The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-16
Tells Audience He Would Like
to Skater Traditions.
FIRSTCOLDBATH
Asks Them to Leave Old Con-
nectiOns Behind This Time.
Intim ates They Are Not Anxiou
to Elect Bryan.

Chattanooga, Tenn, Oct 167Judge
William II. Taft's first argument to
southern Democrats together with his
reasons for giving the south it's first
glimpse of a Republican presidential
candidate was delivered here this morn
ing to an audience which packed the
auditorium, the largest hall in the
city. The candidate was met at the
station by large reception committee
upon which it was said there were as
many Democrats as Republicans. Mr..
Tatt VIII spend the entire day in the
state.
His reception here was characters
tic of the extreme cordiality for which
the south is noted.
Judge Taft, who was introduced with
warm words of praise by H CLAY Ey-
ans, was in peculiarly happy mood.
He told of his excursion to the south
when on the bench and concluding
said:
When I knew you before, was en-
gagged in the respectable business of
trying to administer justice. 1 have
fallen from that state now and am en-
gagged in running for the presidency
and it seemed to me that with the in
terest I have always have had in the
south it was only proper that 1 should
come here, and as a candidate for the
presidency on the Republican ticket ex
press by my presence and what 1
might say here my interest in bring
ing about such a result as will more
closely unite the sections than they
have been united.
at is quite possible that we may
not get a single electoral vote in the
south. I think we will get enough
without it; but nothing will crafty
me more than if I could enter the
among the electors that put me there
was the vote of Kentucky and
Tennessee.
1--WE all know the history of the
country and we know the natural re-
suits of the war. We know how the
south was ranged on the side of the
Democratic party; we know its ma
tural conservative tendency; we know
the homogeneous character of the peo-
pie, the preservation of the traditions
of the family.
why, 1 remember when went to
Nashville and got into the families of
some of the lawyers there; they were
telling and enjoying the jokes, the
foresnic jokes and repartees and
forcible arguments that had been ut
tered so, so and 20 years ago by the
leaders of the bar. That would not be
possible north of the Ohio river be-
cause we have changed so that our
family recoIections don't go back that
far. rs,sfsse
$50 it Is entirely natural that even
that the Intelligent southern people
should vote the Democratic ticket and
go on voting it just to preserve the
historic traditions.
Il am here to see If we cannot make
beginning of disturbing that tradi-
ton and RELOCATING it to the place
where useless traditions ought to be.
The enormous Industrial expansion Of
the south which has taken place since
1885 and largely under the auspices 70
Republican administrations ought, 1t
seems to me, to demonstrate to the
thoughtful men of the south that their
logical position is in the party which
makes such prosperity possible.
There are a great many men in the
south and doubtless many within the
sound of my voice, who are strictly
Democrats. They are to be divided into
three classes. The first class is going
| to vote for me. The second class are
not going to vote at all. And the third
class are going to vote for my opponent
and hope that 1 will be elected. 1 think.
my friends, that you know as 1 know
| that that is a fair statement. So L
| have come here to see if can not con-
vince the two latter classes that what
| they ought to do is to come right out
and Just take their first cold bath In
leaving historic tradition that naturally
| is dear to their heart and come RICH.
| into the party whose principles they ap-
prove"