The Butler weekly times., 1917-11-08
TAFT WAS HERE
FORMER PRESIDENT SPENT
MONDAY IN BUTLER AND
LECTURED ON THE
WAP
Record Breaking Crowds. Biggest
Day in Butler in Years.

Ten thousand people, from all sec
tions OF the county and MANY from
other counties were here and prob
ably never in the history of the towr
was there bigger day in Butler
The weather was ideal and the road:
were fine and it seemed that nearly
everyone took the opportunity to
hear ann ex-President speak on the
greatest issue that has ever con.
fronted the American people.
At the suggestion of Chas. L. Fisk
manager of the Opera House. where
Mr.. Taft's lecture was the second
number in the Lyceum course, the
Commercial Club took up the matter
of making Taft Day" big day by
their cooperation succeeded beyond
their greatest expectations
Mr.. Taft had intended arriving in
Butler on the I:1o p. m. train from
Kansas City. but meeting Senator
Reed. he accepted the invitation OF
the Senator and c. S. Jobes of the
Security National Bank Of Kansas
City to make the trip by motor car
Upon receipt OF this word. the COM
mittee revised their plans for the re-
ception of Mr.. Taft and his party,
and John W. Coleman. chairman of
the reception committee, DR.. J. T.
Hull, president of the Commercial
Club and Mayor O. A. Heinlein.. ac-
companicd by Congressman c. c.
Dickinson drove to Passaic where
they met the Taft party.
Marshal OF the day A. H. Culver
formed his parade at o'clock in the
following order: The Butler Band,
BtHtt+er b Department, bands
from Rich Hill, Pleasant Gap, Ans
terdam, and Prairie City, the Boy
Scouts and large number Of private
motor cars The line of march was
west on Ohio street to High. north
on High to- Pine. west on Pine to
the Missouri Pacific depot. south to
Ohio street. thence east to the Ohio
street n. F.. church where the par
ade was halted on the south side of
the street TO await the arrival of Mr..
TAFT and the reception committee.
Ohio street was thronged with
crowds to welcome the eN-Presidcnt,
who rode barcheaded, bowling and
smiling TO the throng.
At the post office site the school
children. waving flags. greeted him.
Upon the arrival Of the reception
yts,c fnn .,1l
behind the band and marched around
ihc. square Mr.. Taft's car was
forced by the crowd to halt on the
north side of the square. where he re-
>ponded 10 tho demands OF the crowd
with a fifteen minute talk on the war,
ressing probably the largest open
air audience ever assembled in this
,ity.
Following the address of Mr.. Taft.
Senator Reed was introduced and
alked eloquently for almost an hour
m the war and the work of congress. i
Alter Senator Reeds talk. Mr.. Taft
md his party were escorted to the
mn where they were the guests of
he Commercial Club at an elaborate
luncheon. At the luncheon were Mr..
TAFT. Senator Reed, Congressman
Dickinson. {. S. .Jobcs. Mrs w. v.
Walton. Hon. Payton A. Parks, of
linton. Major F. H. Crowell, John
" Coleman. cwis w. Moore OF the
Iume Telephone, DR.. T. W. Arnold,
I. II. Henry and Sam w. Davis of
he Bates County Democrat. c. A.
'hambcrs oi the Republican Press.
)r. J. 7. Hull, a. H. Culver. J. F..
lowell OF the Adrian Journal. F. E.
'attee of the Amsterdam Enterprise,
'fayor @. a. Heinlein L. w. Mat
hews of the Rich Hill Enterprise.
nd r. D. Allen of the Butler Week
y Times.
A reception was held by Mr.. Taft
nd his party in the parlors of the
nm after luncheon. after which Sem
tor Reed and Mr.. Jobes departed
or Kansas City. the exPresident re-
nrning to his room for a much need
d rest.
4 six o'clock dinner was given for
lr. Taft by the board of directors of ,
he Commercial Club. Those attend
ng were: Mr.. Taft. VIM. F. Duvall,
FRS. Alice DeArmond, Mrs. VIM. E.
Walton. Charles H. Argenbright,
csse r. Smith. DR.. H. NJ. Cannon,
)r. J. T. Hull. James A. DeArmond, I
I. G. Cook. d. K. Walker. Sam w.
Davis. Charles L. Fisk. John w.
coleman and T. A. Black.
Mr.. Taft's Lecture.
At night. Mr.. Taft talked on the {
'ar, its causes.and Americas part in
Long before the curtain rose the :
ouse was filled to capacity and ,
1any seats had been sold on the
tage.
He was introduced by w. F. Du- j
all and in his opening remarks paid {
most beautiful tribute to the mem ,
ry of his friend, the late Congress {
ian d. A. DeArmond.
Mr. Taff's tall n, the raueee nfI