Taft's Comment On Mexico.

New York Times 100 years ago today, February 22, 1913:
Tells Fighter of 1847 He's Trying to Avert War in 1913.
    WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.— President Taft met Amos T. Fisher, 88 years old, at a reception given him by Masons of the Alexandria-Washington Lodge late today in Alexandria, Va.
    "I'm glad to meet you, Mr. President," said Mr. Fisher. "I fought in the Mexican war."
    "I'm glad to know you, Amos," replied the President, "because I am trying my best to avert another one."
    The reception preceded a meeting of the committee in charge of the collection of a fund to erect a memorial Masonic Temple to George Washington. The President made a speech eulogizing the Father of His Country. One of the traits which Washington possessed and which made him seem more like other men, the President said, was, that when he had just cause for anger, he used language that wasn't "elegant," and displayed his red blood. He said Washington was no "mollycoddle."