Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-05-20
Prest. Taft's Attitude Towards
It Greatly Interested Citi-
zens of North Carolina.
TAKES DECIDED STAND FOR 1T.
Exact Language Used Not So
Material as Action of
People Of State.
Il Showed Not Only Desire for Lib.
erty but Capacity to Govern and
knowledge of Subject.

!
Charlotte. y. c.. May 2o.Presi-
dent Taft and party arrived here at
1915 q. m. from Petersburg. Va.
MT. Iatt was greeted by an i'm &
mcnse throng which had gathered
at the Southern railway station. a
heavy rain fell during the morning
but ceased just before Mr.. Taft
reached the city.
II required the service of several
companies OF militia to keep the
cheering crowds at the depot in
check as the president alghted ana
made his way TO a waiting carriage.
Mr. Taft accompanied by Capt Archi-
bald Butt, his military aide, was met
at North Charlotte BY a local COM
mittee. Interest in the presidents
visit to Charlotte at this time CEN
tered In the attitude lie would take
of independence.
AT; TAFT takes the position that re-
CARELESS OF the exact language of the
declarations made in May, 1875. Il
fuii year before the signing OF tie
at Philadelphia in July. 1776, the
TACT remains that there was a tiecia-
ration of independence on tie part
OF the citizens OF North Carolina.
TAFT's ATTITUDE DEFINED
1T is not so material as to the
exact language used, said the presi- Z
dent today. THE measure of a de-
claration for the principles Of civil
liberty and self-government is not
so much the abuse of the denuncia-
ton of the former controlling power
as the provisions made for the fu-
ture form of government. The i'm
pressiHe thing was that the Nort,
Carolina proposition is the sensible
way the people of the state, after
| deciding to sever relations With Great
Britain went about the matter OF
setting up II government of their own
| They appointed select men. provided
for their military officers. their
courts and forms of legal procedure.
It showed not alone n desire for IL
berty but the ability to govern and a
thorough knowledge of tie subject"
The presidents participation mark
ed the elimination of a three days
celebration of the Mcclilenburg de-
claration.
subject of stubborn controversy 1t
is declared by its supporters to have
ante-dated the famous declaration of
July 4, 1875. and has been denounce-
cd as a myth"
1t is claimed the Mecklenburg dec
dtulioii aNttS H6Sl pIi @lttS -U,arli n
body OF colonists met at AIecklenburg,
near Charlotte. and. resolving them
selves into q committee Of safety, it is
declared they drew up declaration of
Independence. Unfortunately for the
discussion which has followed the orig
inal copy of the Mecklenburg decara-
ton was said to have been lost in q
fire which destroyed the home of John
McKnitt Alexander, in whose keeping
,,-oS tIpvanIar's 3 M
however, it is related that u copy of the
original, signed by him as delegate
and clerk OF the convention. was found.
Ii was in 1925 that the people of North
Carolina first formally observed May
90. In 1880 the legislature of the state
appointed committee to consider ell
the evidence obtainable concerning the
affair. The committee affirmed tho
gcnuneness of the Mecklenburg reso-
lutions. Today the date. May 20. is
cnblazonetl ON the great seal of North
Carolina. the declaration appears in ths
statute books OF the state and each
year the anniversary Is observed.
MRS. ssToNEwALL. JACKSON.
The president who yesterday was the
guest OF Petersburg, Va was met at
the railway station upon his arrival
here by an imposing committee OF clti-
Gems and escorted to the Selwyn hotel.
Arriviilg at the hotel the president
held a reception, Then with scores OF
Union ana confederate veterans for his
escort. the president. accompanied by
Mrs. "Stonewall" Jackson. proceeded 10
a reviewing stand from which he Wit
messed the passing OF probably the most
noted parade ever held in this city
Large attachments OF the national
guard OF both North and South Caroline
were in the line. The Industrial. CO.
lonisl and Gorai divisions were made
UP OF handsomely decorated floats. More
than 200 farmers were in line on horse
back Many, accompanied by Their
wives and children, appeared in colonial
costume.
The president was expected 70 make
two speeches during his stay in the
city. Following luncheon at y. NJ.
he was to address the people NJ
o'clock. Coy. Sitchin was to introduce
the president on both occasions.
AT $50 he will deliver an address
especially to the colored people and to
The students nf Biddlc university. From
TO $50 this evening he will hold q
second public reception. The president
win leave at 1850 tonight for wash,