--Eear platform of aSt,rivate car as
il was swallowed in curling smoke of
the tunnel that leads under the city
to Dixie. His last glimpse of the city
where four years ago he bocame Chief
Executive and today a private, citi-
zen by the peoples will was from the
platform of his car across the broad
Potomac to where the Washington
monument lifted its gray. pointed
peak to the gray sky Tomorrow he
expects To be in Georgia to rest and
play as the guest of the city of Au-
susta for three weeks. On March q
he plans to go North again to New
Haven to settle down under the elms
of Yale to the peace and quiet of life
as a professor of law. He left with
no bitterness in lis heart, he told
friends, but only with thankfulness
| that he had been given the opportun-
ty to serve, Absorbed as it was in
the Inauguration pageant Washington
did not forget the man, the retiring
President. Although he was hurried
in one of the White House doors from
the back of the White House down
through the mall. and over back
streets, hundreds of those on the
sidewalks who recognized him cheered
Justify. He was forced to break
through the line of marching front of
the Capitol to get to the Union sta
ticn, and the massed thousands for
got the parade for a moment to pay
their last tribute of applause.
At the station most of the members of
several close friends of Mrs Taft were
waiting. Miss Helen wept gently as the
| farewells were said and the eyes of
! some of the others We're far from dry.
| With all the ceremony that has attended
his departure on other occasions, the
/ roped wide passage way across the broad
| concourse the scores of station police,
! the secret service men and his former
aide. Major Thomas L. Rhoads, with his
! squire clicking on the stone Mr.. Taft
marched through cheering throng to
his train
He stood for few minutes by the end
of his car shook hands once more with
his friends and then stepped aboard.
Il am now retiring to a pedestrian
! life." he said
| This had been a busy day for Mr.. Taft.
Although he was up until 3 o'clock this
morning, he slept only four hours and
! was at his study desk again to wind up
| the business of his administration He
worked, with only few minutes for
| breakfast, until Mr.. Wilson started from
| his hotel to the White House He spent
/ an hour in the Presidents room of the
! Capitol signing bills, vetoing others ana
| in between times talking with Mr. Will
| son and with senators and representa-
/ tives who paid their last calls.
At the White House luncheon the Pres
! ident sat and ehatted for 10 minutes with
Mrs. Wilson He left by the south door
and his last view of the mansion came
as his automobile shot down through the
mall