Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-03
WAS "COLD WATER" AFFAIR
And Governor Tried to Make
Political Capital of It.
PRESIDENT MEETS BEAUTIES
Birmingham's Handsomest Ladies
His Hostessss at Country Club
Observation-Disclosures Parade.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

BIRMINGHAM. ia, November 3
President Taft vas out at 100 O'Clock
this morning sanniinG Birmingham's hos
pitaiijy. Fe was driven from the hotel to
the Country Club where he found a
splendid breakfast AND the citys most
beautiful women waiting for him.
Birmingham was sensible enough to take
the hint thrown cut by the President at
Jackson, Miss. the other night. and the
Alabama folks have made hit with the
President. The President had said i'm his
Jackson speech that he was getting tired
of mems banquets and he wished the
south would throw its dining room doors
wide open and admit those who would
really grace the board-the women of
Dixie land The President enjoyed his
Birmingham breakfast. and he did not
hesitate to say that the charming COM
pany had had good deal to do with it.
The Country Club breakfast was fol-
lowed by parade which the President
reviewed from the Southern Club BAL
cony. The President had luncheon ct
this club and later delivered an address
before a big crowd in Capitol Park.
A "Cold Water" Incident.
The Birmingham banquet last night
was the first "cold water feat that
the President has attended on his trip.
The Jackson. Miss, banquet came near
90 being a temperance affair, but the
vets won out by going down to New
Orleans and buying their wine. Here in
Alabama, however, the temperance
question is at white heat, and the
tipplers did not have the nerve to buy
the wine outside the state. let alone
serving it at the Taft banquet.
The state is split wide open on this con-
stitutional amendment question, and
| Gov Conner and his followers tried TO use
the Taft banquet as means of boosting
their cause. The governor himself deliv-
! cred a speech which is the subject of
| much criticism.
Senator Johnston, who presided at the
banquet, started the harpoons in the gov
ernor's direction when he said: THE only
reason the people complain of the gov
ernor at all is because they don't agree
with him.
Had Heard" of Taft.
The governors speech was delivered di.
| rectly to the President. Here is a fan
sample Of the tone Of it:
We have heard Of you, Mr.. President
We did not discover you. We have
heard of you in the Philippines. in Cuba
as a steam roller in Chicago, the king
bee in Washington In fact. they tel
me you run things down there.
The governor attempt to make polti-
cal capital out Of the Taft banquet was
apparent when he turned to the PTesi-
dent and said:
Il notice you haven't taken much wa
ter?"
You don't limit the drinking water. do
your" said the President, with feeble
effort at a smile.
tNekher do We limit the drinking OF
| whisky" said the governor: but we limit
the place of drinking 1t. You can go to
many a home here, as fine mansions as
anywhere, and get anything you care 10
drink. even water"
twas this remark, however, that gave
the diners the opportunity of showing
just how much they cared for their gov
arnor.
II am told" said he. still addressing
the President, that you need a justice
of the Supreme Court. and We have
plenty of good. bright lawyers right here
who could fill that Office with honor. And
Fl understand that YOU need a minister to
| China. II YOU can't find anybody else
who wants the job. just give it to me-.
Endorsed His Application.
For a-few seconds the big audience
was absolutely quiet. then IL began tC
applaud until finally the big banquet hall
was ringing with cheers Of approval. II
was hint to Mr.. Taft to relieve Ala
bama by inf1icting burden upon CHINA
| The governor looked embarrassed.
| Secretary Dickinson rubbed 1t in by re-
marking in his speech: Il enjoyed the
speech of your governor. but that which
seemed to carry off the palm was when
| he suggested a mission to China" and
, the President himself came back at the
governor in this way:
Il Thought the governors reference 10
the associate justiceship entirely too in
definite. and when he made his definite
suggestion it received much heartier ap-
| prevail"
| The President Will leave here at
| o clock this afternoon for Macon Ga.