The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-30
PRESIDENT IN
 MISSISSIPPI ARRIVES AT NATcHEZ FAR IN AD. VANCE OF HIS RETlNUE
 OF SHIPS.
Says That the Trip Is Not Mere Junket, But One of Grave m- portance to the Future
 of the River.

Baton Rouge, La, Oct. 29-Although he arrived here more than three hours late tonight President Tatt's river schedule went great deal better to- day and there was not daylight hour that the twelve boats constituting the waterways fleet from St. Louis to New Orleans, were not in sight of the flag ship.
 The president made two stops to- day, at Natchez 'pn the hill" and here Sailing from here tonight, the Oleander probably will land the presi- dent in New Orleans by noon tomor- row He is scheduled to make his detailed speech OR the subject of wat erway improvement before the con vention in that cit vat 2:30 p. m.
 The principal reason that the fleet kept together today was the slacken- ing of the speed of the Oleander by bad cpal and choked fires throughout the morning. The chances are that by tomorrow noon there will be an other great gap between the boats, for the little lighthouse tender bear ing the president, skinned out of here tonight st top speed and with 8 new supply of coal on board. The president will go right into New Or. leans without waiting for the propos- ed rendezvous of the fleet outside of that city.
 At Natchez this morning the presl- dent was driven about the interesting old city, visited the grave of s. s. Prcniiss and made a speech in which he likened the Mississippi river to a beautiful and powerful woman" like ly to be the cause of trouble and to be treated with the greatest courtesy The president spoke on the bluff at Natchez, in a court of honor
 A horse shoe of gaily decorated boxes surrounded the speakers stand and each box was filled with pretty women
 It was one of the most unique scenes of the trip This afternoon the presi- dent visited three vessels of the fleet for a short period, eating twpl unch- cons as part of the program. On the trip down the river the president has had considerable fun with Speak CT Cannon who has been called on for an address at every place where Mir. Taft has appeared The speaker us. ually follows the president with the declaration that he favors his sugges- tion for the improvement of the wat erways ron q business like basis rath- CT than in the piece meal. politically controlled manner of the past.
 But the speaker always balks at the suggestion of bonds and VOWS he new CT. never, never, never will vote for them.
 Called uron for a speech on one of the boats this afternoon the president said he hal stated his own position pretty plainly and added
 "AlI I can agree to do now is to keep punching Uncle Joe to a point where he may make an admission and if accomplish that feat between St. Louis and New Orleans I shall have done something ennal to the work which presents itself to the engineers in making the river better
 Arriving in New Orleans tomorrow the president and members nf his csbinet will lunch with the Archbish- op of New Orleans at his house. The president goes from there to the con vention hall and after speaking on waterways will go out to witness the football game for the championship of the south between Sewanee and the Louisiana State University. He will he the guest of Governor Sanders at this game.
 The president will dine at the Pick wick Club and attend a performance of the French Opera in the evening Sunday morning he will attend the Unitarian Church
 The president was escorted to the fedora building tonight, where he was to a large crowd and made a brief address.
 While the presidential party arrived at Baton Rouge late. the people were ont in force to welcome him. Only one hour had been assigned 10 Baton Rouge but the committee had crowd ed much into this time.
 At the mouth of the Red river the presidents fleet was joined by steamer bearing a large party made un of the mayors and other officials of several Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas towns. They were anxious that the Red river towns should be repre- scented al the convention which will work for the improvement of the Mis- sissipni and it atrihuiaries. Aiexan-