The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-21
nH M HBs 539'
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MRS, JACKSUN CALLS lAtI
 "HARMONIZER OF HEARTS''
Political Drift of Taft's Speech Is Shown in His Expressed Desire for Elevating Standard of
 Political Parties

Political Parties
 Charlotte, N. C., May e0.-President Taft came today to Charlotte the home of the Mecklenburg declaration of inde- pendence. signed in May. 1775. and with out entering into the discussion of words as to those revolutions of liberty. placed himself squarely on the side of those who look back on this declaration as one of the first significant steps toward the American independence. His own recent appointment of a democrat to the bench in this state gave him an opportunity to expand on his views. MT. Taft again urged the advsability of an intelligent op- position party.
 "I don't believe that we are on the point of a political revolution in the south.9 said the President 'I never have had such a dream. What I do desire and be- lieve we are on the eve of is a complete tolerance of opinion. and that there shall grow into respect and power an intelligent fighting opposition party In each state | of the union"
 The Presidents political utterances were i received with the same fervor of en- { thusiasm his tribute to the signers of the Meckenburg declaration. The, audi torium in which he spoke was crowde,ss and he was constantly interrupted by
 the cheers which arose spontaneously
 from his southern hearers. As to his ap-
 pointment of a democrat upon the bench
 MT. Taft declared that throughout the
 south he intended to pursue the policy he
 had already indicated on appointine to ofice only that man. who. republican or 1 democrat can eomnand the highest con l fdenee and commend himself to the
 community in which he lives. Plea for Tolerance. MT. Tafts plea for political tolerance in the south and his statement that he
 wanted the people of the southland to know that the Washington government was not government alien to them had all the effect of extemporaneous utter ances for the President spoke without notes or manuscript once he had drfted into politics.
 cloudburst breaking over the city during the afternoon just as the splen- did military, floral and civic parade NHS passing Tn review by the PreSi- dent. promised serious consequences for time. II set the densely packed throng in front of the reviewing stand Into panic and there was wild rush for shelter. The Presidents box was goal for many men and women and the chief executive had to be sur rounded to save him from the sudden crush In the midst of the storm a passing industrial float became en- tangled In live electric wire and tore 1t from its support. the slender thread of copper sagging almost to the heads of the sea ampering crowd below. While the confusion at It's height and to add to the tense situation there was a binding flash of flame and loud report not 50 yards from where the President stood. It developed later that | a quality of black powder which was to have been used for salutinR pur- poses had been prematurely ignited. No one was injured either in the ex- plosion or in the crush about the re- viewing stand. The President re- ceived quite drenching and for a time it seemed that the frail canvas covering the reviewing stand would tumble about the heads Of those be- heath Among those was Mrs. Stone wall' Jackson When she had met Mir. Taft earlier in the day she had earn estly exclaimed:
 Mrs. Jackson's Welcome.
 "I am indeed delighted to know the harmonizer of all our hearts,"
 The parade which interrupted near its close by the sudden storm was one of the most pretentous ever undertaken in. the south. Beautiful floats representing weeks of labor were transformed in a minute to faded, bedraggled masses On many of the floats rode women and little children In tilmy summer frocks. They were drenched before they could flee to shelter,
 President Taft spoke twice during the day IL had been intended that he should address the public from the reviewing stand, but the storm caused a change of programme and the Presi- dent spoke first in the Charlotte audi torium at 4;S0 p. m. and then was driven two miles out of the city and spoke to the co1ored students of Riddle university. MT Taft declared that he would not count visit to the south complete with out an opportunity to ex- press to the colored. people his interest In tn em and his sympathy for them in their problems.
 The President left on late train for Washington where he is due to arrive shortly before noon tomorrow. The two days of constant going in the heat and dust of the Peterburg battledelds, q and the drenching downpour at Char | otte today were quite trying on Mir. Taft He was perceptibly hoarse to- day.
 Rap at hemphill. Among the guests on the platform at | the auditorium when the President was l speaking his belief in the Mecklenburs declaration regardless of the exact lan- suage in which the resolutions were acc eepted was Major Hemphill the distin- suished editor of Charleston S. C., who recently, in paving his compliments to Speaker Cannon, declared: ''He born CONTINUED ON PAGE 2.)