The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-22
TAFT IS STUDYING
 LIFE ON 4 RANCH Makes Speech to Farm Hands
 At Town of Taft GOOD PROFIT IN FARMING Mir. Taft Tells His Audience That He Was Once Invited To Make His
 Home on the Ranch But It
 Didn't Pay Enough.
GOOD PROFIT IN FARMING

Gregory. Tex, October A.-President Taft had his education as a ranchman further enhanced today by another after noon of sightseeing on the practical side of things.
 Starting from LaQuinta ats o'clock the President motored out to Taft, Il miles away. to visit the town which gave him it's unanimous vote in the election of last fall In the sohoolhouse there he made a little speech of thanks and eongratula- ton to his brothers hands. On his way to Taft the President stopped in at cotton gin There he saw for the first time a steam blow in operation.
 Just before going to the schoolhouse he had a look at the abbattoir, which, however. was not in use
 During the morning the President played IS holes of golf with Robert Connerly Of Austin, the reputed champion of Texas, who laid out the links on the Taft place. The President invited. .ndr. Connerly down ''to get a beating" but the young Texan led his distinguished opponent from the very first hole. Tomorrow the President will break into his four days vacation long enough to go over to Corpus Christi on the revenue cutter Windom to speak before the Inland Waterways association. He will return early enough in the after noon to have a final game of golf be- fore leaving at S:10 a. m for Houston and Dallas.
 At the schoolhouse at Taft this after noon the President was introduced by his brother, Charles P. Taft. He declared the President had expressed doubt that such a town as Taft, or such a ranch ex- isted and he has been persuaded to re- turn to Washington by this way in order that he might be showdn around.
 He Is now here" concluded MT. Taft, and want him to tell you whether he is convinced or not"
 Schoolhouse Speech.
 The President was given a great cheer as he arose to speak. "I am glad to be here," he said. and again his audience of enthusiastic admirers cheered Glad to be here,e continued the President 'un- der the fraternal auspices of my brother and of his wife Mrs. Taft. I have heard of his ranch for good many years. heard of it from Mir David Sinton, Mrs. Taft's father who offered me the job once if I could not make any better liv- ing, of coming down on his ranch and
 
 be work that would probably take all my time, the amount earned per calf did not seem to be enough to be attractive. It Is a pleasure to be here and see you looking so strong and healthy, and your contented voices, yes sir. Is there any body who is kicking? I don't think you would have him in the community If he did Certainly the Lord has been good to this part of the country. The oppor- fo 1a unlimited.
 This air and this land run on without hill, and without anything to interfere with your outlook I should think you would get a little tired looking over into the next pasture. This place. however, Is only like great many others The country seems to be taking on a new development with reference to the agri- cultural products necessary to feed the people. It Is taking this on because everything that the farmer produces is most expensive to buy. He gets the highest prices today he ever has in the history of the country and therefore ev- cry one who is looking forward to mak- ing a decent living Is considering the question whether he has in him the ele- ments of a good farmer, for there is no doubt that, taken as a class, the farmers are the most contented, the best situated, have the best homes and the peS lpfoSpectS oI any cldSS III IHo cOul- munity.
 Profits of Farming.
 'The high price of agriculture and the profits of farming have attracted atten- tion to the developments of these fields that were supposed at one time to be useful only for cattle ranching and now you are bound to make this whole south east Texas the garden spot of the en- tire state. The future, II would seem, has no limitations in respect to what can be done with this soil with proper az ricultural appliances. I am glad to see that the largest building in the town of Taft is the school house ana where the school house is the most important build ing you can be very certain or several things. One is that there is no race so much in need of good schools, and second that the people are looking for ward to making good women and good men-good citizens. I am glad to see that Taft Is keeping up with the pro- cession in that regard. and has room enough to teach all the children that can be born under the favorable south Texas skies.
 My friend, MT. Green, tells me that unlike a good many other towns in Texas I received all the votes there were in