The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-01-16
7 AT 7 GIVES HIS
NE ESSAGE TO
The SOUTH
eANQUETERs CHEER WILDLY
WHEN HE OUTLINES POLICY.
President-Elect is Presented With a
Toy, "ellIy 'Possum," Which VIII
Succeed the "Teddy Bear"

Atlanta, Ga, Jan. 16.-The brain OF
tho new south was gathered in the
Atlanta Auditorium last night, when
Presldent-Elect Taft, the guest of hon
or at the chamber of commerce ban
quet electrified his hearers and en-
thused them with his message to the
south. which contained declarations
far more welcome TO this section than
some of those present had anticipated.
From the tumultuous cheering that
greeted his words. il is safe to say
that no act Of any president, no dec
laration Of any president or of any
Iesident-elect has ever met with such
hearty approval of the people of the
youth as MIR, Taft's announcement
touching the policy which he proposes
to pursue in making appointments OF
officials in that sectioa.
Frankly admitting that in many in
stances federal administrations have
acted toward the south as 10 an allen
country or dependent territory. Mr..
Taft declared with emphasis, that the
keynote of his policy would be to treat
the south as an Integral part of the
country and to ex tend to 1t equal and
exact justice in all matters.
When the pfesident-eleot declared
that he proposed to select for federal
offices in the south, as well as in other
sections of the country, those whose
character and reputation and standing
in the community commend them to
their fellow citizens as persons quail
fed to discharge their duties we'll, and
whose presence In important positions
will remove, If any such thing exists.
the sense of alienism in the govern
ment which they represent" the ban
queters, composed of leading citizens
from every state south of Mason and
DiXon's line jumped to their feet and
for several minutes II was impossible
for Taft to proceed.
Mr.. Taft was not only introduced to
"'possum and 'tatters," a dish far
famed In the South since the days
'befor de wah," but the banquet mark
ed the birth of new American toy
which bids fair to displace the far
famed Teddy bear"-"Billy 'Possum,"
first suggested by Cartoonist Gregg of
the Atlanta Constitution. The first
SUCCESSORS TO the little bear. which the
children of America have been wont
to play with since the advent of Pres
ident Roosevelt, was presented to the
president-elect and when the Taft
smile met the possum grim the apex
of the most brilliant and at the same
time most unique banquet, perhaps.
ever given a national figure. was
reached.
When the time for the serving of
the course OF 'possum and "taters"
and Simmons beer" was reached. the
orchestra. screened by fern and pot l
ted plants In the gallery, struck up the
stirring strains Of Sousa's Georgia
Camp Meeting while down the cen
ter aisle and headed directly for Judge
Taft there came a walter who fairly
staggered under the weight of the
choicest possum of the very choice
one hundred, dressed whole and prop
erly garnishcd with rich golden Geor-
gia yams. and followed by another
waiter with flagron of persimmon
beer.
UP to the speakers table marched
the grilning darkeys. amid an uproar
oi idu6utelS IN WHICH tnt piSoiutht
elect joined until his face was flooded
with color.
IL was at this juncture that Presi-
dent Chandler OF the chamber of com
merce presented the toy 'possum. with
appropriate verse appended.
Mr.. Taft, in referring to letter
he had received only yesterday from
Chicago warning him. not only for
your stake and the countrys but for
Gods sake" not to eat any 'possum,
and referring him to a, chapter in the
tho Bible. Mr., Taft said.
''I guess will have to say with
Lowell in the Bigelow papers, when
Governor Seay, who was candidate
for that office in Massachusetts,, was
ifnportuned not to do a certain thing.
and was referred to a certain chapter
la the Bible, read IL and replied: Well,