The sun., 1916-10-04

ordinarily scmure Union League has
with him was Regis II. Post. while
they were struggling to the courtroom the
figure OF Mr.. Hughes appeared In the
doorway. He was escorted by William
r.. Wilcox. The cheer started by Col
Roosevelt's appearance kept right on
and merged In Just a. loud . one for
b candidate. The band wa trying to
play the Red. White and Blue but It's
leader was sbovt the only man who
heard II.
Taft Ahead Of Roosevelt.
Mr.. Taft preceded Col. Roosevelt W
che elevator to the library on the second
moor on tho Fifth avenue side OF the
building, where the receiving line was
formed. As Il happened when the car
shot IN again IFS occupants were Col.
Roosevelt and W. Murray Crane
Senator Crane put his hand to the
Coionei's right ear and whispered some
thing I; the Colonel chuckled and did some
whispering on His own account. Both
men were laughing when they emerged
from the elevator.
Mr.. Hughes was among the first to
take his place In the receiving line. Mr.
Taft Joined him. then Senator Depew.
Senator Fall and the others. George X.
sheldon, former treasurer OF the Repub-
iican National Committee. escorted the
Colonel TO this group. Other little groups
were scattered through the room. chat
ting
There are several versions as to the
exact details OF the Taft-Rooseve1t meet
ing. The one for which at least half a
dozen witnesses vouch Is that Gov. Whit
man stepped up to the Colonel as the
latter was passing down the line ana
a - .-,hz~ asaNolu fnAhlnns
GO Roosevelt, I want you to meet
Mr.. Taft
The Colonel stepped forward. Gov.
whitman said just as II the two men
had never met before:
"Mr. Taft. allow me to present Col.
Roosevelt. Col. Roosevelt. allow me to
present MIR. Taft
The anxious watchers. waiting to see
which Of the two ex-Presidents made the
first move. were horribly disappointed.
Al the same moment that the right hand
Of Mr.. Taft reached out toward the
Colonel the Rooseveltian hand shot for
ward toward Mr.. Taft. MIR. Taft said:
How do you do
The Colonel said
How do you do?'
Both men smiled. and the Colonel.
passing around Chauncey NJ. Depew.
took his place In the line OF those re-
celvlng the guests. II was noticed that
the Injecting could not be said to be
exactly boisterous. but II satisfied those
who, had worked to bring 1t about. The
Colonel had nothing to say afterwards.
Mr.. Taft's comment was:
why. yes. we shook hands. just a.
any Eentlemoa would"
Perkins a. . Reporter.
George Perkins. who did not Join the
ranks that marched four abreast into the
library to greet Mr.. Hughes. the two ex.
Presidents ana their associates In the
receiving line. was somewhat surprised
when he learned that Gov. whitman had
acted as go-between In the get-togethei
act.
you don't mean whitman, do your
he said to his informant. When he wa.
told that such was the tidings that had
come from the library he volunteered "a
90 in and see II tho news was straight
Presently Reporter Perkins emerged e
say:
well. ] guess that's right. I've talked
with several men In there who aaw Il
and they say that's just tho way It hap
psned."
There was another version put forward
BY chose friends Of Col Roosevelt. This
was that George Sheldon. and not Gov
whitman. was the man who escorted thu
Soiouoi 10 VARIOUS men IN inc IOroTy
In the course Of their march they cam
upon Mr.. Taft. and Sheldon stood silently
~ while the two men shook hands
Neither Mr.. Taft nor tho Colonel sale
anything. according to this account.
Still another narrative had Il tina
Mr.. Taft said: "I'm glad to see you
a we'll a. How do you dor and tina
the erstwhile leader OF the third part,
aid not reply except by . graapins
Of hands. But In the minds Of everybody
'Hhese minutiae didn't matter.
Former President Roosevelt and for
mef President Tan shook hands ant
made no bones about II, and the onl,
element Of uncertainty possible to thu
o feast was discounted by the actua
ovent
There were so many notable me;
among tho 1900 or SO that nled through
the library that 1t would he impossible,
to make a properly selected list. Her,
and there were figures more than or
AinaTily interesting because of the par
they a played in the critical drami
0f the past few years.
One OF these was Col. George Harvey