The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-28
RHODES ELOOUENCE
STILL AFFECTS TAFT
Presdent-Elect Spends Varied Sunday But Always in
His Ear Sounded the Grand Echo of the Ala
bama Editors Oratory.
BY JAMES HAY, Jr.

Of Birmingham that William Jennings
Bryan was the only man who could save
the republic, the bleeding republic, the
drifting republic, the Republican rSDUb-
In the South a newspaper editor, sit
ting in his Sanctum aud dipping his
zen in the fOunts of SOwery praise and
the well OF discreet inVective Is re-
spoke as If he knew that. But, in a
brief space, he showed by mis- rema bs
that he entertained. either Tor the state
ments Of his own newspaper or cor the
worth Of consistency, a profouisd and a
sublime contempt
Makes Apology.
Since that speech the general mas spol-
Osized for it. He has explained that he
did not speak from the heart. auI that.
in doing up the South in a sweet pink
ribbon package and handing it TO M.
Taft, he went further than ne had in
tended. He has said, in earnestLvss and
sadness. that he is a man of Impulse,
and that impulse got the best Of him.
lie had not prepared his speech. he
declared. and the eXtempOraneOUs char
. cter of his remarks and his sentiments
We're accountable for his extraordinary
Utterances. Scoring preparation for the
event, he had preferred TO offer linn
self a deTelict before the breeze of in
splration, to BE waited at will nn the
Inny seas Of dreamy phrases, bump
I idly against islanis OF flowers
v lnting neither rudder nor life pre-
sc yer
Hardly had there come a pause in The
ste m of abuse with which the Southern
press welcome the generals speech,
when lie once more appeared al Atlanta
when Mr.. Taft was a guest in that city
| There, however the doughty general
made no speech. but he was Oh he Job
with conversation and eXplana ton His
, L ira appearance was at New Orleans
when Taft returned from Panama
Again the general made no speech until
| late at night when the Taft train err
rived a Birmingham, the native city OF
Rhodes
A Vivid Flow.
But, altogether. there came from the
I! general such a vivid flow Of language,
such an inspiring grouping of words.
| that today he is the dominant note in
| the ears OF the PreSident-elect Gov
ernoT Noel, OF Mississippi on one coca
sion talked to the President-elect nearly
/ q whole day, but his performance was
| as nothing TO that Of Rhodes The ar
I mOTed cruisers fired salutes to Mr.. Taft,
| but their martial bark was as a whis-
per 10 the announcements of Rn>,-es.
) So long s history shall last, there will
I be in II always the picture of Gen Rufus
J =. Rhodes, rising from the volumiuous
I wealth Of his frock coat and ascending
! into the silky confines of his high hat
4 Mr.. Tafts Southern tour accomplished
| much, brought out many things. but
| above all. II established General Rhodes
fame as a talker and as a faithful fol
| lover # Democracy. RepUblICanism
and patriotism all at the same time
1 While the organ pealed and the
| preacher spoke this morning, It would
have beer strange, indeed. if the Presi-
! Gcnt-elect had not heard the gracious
ITesOund of the words OF Rhodes While
he talks this afternoon 10 the Senator
| from Illinois and the Representative
| from Indiana on affairs Of moment, nc
nay pause. look up entranced and catci
the sweet refrain Of a South revolution.
I lied by Rhodes in a single speech
! The only trouble is that neither Mr.
Taft nor General Rhodes believes tina
the South can he revolutiOnized rapidly
1T viii take time.