New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-17
TAET'S APPEAL WELL
RECEIVED IN SOUTH
HIS TRIP MAKING MANY
REPUBLICAN VOTES.
Courteously Treated and Heard 7cith
44ttention Erery5Chere-:Eleven
Speeches IN Tennessee.
LBy Telegraph TO The Tribune.

by Telegraph TO The Tribune
Bristol, Tenn, Oct. 16-William H. Taft Is the
first Republican candidate for President to enter
the solid South and appeal for the votes of
the Southern people, and the unvarying courtesy
with which he has been received, the almost
entire absence of cheers for any other candi-
date the strict attention paid to his speeches
and the enthusiasm with which his appeals for
support have been received have proved a
source of qualification to him and a surprise to
most of his party.
Had his audiences been composed almost en-
tirely of Republicans they could not have
treated him with greater consideration and re
spect, and the prominent In the opposl-
tion party who have the platforms at the
various stopping places, lent their automobiles
and contributed their best efforts to make the
trip success seem by their course to have
demonstrated the accuracy of Mr. Taft's con-
tention that 1t is only necessary to go after the
support Of the South to win it. Mr.. Taft is
not rainbow chaser. and he does not expect
the electoral vote of Tennessee, North Carolina
and Virginia He fully realizes that the alena-
ton Of these people from their ancient tradi-
tions and their conversion from that idealized
Democracy which they have long cherished in
their hearts, refusing to recognize that 1t no
longer exists-in fact. the winning of their
loyalty for the party he represents must be ac-
compished by degrees.
GREAT TASK WELL BEGUN.
But MI Taft is by temperament an optfmist
and an idealist With the same abiding faith
with which he undertook TO train the F1fp1nos
in the art of self government, realizing that the
task would require several generations to ac-
compsh he has begun, in the heat Of the
political campaign, the great work OF winning
the Southern Democracy, and there is a consen-
srs of opinion among those who have accom-
panied him to-day that he has made most
auspiCious beginning. Being an ideanst' II Is
easy for him to sympat1ize with the ATTITUDE
Of those who cherish only the memory OF the
Democracy as ii long ago existed. Combining
with his maniiness gentleness Of heart ana
mind he possesses the power to appeal 10 these
people in terms at once forceful and kindly and
graceful. and it is predicted that few who hear
him on this Southern trip will vote against him.
As a political speaker Mr.. Taft is a novelty in
this section He engages in no fights or forensic
ora+orx and INDUCES in bursts of vindictive
denunciation of his opponent. His coming is ac-
cepted as great compliment to the South
where it is known that he comes against the ad-
vice of his political ieutenants, and probably
against his own best political interests. He ad-
dresses his audiences in a conversational tone,
and paving due Difference to their tradltonS
and their conservatism he discusses with these
Southern Democrats the futiiity of longer voting
for a nartv which although it bears the name,
no longer represents their ideal, and Is led by
man whose economic vagaries would have been
renuenant to none more than to the great lead
ers Of the old Democracy.
Mr. Taft's first speech in the Solid South
was delivered in the Coliseum at Chattanooga
at s o'clock this morning. and 1t was typical
When he mounted the rostrum he found an au-
dienc. of four thousand persons, fully half or
whom we're Democrats On the stage were
MANY of the leading citizens Of the city ana
with them sat Representative Moon the Demo-
cratic member of the House from the district.
throughout the long ride from the station to the
auditorium no cheer was heard for any other
candidate even the irrepressible small boy seem
ing to be conscious that his city entertained
DISTINGUISHED visitor. Once in his speech a
young man gave a cheer for Bryan
Young man." said Mr.. Taft, as he instantly
singled out the cheerer, lis that your conception
of good manners? Do you regard 1t as polite or
gentIemanIy to interrupt this meeting with
cheer which is hardly appropriate to this occa-
sion?'
The Young man subsided, and afterward gave
the candidate the closest attention Later on
the stage there were expressions from the Demo-
Gratis of extreme modification that this inter
ruption had occurred, and they hastened to as
sure MI Taft that 1t was not a chattanooga
bow" who had been guilty of such rudeness.
WELCOMED AT CHATTANOOGA.
Mr.. Taft began his speech with a reference to
the fact that his father had been counsel TO
defend the constitutionalty Of the action Of
the city of Cincinnati in spending S2oWOWO
for the construction of the Cincinnati Southern
Railroad which to be IAN iron bond be-
tween the North and the South" and that later
as Judge of the Superior Court he himself Sc
lected the trustees of that road. He made
nIeasant reference TO the visits which as judge
of the Circuit Court he had made to Tennessee,
Continued second page.