Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-14
KNOX TO Be ELIGIBLE SPEAKSW|TH WARMTH
Bill to Remove Bar Is Expect PresidentE Elect Defends Pan
ed to Pass anna Canal Workers.
COMMITTEE IN FAVOR OF 1T CRlTClSES THE CRITICS
Minority Report Raises as Delivers Spirited Address Hatties
to Constitutonalty burg, Miss
OPPOSITION NOT DETERMINED SHOW OF AGGRESSIvENESS
Opposition
Party obstruct Ditch
Dmoca
CRITICISES THE CRITICS
Delivers Spirited Address at Hatties-
burg, Miss.
HOW OF AGGRESSIvENESS
Says Wind Opposition" Will Not
Obstruct Digging of the Ditch.
Possum Gifts.

BIRMINGHAM. Ala. February H.
Talking in Louisiana Mississippi and
Alabama. just like during campaign
days. the President-elect had today the
qualification. which he evidently enjoyed
of being heartily received by large and
enthusiastic crowds who had not voted
for him. He took numerous occasions
to make his appreciation plain, at the
same time leaving touch of irony be
hind In the form Of a reminder that his
pre-campaisn predictions had surely come
true. and not only did the south seem
willing to accept him as their President.
but his greatest desire was to, be Presi-
dent of every man, woman and child in
the nation.
Welcome at Birmingham.
With the echoes from the report of
twentyone guns reverberating in and
around about the terminal station here.
Mr.. Taft stepped into view. There was n
cordial applause from about 1000 people
who had gathered in the rain. Mr.. Taft
said: II have found nothing but welcom-
Ing signs in the south. and you have
greeted me not as political enemy. but
as a friend of the section
Mr.. Taft was suffering with q bad
throat. This fact and the incement
weather made his address very brief. He
had finished before Ii time for his
train to depart. and retired within the car.
There was one other burden on the Taft
mind today-a desire to show his utter
contempt for what he termed the baseless
and hurtful criticisms of the work being
done on the Panama canal.
Geniality Of Taft Smile.
The geniality of the Taft smile may be
seen IN this sentence, which went home
to the people OF Hattiesburg. Miss:
Il am delighted to look into your faces;
delighted to say to you that l am your
President and you cannot help 1t, and. IL
ever an opportunity comes again to show.
| 1t Will crafty me to come down here to
Hattiesburg-named after, I doubt not.
a beautiful woman-and say to the people
of Hattiesburg, come up TO Washington
| and we VIII give you the right hand OF
| fellowship and will show you that you
own just as much of the White House
and have as much right to call on tie
President. and. indeed, on the woman who
| occupies it and runs it-as anybody
Show Of Aggressiveness.
The canal remarks of Mr.. Taft were
delivered with unusual manifestations OF
aggressiveness.
The Panama canal Is going to be
built he declared. "and what / want
you to do. and what I want every Amer
ican citizen to do is to stand by the
men who are building il. Don't set fire
in the rear; don't diStrust those who are
giving up their strength and energy and
enterprise to put that great work through.
When you have agents who are doing
your work you stand behind them IL
you don't you cannot get your work done.
The men who do your work are entitled
to your help and confidence. and you
allow Yourselves
astray by buncombe speeches on the floor
of the House of Representatives or by
headlines in sensational newspapers, and
go back the men that are doing your
work.
Il don't care whether you are demo-
Gratis or republicans. you want the work
done. and when the army engineers who
are doing this work are giving all their
time to the carrying out of this work,
you not men 10 go back on them
or to believe every idle story that comes
from the mouth OF some politician who is
seeking to make himself prominent to
give himself the advertisement of little,
unto Cunded. sensational statement.
Work Being Done Honestly.
That work is being done honestly.
know what | am talking about. 1t Will
be built, and all the wind opposition that
comes merely from desire to exalt and
exploit the man who makes himself re-
sponsible won't obstruct it.
Il know what the people of the United
States want in that regard and In so far
! have powell as the executive OF
this country, ! am going to push that
work and | am going to stand behind the
men who are doing ii. And now, gen
tiemen, YOU have gotten ME into more
heat than / expected. but ] thank you
very much for your welcome"
There was cordial leaVe-taking a.
New Orleans this morning when the Tart
party departed. Stidell. La. turned OUT
elect and from that time on he was a.
most constantly on The rear platform OF
the train expressing his pleasure at the
crowds and talking to the people OF
their government.
Cheers for Mrs. Taft.
Mrs. Taft took part in the dcmoustra-
tons and was cheered by the people
Floral tributes. bonbons and two live
billy possums' constituted the presenta-
tions of the day. The possums were al
lowed to escape from their wooden crate
and take to the woods at niShtfall.
Picayune, Poplarville. Lumberton, p1Ir-
Wis. Hattiesburs, k,llisvilie, Laurel, Me-
ridian and Tuscaloosa were treated to the
appearance OF tie President-eIect.
The two big demonstrations OF tn day
were at Hattiesburg and Meridian. While
at Birmingham tonight there was a ire
mendous crowd, which expressed its great
enthusiasm al the short talk Mr.. Taft
was able to make In the limited time at
mis- disposal.
Mr. and Mrs Taft will reach Cincinnati
tomorrow morning and Will 50 direct to
the {. T. Taft residence.