Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-04

Continued From First Page)
the Union Station here at 7:05 am
But he remained in his drawing room
while his car was being transferred to
a level nearer the streets. DR.. Hagner
time and again entered his state room
to speak to the distinguished patient.
but he seemed to have difficulty in i'm
pressing upon Mr.. Taft that the time
had come to leave the car.
Others Help Him Rise.
Gently, the doctor asked Mr.. Taft to
get to his feet, but it was necessary
for several others to assist him. Step
by step, DR.. Hagner and his aides
guided the footsteps, once firm and
vigorous, as the sick man left the train.
In the narrow passage between his
state room and the side of the sleeping
car the former President grasped the
handrails to steady himself, although
he literally was being carried along. A
trained nurse, who has been with Mr..
Taft throughout his illness, always was
nearby.
After Mr.. Taft reached the vestibule
Of the car, he was held by stalwart
hands until other attendants could
bring a straightforward chair, into
which he was eased. Then the chair
was picked up by three men, who low
cred it gently down the steps to the
station platform.
Trace of Smile Lights Face.
AS the former President settled into
wheelchair Dr. Hagner said:
That's rather tight fit, but it won't
be for long" A trace of the famous
Taft smile lighted the former Chief
Justices pale and drawn face for an
instant and his eyes seemed almost
to twinkle, but the lids quickly dropped
again. Occasionally and with apparent
effort, Mr.. Taft opened his eyes to look
about, but he spoke to none OF those
who gathered to meet him.
The chair was rolled slowly across
the broad concourse of the Union Sta
ton to the regular automobile en-
trance, where the automobile of As
sociate Justice Sutherland of the SUI
preme Court, an old friend and COL
league, awaited.
Just as he came into the light of
a murky dawn, Mr.. Taft was greeted
with a series of explosions from pho
flashlights. He seemed
momentarily startled, but, veteran of
many such experiences, he quickly re-
gained his composure.
The wheel chair was rolled almost
to the running board of the auto
mobile and the former President, held
firmly by two attendants, was lifted
through the car door with two men
inside holding to his hands and guild
ing him. They eased him to the edge of
the seat and then assisted him to q
more comfortable position.
Foo AAA -
husband, while DR.. Hagner and the
entered another car which followed
closely on the three-mile run to the
Taft home The machines stopped at
side entrance of the house and the
sick man was again helped from the
car and through the doorway to an
elevator which had been installed near
this entrance several years ago when
he first became seriously afflicted with
heart trouble.
The former Chief Justice Immediate
ly was put to bed and made as COM
Portable as might be, although at the
time the lawns Of his home were crowd
ed by hundreds of the curious. Whether
he will be sent to hospital for treat
ment today still was undetermined.
Bladder AiIment Is Cause.
lie immaculate cause OF Mr.. Id1tS
present illness was a bladder ailment.
This was complicated by weak heart
and high blood pressure. Months of
hard work in an effort to clear away
the Supreme Court docket, with the
strain of attending the funeral of his
half-brother, Charles P. Taft, in Gin
cinnati, in late December, had so
weakened him that he found it neces-
sary several weeks ago to go to Gar
field Hospital here for treatment.
Some improvement in his condition
followed and he was taken to Asheville,
N. C., for rest. For a time it seemed
as though he was improving there, but
several days ago his physicians realized
that the improvement had ceased and
in agreement with his family decided
that it would be safer to have him back
at his home here
At the same time it was decided that
his mind should be eased of the EVIL
dent worry over his duties as Chief
Justice Of the United States. There
fore he was induced to prepare and
sign his resignation, which was brought
to Washington yesterday by his son,
Robert A. Taft, and presented to Presi-