Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1909-05-28
PRESIDENT TAFT ATTENDS
CHARLOTTE CELEBRATION
Three Days CarnUal in the North Carolina City Marks
the Anniversary of the Famous MeckLenburg
Declaration of independence.

Charlotte, N. C.-With three days of
military drills, band concerts,
speeches, athletic contests and other
kinds of entertainment, the one hun
bred and thirty-fourth anniversary of
the Mecklenburg declaration has been
celebrated, and all North Carolina is
happy in the knowledge that its pet
legend has been recognized by the
president of the United States; for
Mr.. Taft gave the occasion the official
sanction of his presence and was the
chief feature of the celebration.
The carnival began Tuesday noon
when the Charlotte fire companies
gave an exhibition of their skill and
speed At three o'clock there was a
drill by body of United States cav
airy and a band concert at the fair
grounds, followed by League ball
game. The evening was given up to
drill by the Charlotte drum corps and
q concert by three bands.
Governors Day Program.
Wednesday was designated as gov
errors day and the main event was
the delivery of addresses by Gov.
chief executives of several other
states, at the fair ground. These were
preceded by big athletic meet and
followed Sy a cavalry drill, military
maneuvers and band concerts, with
another ball game thrown In for good
measure
Two events made the evening not
able. The first was a May musical
festival at the Auditorium which en-
listed the services of a number of ex
eellent soloists and a large and well
trained chorus. The second was aa
illuminated parade given by the Order
of Red Men.
President Taft Arrives.
Just at ten o'clock Wednesday
morning the booming of a 21-gun sa
lutte by the Cha. lotte artillery notified
the people that President Taft haC
arrived on his special train. Nearl,
all the inhabitants and the thousand
of visitors were at the station, and a
the president and his party alighte
from their car, they were greeted wit
mighty roar of applause. A speci;
reception committee took the distini
uished guests in charge and conduc
ed them to the Selwyn hotel, wheI
they were welcomed by Governc
Kitchin, Senators Simmons and Owe
man and the mayor of Charlotte.
After meeting all the committe
men and their wives, President Taft t
gether with Mrs. Stonewall Jackson
the governor and mayor and othe
distinguished visitors, were escorte
by a guard Of old soldiers to a review
ing stand and witnessed great pi
rade of all the military and civic o
CARNATIONS that could take part in th
celebration.
Mr.. Taft Speaks Twice.
A second installment of the mus
festival in the Auditorium We
graced by the presence of the city
guests, and then all returned
the reviewing stand, where Presidel
; Taft delivered an address. His wore
were listened to with close attentiC
and frequently ELECTED loud applaus
Later in the afternoon the presideI
made speech to the colored Peep
and the students of Biddle universit
, From to $50 III the eyeniI
President Taft held a public
ception in the parlors of the S.
wyn hotel and shook hands with the
sands of people.
9 Military drills, band concerts a.
other entertainments were provid
e for the crowds all Wednesday aft
noon and evening, and the great ce
bration closed in a blaze of glory.
OLD Controversy Renewed.
/. The people of North Carolina, who
Il proudest boast has been that their ;
cestors were the first Americans
o throw off the yoke of British rule, n
T. rejoice in the feeling that Preside
Taft has recognized the justice
= their claim, but the century-old C,
!. = troversy has broken out afresh. Ma
:. historians refuse to accord to the I
y neers of Mecklenburg county
= honor that is thus accorded the
:, These historians allude to the st,
= as "the Mecklenburg myth" {
thereof arouse the anger of No
. Carolinians.
- According to those unbiased inye
- gators who have looked most dee
5. into the matter, the Mecklenburg
:, did hold public meeting on
81, ITS and did adopt resoluti
quite abreast of the public sentim
Is of that time, but not venturing on
IL deld of independence further than
o. say that these resolutions were to
main in force till Great Britain
ct signed its pretensions. In 1893,
to earlier some of the actors in the
BIT ceeding endeavored to supply the
to ord from memory. unconsciously in
lg mfngling some OF the phraseo' ogy
a the Declaration OF July 4, which E
oy the resolution the tone of a