Today -100: December 20, 1911: The mere form of republicanism

There’s a peace conference currently going on in China. Foreign nations are pushing for a continuation of the Manchu monarchy, but with limited powers. NYT editorial: “Certainly the Americans cannot be so enamored of the mere form of republicanism as to wish to see it imposed where the conditions are so unfavorable as they appear to be in China.”

Visiting NYC, President Taft is given a police detail consisting of three bicycle cops. Police Commissioner Waldo said that the president didn’t need any greater guard than the mayor gets (that would be the mayor with the bullet still lodged in his throat).