Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-21
Mr.. Noyes Praises Taft
for His Interest in City

The address of Mr.. Noyes follows:
In the early days of the republic, when
this community boasted aldermen and
common councils. the capital was &C
customed, through this mouthpiece, to
thank each retiring President Of the
United States for what he had done for
Washington; and to these resolutions of
appreciation and regret the retiring Pres
ident made formal response. This Gus
tom prevailed in Jackson's time and con-
tinued at least to that of Lincoln. The
expressions of opinion in this exchange
of compliments were not viewed as per-
functory and meaningless. Indeed. May
or Seaton vetoed the resolutions of
thanks to President Van Buren, on the
ground that he had done nothing for
Washington and did not deserve to be
thanked.
This dinner voluntarily revives In an
even more significant, because less form
al shape the ancient custom. We have
gathered here tonight. not as part1sans'
but as Washingtonians. to say Good
bye" and God bless YOU to the retir-
ing President Of the District of Colum-s
bia; to express our hearty appreciation
Of his genial courtesy, his earnest and
helpful sympathy. his faithful fulfillment
tional Captain short, to thank him In
accordance with the early custom for
what he has done for Washington. And
when we have told him what Washing
him what he thinks Of Washington.
No President since the forefathers has
taken a livelier personal interest in
Washington and its welfare than the
man whom we honor tonight. While
President Taft has covered a wide scope
L. - M ia ffOnc lahore
the betterment of the District-ranging
from the Jail to the Lincoln memorial.
and including good government. the
health, schooling. morals and external at
Effectiveness of the capitalize will be es
pecially remembered, first, for the stress
he lays on Washington as the nations
city, to be controlled forever by Con-
gress representing the American people,
and not by the comparatively few Amer
leans living here; and, secondly, for what
he has said and done to adorn the capital
through the extension and development of
it's park system, and the erection or
authorization Of architecturally attractive
public buildings and memorials.
Washington as Nations City.
With President Taft Washington has
ever doomed large as peculiarly the ma
tion's city. But who shall say that too
great stress can be laid on the part the
nation plays in the capital-making part
nership?
For three-quarters of a century Wash
ington struggled for recognition Of the
fact that it was and is the nations. city:
that the powers in respect to 1t conferred
by the Constitution upon the nation as
represented in Congress are coupled with
responsibilities which for seventy-elght
years were practically neglected. After
suffering for years the hardships of mu-
njcfna1 starvation the shame of national
ridicule and contempt through failure of
the nation to recognize it's city, the capital.
having come, in part. into its deserved
heritage Of national affection and pride,
will never quarrel with the nation over
the degree in which the latter claims
power and responsibility In respect to the
nations city.
Washington will not join issue with the
contention that the nations city is to be
controlled by Congress, representing the
nation, as long as the republic endures.
Some OF us. however, hope and believe
that the time may come when the people
thus represented In Congress. and exer-
cising this power; that when, for in
stance. Washington has attained the
population predicted for 1t by George
don. yet of a magnitude inferior to few
others in Europe" our half million or
million Of Americans may in some way
| be counted among the American people.
| not merely in the census, but in congress
sional representation
The recognition of the District as an In
tegral though minute part of the nation,
| to be represented as such in Congress.
would seem to have no tendency to take
control of the District from the nation
and turn it over to the local community
| So small a tail could never wag so large
| a dog.
But even this representation on Ameri-
| can principles in the body exercising
power OF life and death over It would
] not be urged by Washington il the grant