The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-01-17
TAI 7 GIVES HIS
Me ESSACE TO
Tie SOUTH
sANQUETERS CHEER WILDLY
WHEN HE OUTLINES POLICY.
Preeident-EIect Is Presented With a
Toy "ellIy 'Poesum," Which Will
Succeed the Teddy Bear"

Atlanta. Ga, Jan. 16.-The brain of
the new south was gathered In the
Atlanta Auditorium last night, when
President Elect Taft, the guest of hon
or at the chamber OF commerce ban
quet electrified his hearers and en-
Unused 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. 1t is safe to say
that no act OF any president, no dec
laration OF any president or OF any
pTesident-elect has ever met with such
hearty approval of the people OF the
south as Mr.. Tafts announcement
touching the policy which he proposes
TO pursue in making appointments Of
officials In that section.
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 extend to 1t equal and
exact Justice in all matters.
When the presldentelect 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 well, and
whose presence in important positions
will remove. II 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 1t was impossible
for Taft to proceed
Mr. Taft was not only introduced to
"'possum and 'tatters." dish far
famed in the South since the days
"befor de wah," but the banquet mark
ed the birth of q 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 grin the apex
OF the most brilliant and at the same
time most unique banquet, perhaps,
ever given q 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
ted plants In the gallery. struck up the
stirring strains of Sousas Georgia
Camp Meeting" while down the cen
Ter aisle and headed directly for Judge
Taft there came a waiter who fairly
staggered under the weight of the
choicest 'possum of the very choice
one hundred dressed whole and prop
erly garnishod with rich golden Geor-
gia yams. and followed Jy another
waiter with flagron of persImmon
beer.
Up to the speakers table marched
OF laughter In which the president
elect Joined until his face was flooded
with color.
II was at this juncture that Presi-
dent Chandler Of the chamber OF com
merce presented the toy possum, with
verse appended.
Mr., Taft. in referring to a letter
he had received only yesterday from
Chicago warning him, mot only for
Your sake and the country's. but for
Gods sake" not to eat any 'possum.
and referring him to chapter in the
the Bible. Mr.. Taft said:
Il guess l will have to say with |
Lowell in the Bigelow papers, when
Governor Seay, who was a candidate
for that office in Massachusetts. was
lmportuned not to do certain thlnS, |
and was referred to a certain chapter |
ia the Bible, read 1t and replied; Well. |
hey don't know everything In Jude |
Judea),. l enjoyed that course es-
Declally"
Preceding Mr. Tafts speech promin-
,nt ministers and jurlstS lent their
.alent to the entertainment of the
guest OF honor. There were songs
,rd sermons" that were relics of
,ntebellum days. all of which appeal
g to the presidentelect and caused
'is sides to shake with laughter. When
he band struck up America" the
audience arose as one man and with
Judge Taft's bass voice leading, there
vent swelling through me banquet
oom the rising notes of the national
llr.
Judge Tafts program for today in
ludes an automobile ride about the
ity. an address to the students of the
ieorgia School of Technology and an
.ddress TO the negroes at Big Bethel
huroh departure at noon for Athens.
board n special train. where he Will
ddress the students OF the University
f Georgia. returning to Atlanta to-
fight us the guest of the CaDital City |