Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1908 — TAFT’S KINDNESS TO BLIND. [ARTICLE]

TAFT’S KINDNESS TO BLIND.

Overrules Washington Monument Regulation for Benefit of the Sightless. The kind heartedness of Mr. Taft and his sincere, common sense sympathy with the unfortunates in this world has just been brought to the attention of the blind in ■ peculiar way. Away up in the top of the Washington monument, where thousands go to behold' the beauties of the nation’s capital, the Columbia Polytechnic institute, which seeks to make it possible for the adult blind of the United States to rise above conditions of dependence by becoming self sustaining, placed on sale souvenir post cards manufactured by its blind. Some sentimental persons took the view that this was undignified and succeeded in having the superintendent of public buildings and grounds order the cards removed. F. E. Cleaveland, principal of the Institute, appealed to Mr. Taft, then secretary of war and within whose jurisdiction oame the office of public buildings and grounds. It took only a few words to convince the secretary that the blind should have the benefit of this privilege, and the cards were again placed on sale in the monument.

“For this action,” said Principal Cleaveland.in discussing the incident, "Mr. Taft deserves the gratitude of every blind person, particularly the progressive blind, who are striving to help their less fortunate fellows." Ja Georgia the electors must have a majority, and with Watson, Hisgen and Chafin pulling away from them the Bryaaltes are becoming apprehensive.