Imperial Valley press., 1930-03-11
TOUCHING
TRIBUTES
TO TAFT
Citizens of High And Low
Rank Attend Funeral
At Capital
CEREMONY SIMPLE
Former President Is Laid
To Rest Among Ma
tons Heroes

WASHINGTON, Mar. 1l.-U.P)-
William Howard Taft was lowered
into grave on the muddy hillside
iii Arlington National cemetery to-
day, in death even as in life the
recipient Of the highest honors a
grateful republic can bestow.
The services at the grave were
brief and simple. 4 short prayer
was read by the Rev. Ulysses G. b.
ri 'rce, pastor of All Souls Unitarian
church, while President Hoover,
Chief Justice Hughes and otl;er dig
nitaries stood with barred heads.
The body was then lowered slowly
into the grave while taps was sound
ed by Sergeant Frank Witchev of
Fort Myer, Va.
The rain which had been failing
steadily since $3.50 a. m., when the
body Of the former President and
Chief Justice was taken from his
home to the capitol to lie in state
FOR two hours, ceased just before
the funeral cortege reached the Gem
etciy WHClc III u y VI AHiCiiSa
greatest military and naval heroes
are buried.
The love that nation bore for
Taft was symbolized in a touching
final tribute by thousands of citi-
zcns of the capital who stood, sill
emily, in a drCnching spring rain as
| the final honors of the state were
paid to the departed ehieftain.
For two hours, those of high and
low degree who had waited in the
rain, filed through the rotunda Of
the capitol past the catafalque upon,
which other Presidents had lain in
state in death - Lincoln, Garfield,
Mckinley and Harding. 1t was esti-.
mated that 5000 persons passed by.
for final look at the man who was
beloved by so many for his genial
good nature.
The final ride down Pennsylvania
avenue of the man who received the
two highest honors of the nation hf
peace was like that of a military
rhieftain. There was nothing of the
funeral of citizen about it.
The family was left behind at the
house. There to bear the sorrow OF
his passing, while his body was Civ
en-, for few hours, to the state
which he served so long and so bril-
:antly.
Hoover Pays Tribute
/ Only scattering groups here and
there watched the funeral process
sion as It moved from Wyoming ave-
nue. and down Connecticut avenue,
in the neighborhood where the big
genial man was so well known. The
crowd became larger as the process
SION neared Lafayette Park and
swung into historic Pennsylvania
avenue in front of the White House.
AS the cortege passed the White
House, the President and Mrs. Hoov-
er came out on the front portico and,
with bowed heads, watched until it
had passed from sight.
A muted bugle sounded as tho
casket was carried into the rotunda
of the capitol and placed on the
canopied stage.
At the head of the catafaloue was
President and Mrs. Hoover composed
OF butterfly roses, delphinii and
lnignonetteS against background
of maiden hair fern.
When the casket was in place, the
flag covering it was drawn down
nd the top removed 1t revealed
he head of the former Chief JUS
tice, who was attired in the robes
of the supreme court. The face was
thin and drawn, but there was some
thing of the old serenity in the ex.
preston.
The public was allowed to file by
in a double row, one line on each
side of the casket, The people who
walked rapidly were truly repre-
sentative of the public-men, women
and children from every walk Of
life.