Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-01-20
The South Has Won the Heart of
President -elect Taft

The South Has Won the Heart Q
President .elect Taft
II had hoped to win the South
but the South has won me-" va
the sentiment expressed by Presi
dent-slect William II. Taft in At
lanta, Ca, last Friday night, a
the banquet given him by the AT
lsnta Chamber Of Commerce, ant
attended BY nea.ly elk hundre'
citizens Of Georgia and sdioinini
States.
The Atlanta dinner had 70
ceived much newspaper notice be
cause Of Mr.. Taft's expressed de-
sire that he be served with pos
sam and sweet potatoes, and this
Southern dslicacy was in evidences
IN Rreas abundance.
In bic speech, which had evil
IDENTITY been prepared with much
care, Mr.. Taft disclsimsd any iu-
tsntion of making a political sp.
peal to such a Ronpartissn gather
ing. He could only refer to the
fact with qualification that the ex-
preston of any political views in
the South today is possible with
out involving social ostracism or
any of the penalties with which it
might lave been visited in earlier
times. For this change in sentl-
ment as between the North and
the South, Mr.. Taft gave the chief
credit to William Mckinley.
IL am Republican," said Mr..
Taft. "but 1 concede fully the
great advantage to the country IN
having a Democratic party suffici.
emily powerful sometimes to win
the Presidential elections and al.
ways to put the Republican party,
when in control, in fear Of y posi-.
Bile or probable defeat.
"The South and the Southern
people are conservative, and they
ion't change in q mercurial way.
With them traditions are respected
and are strong motives of action.
II observe that among some
members OF Congress
mere is disposition to charge me
With an attempt to win the South
'ver to Republicanism, and q
omewhat contemptuous express
ion Of opinion that this 10 utterly |
impossible. To them ] would say
hat / am not hopeful of winning |
he South over, as they say, but
hat the South has succeeded in
me. For never have /
ad more cordial reception in
NY part of the country or the
'orld than during my present visit
D Georgia.
Referring to the question of
'edersl officeholders in the South,
lr. Taft said:
"Ths direct local effect Of q ma
onal administration upon the
outh is chiefly through its local
appointed and exercising
1eir functions through the sec
on. and, therefore, the expires.
on of the administration toward
ls Southern people takes its color
ON the character Of those ofa
ais. The administration may be
-opsrly held accountable, and its /
)licy determined by the qualifi- /
atoms, fitness, and standing OF the '
en- appointed 70 represent. it in d
Ie district and States of the b
ctlon. s. .A.& nc
II realize, therefore, that sx- v
essions of sympathy with the t
,uth and an earnest desire to r
ing 1t closer to the central gov.
nmsnt In thought and action and n
cling will have comparatively s.
tile weight unless this express. Il
IN 10 accompanied by such ap- ci
intmsnts in the South ~ shall t.
owe this sympathy to be real and ?
bstantisl. ri
"All can say with reference to n
Q future policy OF the admins. cl
alton in the South On this sub at
It 10 that / expect to spare no N
ort to find out thu facts in RES III
ct to the character Of the pro. L.
sed appointees, and 30 far as in IN
} lies to select those whose char. +.
ter and reputation and standing in
the community Commend them in
their fellow citizens as persons ~
Allied and able TO Discharge the nj
ties we'll and whose presence in an
portant positions will remove, If or
= such thing ext, Is, the ssnse Of IN
enism in the government which in
y represent. ov
TIT. lo1los:- -. -