The sun., 1909-01-21
TAFT NOT HUNTING VOTES
" iNTSTHE SOUTH no LIKE HIM
EVERY DAY BUT ELECTION DAY.


Augusians In Towns Principal stree,
Meets John u Rockefeller NJ q
Banquet and Gets n Congrat tuiation-
AUGUSTA, Ca, Jan. 2O.-Al Mr.. Tai,
wants Of the Southern people Is that they
ike him for 3e4 days in the year. He does
q not care what they do on the se5th. OF
election day.
The President-elect made this plain
in a speech here this afternoon before
10000 Augustans in the principal street
Of me city The meeting was in the nature
os . formal farewell to Mr.. Taft who
win isave here ON Saturday for Charles
ton.
"A good many people seem excited,
ssid Sir. Taft. about the political eneot
Of my coming into the South and about
wfas usy have said I am not troubled
ON fhzt soore. II can convince the people
oS tie South that this Administration is
an mnnh concerned for their welfare as
for tho welfare OF the people in every
Other section OF the country I will have
acccmplished al can hope for. Votes
and political matters can take care OF
themseivesL
Il remember that at political con-
veutiun . great candidate and a great
President was attacked in this wise:
they said that he was the most popular
man in the United States every day but
election day. Well, would a good deal
rather be the most popular man IN the
United States for s6i days of the year
Than on the seSth. tell this story to
Illustrate the fact that should feel proud
10 have ii said to me, as it was said to
President Roosevelt in Texas, that that
was State in which he had more friends
aud fewer votes than in any other State
in the Union
MIR. Taft complimented Augusta on
its hospitality, it's weather and citizen
ship i am indebted TO all the citizens
If Augusta" said Mr.. Taft, for their
Kindly and hospitable welcome. | have
and your capitalists, your ministers and
your lsymen. your lawyers and their
clients and l like them all. have been
harbecued, have been fishing (but
ildn't catch any. have automobiled.
I have ridden. have played golf and
have met your beautiful women and en-
Joyed the wit and sparkle OF your bright
men. and rejoice that fate and circum-
stances brought me to Georgia
Mr. Taft prided himself on the fact
that he had not missed a single secular
day of golf since he had been here. A
regular daily turn on the links was one
Of the things he had mapped out for him
self when he arrived here.
Another thing he had put at the head
of his programme was to build a Cabinet.
Mr.. Taft sighed as he mentioned this
Job. Man after man has come to me-"
said be, with advice like this: Now.
what you want is nine large men who will
fill the public eye and who will be suited
to discharge all the duties that fall uron
them
Well added the President elect. Il
have been carrying a pad and pencil
around in my pocE It and whenever |
get this advice l pull them out. hand
them over and ask to have the nine names
written down. haven't found a man
equal to the task
Mr. Taft spoke from the spot where
Mckinley delivered an address ten years
ago The crowd 10 front Of the stand
filed the street for two blocks and hum
dreds we're on.the roofs of nearby build
'ngs brass hand and tho Chamber
cf Commerce were out and the city had
done everything possible tn make the
event. memorable. The afternoon meet
lng however. was only part Of the city's
,crnal farewell Tho Chamber Of Com
rrerce gave dinner tonight liz Mr..
isfts honor at the Hampton Terrace
Hotel on the South Caroli.ia Ihore of
rNe Savannah River. Interest in the
inner was enhanced through the pres
enoe ~ John y. Rockefeller, who is 4
guest at the Bon Air Hotel here. He sat
+. Kuhn of Pittsburg and Robert Z Ogden
n New York.
Mr. Taft and Mr.. Rockefeller met just |
Nefore they entered the banquet hall. |
+ was the first time tho President elect !
ha5 seen Mr.. Rockefeller since the latter's |
orrival in Augusta. The Standard Oil |
man was standing with several members
n the Augusta Chamber Of Commerce /
- the entrance to the hotel when MIR. /
airs automobile drove up. Mr. Taft |
shook hands with all When he came |
- Mr.. Rockefeller he remarked that he /
lsd beaten his own record on the golf |
curse this morning, having done the |
shteen holes in So.
| congratulate you said the Standard |
0i.man, and then he added: Il went down |
y my automobile this afternoon to hear
rop speak. but We were too far away
The dining room Of the Hampton Ter |
aee was decorated with flowers and ferns.
ABOUT 200 diners sat at the tables. Charles
? Taft was one Of the guests of honor. |
oiov. Ansel of South Carolina was at the
.peakers' table. He was inaugurated |
'o.isy and hurried 10 Augusta imme-
lately after the ceremony to honor the .
President-elect
II was O'Clock before Mr. Tad began
n speak. The President-e!ect declared
hat he would do everything possible
n establish complete free trade betwee
mis- country and the Philippines He
'dded that the great trade questions OF
he world to-day concern the trade with
nina. I'VE have got said he, ito take
= position in favor OF the open door policy
Sid that we shall have the right with
"'uer nations in dealing with that coun-
Ivy
\Ir. Taft explained at length the pur-