Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-22
TAFT ADOPTED BY GEORGIA
Augustans Say He Was Resident of
Their City When Elected.
OVATION AT MASS MEETING
PresIdent-EIect Says He IL Delighted
with His stay In south--speaks
at Banquet In the
Evening.

AUGUSTA, Jan. 2.-Richmond county,
Georgia, yesterday modestly proclaimed
William H. Taft as its own-that he was a
resident of Augusta when the presidential
electors in the various states declared him
to be the president-elect-that as such he
was a Georgian by birth and had lived
where he was born all OF his presidential
life.
Thousands Of Augustans clinched this
claim with a shout OF approval, as Major
j. c.. C. Black said many other compli-
mentary things about Mr.. Taft in present
ing him to the great mass meeting which
had assembled around the same stage,
from which President Mckinley once spoke.
The big street meeting, however, was by
so means the extent OF the festivities.
There was a banquet tonight at THE Ter
race" where were brought together the
distinguished men of Georgia and South
Carolina.
After midnight, when 1t was all over,
Augusta had shown to Mr.. Taft an ap-
probation of his presence, an understand
ing of his position and admiration for his
personality; and to the south and to the
country, the little city had modestly made
it's bow as a graceful entertainer OF the
great.
Delighted with Augusta.
What the president-elect thought of it all
is best told in his words to the people
whom he addressed as MY fellow citizens
OF Augusta" 1t was his delight that the
combination of fate, good sense and Judge
ment had brought him TO live for six weeks
in Augusta, He had come in search of
health and happiness; he had found both,
he would take both away with him and
leave Augusta no poorer thereby. 1t was
here for the first time in a full year he
had had the pleasure of a complete family
gathering. The weather had been such
that he had not, he said, missed a single
day from the golf links, but he had come
here also to make his cabinet, the difficult
ties, only those of his hearers knew who
had ever had cabinets to make.
But" he added, as the sum total OF
information in this direction, 1--WE will
get along some way with regards to my
cabinet But 1t is the first time that
that kind of a duty has been thrust upon
me and l have been just waiting in this
healthy atmosphere TO get good and
ready
M. Taft dwelt upon the happy moral,
Industrial, racial and financial condition
of the city. He was indebted to all the
citizens for its kindly and hospitable well
come.
Likes All S~Outhernera
II have had the pleasure of meeting
your farmers and your capitalists, your
ministers and your laymen, your lawyers
and your clients and l like them all. 1
have been banqueted, 1 have fished--I
didn't catch any-have automobiled, l
have ridden, l have played golf. have
met your beautiful women and have
enjoyed the sparkle of the wit and humor
and pleasure of your bright men. l en-
JOY the good judgment which brought me
to August"
Turning his attention to the political
phase of his visit south, Mr.. Taft was
not. he said, excited as some seemed to
be about the result. III l can convince
the southern people that this administra-
ton is as much concerned with the well