The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-01-20
TAF7'S TAFFY
In big Atlanta Banquet He De-
clarss That The
SOUTH HAD WON HIM

SUUsH nAU WUW saIgs
Makes Fair Promises in Regard t.
the Character Of the Officials H.
Nay appoint in the South, and Ht
Viii Bear Them In Mind After
March.
Atlanta, Jan. 16.-President-elect
Taft attended q big banquet in At
laDta Friday night, given in his hon
or. Judge Taft had given care tc
the, preparation OF his banQue:
speech, regarding 1t as his important
otterance OF the day, and in its de-
livery he followed his manuscript
closely.
Mr.. Taft said with feeling that
he was proud to have been the hrsr
revolution candidate for the Presl-
dency who had carried his canvas
south Of Mason's and Dixon's line.
''In the presence Of Democrats ana
Republicans here at non-partisan
banquet expressing the welcome OF
the whole community, It would neith-
er be courteous nor appropriate for
me to 80 into a partisan discussion. -
Mr.. Taft continued. 81 can only
refer to the fact With qualification
and congratulation that today the
expression Of any political Tiews II
the South is possible without in
volving social ostricisn or any Of the
penalties with which it might have
been visited in earlier times. Ten
years have made q great difference
in the situation which the controll-
ing people Of the South occupy to-
wards the North and the govern
ment.'
The President-elect then summar-
lied the causes which had worked
and were affecting the change-tLe
Spanish war; the attitude Of Ne
Kinley, his lovable character and the
principles he stood for in his cam
paign; the succession Of Roosevelt
with his Georgia mother; and final
" the wonderful business develop
nents Of the South.
y am a Republican but conce6e
fully the great advantage to the
country Of having Democratic pa.
ty sufficiently powerful at times 20
win the Presidential elections aud
always to put the Republican party.
when iH control, in fear Of a pos
sible or probable defeat. And so l.
the South no one can deny the ad-
vantage that will arise in local and
State governments when there is
substantial and intelligent minority.
which may become q successful ma
jority in punishment of the abuses
that are likely to grow out CT the
long continued and undisputed con
troll Of one party. Added to that, the
uncertainty which may attend the
result Of national elections il State
is certain to give it additional I'M
portance to the councils Of the na
tion.
81 observe that among some prom
ilent members Of congress there is
q disposition to charge me with al
attempt to win the South over II
Republicanism and a somewhat Con
temptuous expression Of opinion that
this is utterly impossible. To than
I would say tiat I am not hopeful
Of winning the South over as the
say, but that the South has sc
ceedad in winning me.
IF my coming has been partisan
no sucn meeting as this tonight
would have been possible, and so l
may say Of all the receptions sA'.
expressions Of good will and Welcome
that I have received from point to
point throughout the Southern coun-
try. The very success Of ny trip.
the very reason why it gives me Sc
much satisfaction, is the pronounced
non-partisan character Of tie we
come which has been so kindly cx-
tended to me.
''Now if this indirectly makes, TOT
for a partisan advantage, but for Q
continuance of the movement in IA
vor Of independence of spee,n a:.l
action and political tolerance its
result is one that al citizens Of whas-
ever political party must rejoice tt
have brought about.
The direct local effect Of a.
ional administration upon tho South
is chiefly through their functicn.
through the section, and therefor,
the expression of the Adminis:ra.
ton toward the Southern peopi:
takes it's color in the character o
those officials, and there the admin
istration may be proper'.T held q,
countable and its policies daternlr-
ed by the qualifications fitness anG
standing Of the men appointed Il
represent it in the districts am
States Of the section. realize
therefore. that expressions Of SYN.
pathy with the South and an carnes:
desire to bring it closer to ths cea;ra
government in thought and ACTOR
and feeling will have comparatively
little weight unless this expression
is accomplished by such appoint
zments in the South as shall prove
this sympathy to be real aod suDstan
tial.
'sAll I can say with reference t
the future policy Of the acminlstra
ton in the South on this sublec
is that I expect to spare no effor
to find out the facts in respec
to the character of the proposed ap
pointees. and so far as in me- lie
to select men whose character an
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