The Washington herald., 1909-10-26
Mr.. Taft and the South

Mr.. Taft and the south
Says tho erudite and esteemed Knox
Vile Sentinel:
And they really believe in Washington that
President Taft is carrying a political Irritation
with the South. We hear it every day. and see 1t
IN the Washington papers Sometimes We observe
symptoms Ct a reciprocal feeling at the South. and
wonder II u las at last come 10 this that Re
publican President and the Southern States are
making eyes at each other. But. then, We remcm-
Der that President Taft merely wants 20 be friendly
ard that The Southern people never forget their
manners.
The South is the most hospitable part Of the
United States u IS always well hammered. Il feeds
is guests the Kind Of food they desire. Our table
il run on the European ran. with the bill collector
eliminated. There Is 10 limit 20 our hospitality,
but we would ;hink better Of the Washington
papers il they could remember. that there Is
difference between hospitality and political allesi
src, The South Is not thinking Of turning Re
publican wien il shows the wamest hospitality for
the President Of the United States"
No one will take issue with the Knox
vile Sentinel as concerns the South's
manners and hospitality" Tho Wash
ington Herald willingly would have said
quite as much in respect Of that as the
Sentinel says. and perhaps It would have
been in better taste-eulogies OF those two
charming attributes OF Southern charac-
ter not emanating, ordinarily and as a
rule, from Southern sources Waving
that. however. and proceeding 10 the
more momentous question, II seems quite
probable that Mr.. Taft IS carrying on a
political Irritation with Dixie. albeit it
may be, to some extent. a somewhat one
sided performance thus far
Mr.. Taft, IN the event of his renomina-
ton. probably would Ike nothing more
than to appeal directly and unequiv-
ocally TO the South for some OF its cleo
toral votes. He has said as much on
numerous occasions. Notwithstanding the
fact that his faith that he VIII get them
may, as yet. be small Mr. Roosevelt
made no secret OF the pleasure and graft
I Gcaton Il would give him to receive
substantial evidence OF political conf
dence from Dixie. II only affairs might
50 shape themselves that a request for
the same would be in order
! Whether Mr. Taft is carrying on a
political Irritation with the South" or
not and whether the symptoms OF a
reciprocal feeling at the South" observed
/ however doubtfully by the Sentinel
mean something or nothing, there arc
many men who profess 10 think that the
next Republican candidate for the Presi-
dency viii not only appeal positively, but.
mayhap. not valnly, TO the South, espe-
ciaIly in certain contingencies not neces-
sary to mention just now. but which
may arise. nevertheless and notwlth-
standing
The South not only has good manners
and is "Aospitable." as the Knoxville
Sentinel modestly AYERS and admits. but
II is also materially sensible and level
headed, which may not have occurred tc
the sentinel II Mr.. Taft has message
for it. It viii not refuse to take the same
20 heart and give 70 due weight. having ar
] ,
South is not thinking or turning Re
publican" may be true. Perhaps. how.
ever. It does no great violence 70 tn,
probable to suspect that the South is also
not thinking unswervingly OF remaining
solidly Democratic for all time to come.
No dogmatic assertion or prophetic sug
4 eestion wifi, -eEDec+ tn tboro tryrog @
advanced herein. however. Il IS not wei
that one really believe" all he hears
not even in Washington or via Knox
Vile. But 1t need occasion no great sur
prise If militant and aggressive Repub
Icanism I'm 1912. headed by-er-any on,
Of several gentlemen that might not i'm
prudently be named, cuts a considerable
figure through Dixie