Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-10

virginia State Press Association and the
rimes-Dispatch Correspondents Associa-
ion i'm the hall of the house of dele
sataes at the Capitol at 10 O'Clock In
mother room of the Capitol. Immediately
ifterward. the President spoke briefly TO
4 delegation of colored men.
Gov Kitchin of North Carolina was the
guest of the President in his private car
after leaving Wilmington last night ana
travelled part way to Richmond. The
Secretary of the Navy. George Won L..
Never. met the President here and par
iicipated In the days festivities
Visits Patrick Henry Church.
President Taft interspersed his speech
making engagements with short sightsee-
ing tours. During the morning he visited
Did 81. Johns Church. where Patrick
Henry made his famous Give me liberty
NJ give me death" speech. and went from
there to St. Paurs Church where Jener-
son Davis. president of the Confederacy,
received the message from Gen. Lee say
ing that the Confederate forces must
evacuate Petersburg and leave Richmond
unprotected The President also visfteu
and spent some time in the Confederate
museum. He made tho comment there
hat the picture of Jefferson Davis which
belonged to the museum did not compare
in excellence with the one IN the war
officials said they probably would apply
10 the Secretary OF War for permission
TO have copy made of the painting at
Washington.
sociation President Taft told the story
which he has related number of times
on his trip. and always with character
istic chuckle of delight, that when he
went down l,nO0 feet In copper mine
at Butte, Mont. and the six correspond
ents accompanying him were in the cage
below his own and were dropped down
he dark shaft below the level while he
aIiehted he had them for the first time
Just where he wanted them. But add
ed the President land here Is the mora.
of the tale) 7 found 7 could not rise TO
the top without them
Taft as q Reporter.
The President related his own expert
ences as a court reporter on a Cincinnati
paper II was at this work that he earn
ed his first salary and gained his first
practical experience with the practice of
the courts, which stood him In such good
stead i'm after years.
The only other reporting l ever did.
said the President. was in connection
with the democratic national convention
Of 1880, which nominated Gen. Hancock
for the presidency That was the only ma
tional convention l ever attended, and L
10 not know that I did anything there
that helped to contribute In any way to
the general result. AS a pesky reporter
seeking interviews. however. had the
opportunity of meeting many OF the then
leaders of the democracy, and It was, OF
course. great one.
"I am glad to be in Virginia. l always
like to come to the state. Its welcome is
always hospitable. and | thank YOU for
your share in that welcome today"
Address to Negroes.
The Presidents talk to the negro dele
CATION was devoted at times merely to the
subject of education. He said he would
attend meeting of the board of trus-
tees of Hampton Institute November 20
and felt a very deep interest in the work
of that institution as well as the Booker
Washington school at Tuskeegee. Ala. The
influence of those two schools in the i'm
portance they were giving to industriai
and agricultural education the President
said was beginning at last to be felt
throughout the south.
1T is not until within the past two dec
AIDES" said the President that the south,
devastated by the civil war, has been in
a position to enjoy some of the prosperity
of the other sections of the country. to
enhance its values and thus secure an In
come from taxes which will permit of the
improvement of its educational institu-
lions. In the future we may look and not
in vain. to a steady Improvement In the
eouth's educational systems, especially
With TtSdfu tic COiohcu iocC, upoh
whose education along the lines of indus
try and usefulness. much of the well
fare of the south depends"
The President said the negroes Of the
south should endeavor to make them
selves useful members OF the community
and devote themselves largely TO the soil,
for In agriculture he declared was the
great wealth, the great success OF the
entire nation.
Colored Spokesman's Response.
D. Webster Davis acted as spokesman
for the delegation in thanking the Presi-
dent for his speech. I'VE are loyal citi-
Gems of our commonwealth, he said. I'VE
love every rock and ril of our dear old
state. Our white citizens after the war
came home broken In health and fortune
but along with the education Of their chill
dren, poor as they were, they willingly
gave of their means to aid the black
children just out of slavery and have con-
deed that this capital of the Confederacy
has become the mecca of the negro race
and we are actually accomplishing more
here than in any city in the south We
represent three million dollars in tax
money. four banks and many business en-
terpriSes. We have done this because of
the kindness and help of our white citi-
Zens and because We have faith in them
faith in ourselves, faith in God and faith
in our President"
The President lunched this afternoon at
the Jefferson Hotel, went from there to
the city auditorium to deliver his prin-
opal address of the day and will leave at
3:11 pm for Washington