The Washington times., 1908-08-21
Aims to Break Democratic
Stronghold in Speech at
Hot Springs.
CROWD OF 5000
HEARS ADDRESS
Standing in Open, and Walled in
by Mountains, Assemblage Pre-
Sents Picturesque Appearance.
By JAMES HAY, II.

By JAMES HAY, Jr.
! HOT SPRINGS, Va, Aug. 21-In a
| speech described by his friends as one
! Of the best ne ever made, William How
arc. Taft. Republican nominee for the
Presidency. today addressed mass
meeting OF Virginia Republicans, 5000
strong, asking them and the entire
South to adopt the principles and tenets
| Of the dominant party Of this country
Never was any scene OF a political
/ drama more picturesque The thrOng
was massed on a clear level space not
more than 20 yards square. On three
/ sides rose the mountains. making The
| place a green-Walled amphitheater, at
| the top Of the Allegheny mountains
| It was cloudy. and overhead the gray
| sky lowered Ike a hood Of lead. Now
and then stray cloud threw its ragged
| edges against the mountain sides, Ieav-
! ing white ribbons OF mist that almost
/ touched the heads OF the men and wom-
/ en- who had assembled there from all
parts Of Virginia.
So intent were the listening thousands
| that, in the pauses Of the candidates
/ speech. nothing broke the silence save
| the sounds Of the primevaI forests. The
/ drip Of rain left upon the trees by early
/ morning showers could be heard, and
/ the ripple Of a mountain brook against
| the rocks came distinctly across the
| open space.
Enthusiasm Not Dimmed
But the gloom and grayness Of the
/ day could not lessen the enthusiasm OF
! the crowd. When Col. S. Brown Allen,
/ Of Staunton. introduced Mr.. Taft, by
paying him the same tribute that had
/ been given TO Robert r Lee by a IA
/ nous Southern statesman, there arose
a cheer that must have rolled down the
mountain sides to the valleys beyond.
/ And. when the candidate told his rea-
sons for believing the Independent Dem
/ Ocrats y the South would see il as
( their dIty 10 vote the Republican tick
/ et, banners ana umbrellas we're thrown
! high into the air, and IN the grand
/ stand. which bounded the fourth side
OF the amphitheater, women in their
! bTight-hued gowns stood up AID waved
their handkerchiefs and fans
/ Today's was the biggest Republican
! gathering Of years in this State. The
{ railroad brought cheering thousands
/ from staunton, Charlottesville, Rich
mond and the surrounding territory.
From the neighboring counties the
/ farmers. the mountaineers, the mer-
! chants, and their wives drove into Hot
/ Springs in buggies, runsbouts, and
| heavy springless wagons. Some drove
mules and some dSove horses. and the
| endless procession. beginning early IN
4 the morning, continued until . o'clock,
/ the time the candidate began to speak.
High Tribute Paid.
Mr. Taft. accompanied by Col e.
/ Brown Allen. chairman OF the com
mittee Of arrangements-qn Represent
| ative Bascom Slemp, stoOS on a plat
/ form in front of the graUdstand and
near the center Of the open field. Be
| hind them were Senator Nathan B.
/ Scott OF West Virginia and Arthur I.
I Vorys, Taft's personal adviser.
4 Mr. Slemp first introduced CoIonej
Allen. and then the colonel brough
from the crowd its first great burst o
/ cheering. when he said:
/ And. now, ladies and gentlemen. il
only remains for me 10 present 10 YOU i
our candidate. and I need say little
more. He Is a great man He stands
Tor great cause and has been chosen
+ by a great party 10 make a great night.
| Il pay to him, in brieI, here and now,
on the very threshold Of the campaign,
! the eloquent tribute that one of our
Southern statesmen once paid TO Rob
ert Z. Lee. He said of him that he was
! "A foe without hate a friend without
! treachery a soldier without cruelty a
victor without oppression, victim with
( out murmuTing. 3 public officer without
vice a private citizen without wrong,
I a neighboT without TepToaCh. a Christ
ian without hypocrisy, a man without
guile
such a man I present TO you. the
| next President Of the United States,
/ William Howard Taft"
Hearers Held Breathless.
Then followed Mr.. Taft. in a speech
which held his hearers in breathless in
terest. He described 70 them what the
! Republican party has done to control
/ the actions OF the great corporations Of
! the country predicted what it will do
( in pursuance of this policy in the fu-
ture and concluded with his forcefuI
argument as TO why the South should
swing into line for RepubIlcanism.
At the close of the speech. he was
given a tremendous ovation. The BRASS
bands from Staunton and Richmond,
which had led the crowd from the town
to the feld. again struck up. everybody
surged toward the speakers stauc. and
the cheering was dcafening.
Mr. Taft will make many more
/ speeches before the campaign closes,
but it is safe TO saX that he viii not
make another more Inspiring than this
! one today, up among the clouds AT the
top of the mountains 90 people Who had
Travelled hundreds OF miles 70 hear what
he might say for the cause of Repub-
! l.canisn in Virginia, the stronghold Of
Democracy.
Mr. Taft's Speech.
/ Taft's speech, in large part was an
appeal 10 the solid South" to break
away from the Democratic column. At
ter discussing general issues. he said:
Every one having the interest o. the
country at heart would rejoice - have
| In every national campaign broken ID.
II would be better for the States them
+ selves; 1t would be better for the coun-
try The Republican party is not the
Continued. on Ninth Page.)