Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-02
TAFT SAYS NATION
WILL SHIP GOODS
OVER WATERWAYS
President Is Given Great Ovation
BY Madly Cheering Delegates
In New Orleans Convention of
Waterways Association.


NEW ORLEANS. La. Oct. SO.-Presi-
der TafS celehra 81 the successful ter
mlnation Of hIs trip down the Mississippi
river today by addressing the delegates
TO the convention Of the Lakes to the Gulf
Deep Waterway asst cia on.
This organization has as it's object the
cepening and general Improvement Of the
Mississippi river and its tributaries.
GREAT OVATION GIVEN.
The arrival of the president was the sig
nal for an outburst OF applause. The del
egates ard visitors sprang to their feet.
many mounted their chairs in order 10 get
a better view or the bowling. smiling big
man who was working his way through
the double line OF secret service men and
police officers. He stood on the platform
moment greeting President Kavanaugh.
Of the Waterways association and then
bowed his appreciation of the applause.
President Kavanaugh presented him
with a handsome gold badge and then in
troduced Governor Sanders. of Louisi-
ana. who in turn introduced the presi-
dent. The applause broke out again and
was reinforced with some vigorous YaIe
yells. When IL died away President Taft
commenced his address.
The president began by having a little
fun regarding the trip down the river. He
said the danger had all been run and that
the feet had come through without the.
loss OF a single man. Mr.. Taft taunted
the congressman and governors for hav-
ing resorted to the humilitating device OF
land transportation at one stage OF the
journey.
| He paid a tribute TO the city Of New
Orleans and the hospitality of her people
and then turned TO a serious discussion
OF the Mississippi. saying he hoped the
present voyage and convention would
mark an epoch in the Improvement of the
waterway.
WATERWAYS AS CARRIERS.
The president declared that no prog
ress had been made in river navigation
in this country in the last 40 or IS years.
| The waterways of the country. Mr..
Taft declared. must be used eventually
to carry the bulk of heavy merchandise.
The presidents declaration that he IA
vored the issuance of bonds for carrying
out the Ohio river improvement as one
| OF the approved projects of inland wa
| terways called out a burst of applause.
! The Ohio river improvement will cost
| $50. COO. Mr.. Taft said that he also
favored bonds for all other improve
ments, including the Mississippi just as
soon as feasible project can be decided
upon and can be shown TO be necessary
and justifiable The Ohio river gives
the bulk of business to the Mississippi.
the president declared. and every i'm
provement of a tributary tended to in
crease the value of the great water high
way to the gulf.
The president told of the improve
! ments TO the Mississippi on the way
down, especially in protecting the banks
from a further sloughing off at the out
side of the bends. The engineers say
they need 100000 more year to carry
on this beneficial work as II ought to
be carried on and that It was a shame
congress did not give II to them.
TAFT URGES BRASS TACKs.
In conclusion, President Taft declared
that the time for oratory was past. and
that II was now time to get down to
brass tacks. He said:
1T is now up to you gentlemen to de-
eide what you want, what IL will cost,
how long 1t will take and what the re-
suit will be. once that is done you can
command. not ask.
He paid a compliment 10 the women
OF New Orleans and predicted that II
the delegates to the convention remained
here two or three days. they would for
get that there was such a thing as a
river.
GREAT FOOTBALL FAN.
Having developed into a fullfedged
baseball fan" during the summer, the
president started his career as football
enthusiast this afternoon. The commit
tee in charge of his visit decided yester
day that Il would be too much OF tax
on the president TO ask him to go TO two
football games in one afternoon and If
he was TO so to see Sewanee play, the
Louisiana State University. the adherents
Of Tulane and the Mississippi Agricultur-
al and Mechanical college were insistent
that he should call in at their game as
well.
The president decided last night that he
certainly would see the Sewanee game. for
Captain Butt. his aid, and one other
member OF his party were old Sewanee
men and they put in a convincing word
for their alma mater. When this became
known the president was besieged upon
his arrival here by requests to attend
the Tulane game as we'll
SEES TWO GAMES.
Il was said that II had been extensive
" advertised that he would be at the
game and that IL would be a bitter dis
appointment to thousands OF people If he
did not do so. So Mr.. Taft decided to go
70 both games.
First he stopped in at Pelican park
and saw the Sewanee team make the
final touchdown in a game which she won
with apparent ease. Thence the president
had a six mile automobile dash to Tulane
campus where he saw the last Is minutes
OF play in an evenly matched game won
by Tplane, to 0.
At the Tulane game the presidents au-
tomobile was stopped along the side lines
and had been standing there but a few
moments when a lively scrimmage and
spectacular tackle occurred right in front
OF his machine. At both games the presi-
dents ears were filled with college cheers.
At n smoker given the waterway dele
gates tonight Speaker Cannon presided.
Cannon Defies Insurgents;
Itn..A Y.IsAsn- % II