Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-18
Sec. Taft Guest
At New Haven.

William II. Taft was the chief guest and
speaker at the Lincoln Day banquet OF
the Young Mems Republican Club and he
received an enthusiastic reception from
the gathering which made up one OF the
largest public banqucts ever given in this
city. As the guest of the club. which has
nearly 200 members, Sec. Taft fulfilled
one of the first promises he made after
returning from the Philippines to make
public address and the club changed
the date Of its customary Lincoln ban
Quet to the occasion of Mr.. Tafts visit
here to attend the Yale Corporation
meeting. No hall in the city was ample
enough to hold the persons. who weeks
ago applied for tickets. The tables to-
night We're set for 500. while several hun
bred persons sat in the galleries.
Secretary Taft came here at noon from
Hartford. where he passed Sunday. was
entertained at lunch by Col. Isaac I'll
man OF Gov. Woodluff's staff. attended
the Yale Corporation meeting and re-
ccivcd visits from friends at lis hotel
and then went to the Republic clubhouse
where Il public reception was given him
and which many hundreds attended. The
banquet itself was served in Music hall.
President Seymour NJ. Judd Of the club
presided and the state at large was very
well represented by citizens of political.
social and business prominence. The ora
ton Of Lincoln" was given by Rev. DIR.
Flavel S. Luther. president of Trinity
College. Hartford, and the lesson from
the life OF the martyred President by
Rev. DR.. George II. Harris OF I'hiladel-
phia, whose subject was ''Our National
Debt to Lincoln The invocation was
spoken by Rev. Arson Phelps Stokes,
secretary OF Yale University.
Gov. Rolls S. Woodruff spoke to the
toast The Political Outlook
The governor. after cordially welcoming
MI Taft and saying that Mighty prob
lens are being solved at home and in
tricate matters engage us ABROAD con-
tinueI:
"Our business is to support with all our
Nigh: the men who have character and
the ability to carry on this government
for the best welfare of all the people
The question now before us is, who
can be nominated and elected next No
ve,nber Many excellent men are men,
toned. Eut who is the man who repre-
sents the desire of the vast ma lority OF
the lInitPu STATES 10 j not voice you
all when say that out of the abundance
of splendid material that comnoses the
Republican party today Mr.. Taft comes
to MS the hest equipped man to lead rs
to Il certain victory? He has had the
training and the experience that is re-
quired Of the man who is to carry out
the large program of craftsmanship for
which the Republican party stands. and
to which 1t is committed at this time.
"He is the only truly national candidate
in sight. Beyond any doubt he will be
nominated at the national convention as
the unanimous choice Of the great Repub-
lican party. We know what he is. His
purposes are declared to us in the open
book of his public career. We know what
he has done. We are confident of what
he can do.
Our President must be n man of back
bone and brains, level headed and of alb
solutc integrity. No other kind of man
need aspire to take the place of Theodore
Roosevelt. Policies have been inaugural
ed that the people want continued; prom
Uses have tcen made that must be full
filed. The country is all right; let lis
keep it all right. Let us bring forward
as our candidate the biggest American
we can producC-a broad-minded states
man whose heart is true to the noblest
purp oses of our republic. And may Con-
necticut lead the way by selecting her
strongest men delegates to the ma
tionai convention"
Following the speech of Gov. Wood
ruff, Sec. Taft was introduced amid a
great Outburst of applause, the 500 or
more in the hall rising, cheering and
saluting the speaker who was desig-
mated by the POSTMASTER the next
President of the United States"
The secretary Of war gave a review
of the work and continuously growing
strength of the Republican party sinvc
the time Of Abraham Lincoln, whom
Mr.. Taft styled as the real founder
and constructor of the party He said
that the success OF the Republican
party lay in its ability to hold togeth-
er and to educate the divided ranks
50 that they might be brought within
the proper view of new issues that
arise.
The 14th amendment to the Consti-
tuition was touched upon as was the.
16h and in speaking of the effect of
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