The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-14
TAFT CHEERED IN BIRMINGHAM Makes Speech to Large
 Gathering. iENRoUTE TO < CINCINNATI Tells New Orleans Citizens He Had
 Good Time. xHe Presassnt-eIses,s Train Made sev- : er.I steps in MIssi.sipp, aaa Aiabanaa ana shert
 speeches Were Made.
 a

Birmingham. Feb. 13.--TaIxing Through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. just like campaign days, the iPresidsnt-elect had today the gratifi- cation which he evidently enjoyed of being heartily received by large and Eenthusiastie crowds who did not vote sor him.
 He took numerous ioccasions to make e Fhis appreciation plain, at the same time leaving a touch of irony behind in the form of . reminder that his pre- campaign predictions had surely come true. and not only did the South seem willing to accept him as their Presi- ldent, but his greatest desire was to be the President of every man, womari and child in. the nation.
 There was one other burden on the Taft mind tod&y--a desire to show his utter contempt for what he termed the baseless and hurtfuf criticisms of the work being done, on the Panama ca- nal. ssg /
 The seniaifty of the raft smile may be seen in this sentence which went home tp the people of Hattiesburg.
 TT am delighted to look into your faces:. delighted to say to you that I am your Presfdent and you cannot help sts and if ever an opportunity comes again to show. it will grntIfy me to come down here to Hattiesburg named sitter. I doubt not, beautiful woman hnd say to the people of Hattiesburg, come up to Washington and we will give you the right hand of Fellowship and will show you that you own just Ms much of the White House, and have as much right to call on the President, and indeed the woman who occupies and runs it--as anybody"
 Talks PHain Aheut Canal.
 Tho canal remarks of Mir. Taft were delivered with unusual manifestations of aggressiveness.
 s'The Panama Canal Is going to be built" he declared. land what I want Iyou to do. and what want every EAmerican citizen to do is to stand by the men who are building 1t. Voices: eve will do tt-"l Don't set fire In. Che rear. done distrust the men that are giving ID theif strenkth and en- ergy and epterpftNe to pNt that great work throuwh. When you have agents who ars doing your worhs you stAnd behind them. If you do not you cannot v6uk work are entialsd to yout help and lcohAdsnee and you ought not tos elioW youraeixea to be led astray by bunccnAbe speeches 0fi the floor of the HouBe of Represeneattiyes or by head- lines in sensational newspapers and 50 back on the men that are doing Your work.
 T don't care. whether you are Dern- Ocrats or Republicans, you want the work done and when the army of Yen- gineers who are doing this work are giving all .tieir time to the carrying out of tliis work, you are not men to go back on them, or 10 believe every idle story that comes from the mouth of some politician, who is seeking, to make himaelfl prominent or to give himself the advertisement of a little, unfounded sensational statement.
 That work is being done honestly. know what I am talking about It will be built and all the wind opposi- tfonScannot stop 1t. i'1 know what the people In the United States wantsin that regard, and fin so far as I have power as executive of this, country, am going to, push | that work, and am going to stand | behind the men who are doing it. And | now gentlemen you have gotten me | into more heat than expected. but I | thank you very much for your vel come"
 Good Eyes to New, Orleans.
 There was a cordial Ieave-taking at New Orleans this morning when the Taft party departed. Slidell, La, turned out the first crowd to greet &ho President=eiect and from that time on he was almost constantly on the rear platform of the train, expressing his pleasure at the crowds and talk ang to the people of their govern ment.
 Mrs. Taft participated in the demon strations and was eheered by the peo- ple Floral tributes bon-bons and two live 'possums constituted the presenta- 4ion of the day. The 'possums were allowed to escape from their wooden creta and take to the woods at night 6alI.
 Picayune. Poplarville, Lumberton, Puvis Hattesburg Ellisville Laurel Meridian and Tuscaloosa were treated to the appearance of the President elect.
 The two big demonstrations of the day were at HattesbarS and Meridian while at Birmingham tonight there was a tremendous crowd which expressed its great enthusiasm at the short talk Ar. Taft was able to make in the limit ed time at his disposal
 MT. and Mrs. Taft will reach Cin- cinnRti tomorrow morning and will go direct to the c. P. Taft residence.
 While the echoes from the report of guns were reverberatingin around the terminal station, the Ala bama Great Southern train came to a stop at 9 o'clock tonight and Rii- liam Howard Taft stepped into view.
 (COntInued on Page NIne.)