Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-15
Says Pres-eIsct Taft Re-
garding Panama Canal
And No TWo-cent Trouble Hunt
ef Can Prevent II.
Work Being Well Done and En-
gineers Are Well Satisfied.

through LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI anu
Alabama, just as if in campaign days,
President Taft Saturday had the
qualification, which he evidently en-
joyed. of being heartily received by
large and enthusiastic crowds, the
men in which did not vote for him.
He took occasion frequently to make
his appreciation of these Outpourlngs
plain. at the same time leaving touch
of irony behind in the form of re-
minder that his campaign predlc-
ticns had surely come true and not
only did The South seem willing to ac-
cept him as President, but his great
est desire was to be the President of
every man. woman and child in the
nation.
| There was one other burden on the
Taft mind--.a desire to show his utter
contempt for what he termed the base
less and hurtful criticisms of the work
being done on the Panama canal.
The remarks about the canal by Mr..
Taft We're delivered with aggressive
ness.
| THE Panama canal is going to be
built" he declared, land what / want
ynI to do, and what | want every
American citizen to do. is to stand by
the men who are building it. Voice:
We will do IT'D Don't set fire in the
rear; don't distrust those that are
giving up their strength and energy
and enterprise to put that great work
through When you have agents who
are doing your work. you stand be-
hind them. II you don't you cannot
get your work done. The men who do
your work are entitled to your con-
| fdence and you ought not to allow
yourselves to be led astray by bum
combc speeches On the floor of repre-
sentatlves Or by headlines in sensa-
tional newspapers, and go back on the
| men that are doing your work.
Il don't care whether you are DEM
ocrats or Republicans, you want the
| work done, and when the army cngi-
necrs, who are doing this work are
giving all their time to the carrying
OUT of this work, you are not men to
go back on them or to believe every
idle story that comes from the mouth
of some politician who is seeking to
make himself prominent or to give
himself the advertisement of a little,
unfounded sensational statement.
THAT work is being done honestly. I
know what ! am talking about. 1t will
be built and all the wind opposition that
comes merely from a desire to exalt and
exploit the man who makes himself re-
sponsible won't obstruct it.
II know what the people of the United
States want in that regard and insofar
as have power, as the Executive of this
country, / am going to push that work
and I am going to stand behind the men
who are doing it. And now, gentlemen,
you have gotten me into more heat than
1 expected. but | thank you very much
for your welcome"
There was a cordial leave taking at
New Orleans when the Taft party de-
parted. Slidell. La. turned out the first
crowd to greet the President-elect, and
from that time on he was almost con-
stantly on the rear platform Of the train
expressing his pleasure at the crowds
and talking to the people of this gov
eminent.
Mrs Taft took part in the demonstra-
tons and was chcered by the people.
floral tributes. bon bons and two live
Billy posSumS" constituted the present
atoms of the day. The possums We're al
lowed to escape from their wooden crate
and take to the woods at nightfall
Wis IIattieshurs. Ellsvillo. Laurel. Meri-
dian and Tuscaloosa were treated to the
appearance of the President-elect.
The two big demonstrations of the day
were at Hattiesburg and Meridian. while
at birmingham at night there was Il ire
mendous crowd which expressed it's great
enthusiasm at the short talk Mr.. Taft
was able to make in the limited time 1t
his disposal
With the echoes from the report of p
guns reverberating in and around about
the terminal station. Mr.. Taft stepped
into view in this city. There was cordial
applause from about 1000 people who had
gathered in the rain. Nh. Taft said:
II have found nothing but welcoming
signs in the South and you have greeted
me not as a political enemy but as a
friend of the section"
Mr.. Taft was suffering with bad
throat This fact and the inclement
weather made his address very brief. He |
had finished before it was time for his |
train to depart and retired within the
car.