Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-05-28
TAFT IS GUEST
OF CHARLOTTE
PRESIDENT ATTENDS MEcKLEN-
BURG CELEBRATION
HE MAKES TWO SPEECHES
Anniversary Of "First Declaration Of
independence" Is Occasion of Three
Days of Entertainment In
North Carolina.

Charlotte N. C-President Taft, by
his presence and participation, gave
his Endorsement to the celebration of
to the one hundred and thirty-fourth
anniversary of the Mecklenburg
declaration of independence, and con-
sequently the entire state is rejoicing.
The chief executive came on the last
of the three days Of celebration, and
his address was main feature of the
carnival program.
Military maneuvers and drills, band
concerts, athletic and baseball con-
tests and numerous addresses enter
tanned the swarms of visitors from all
parts of this and adjoining states.
The Charlotte fire companies opened
the affair Tuesday noon with an ex-
hibition, and then troop of regular
cavalry drilled and a band concert
was given. Baseball followed, and in
the evening the Charlotte drum corps
and three bands amused the crowds.
Governors Day Program.
Wednesday was designated as gov
ernors' day and the main event was
the delivery Of addresses by Gov.
Kitchin of North Carolina and the chief
executive of several other states, at
the fair grounds. These were pre-
ceded by big athletic meet and fol-
lowed by cavalry drill, military
maneuvers and band concerts, with
another ball game thrown in for good
measure.
Two events made the evening not
able. The first was May musical
festival at the Auditorium which en-
listed the services of a number of
excellent soloists and a large and
well trained chorus. The second was
an Illuminated parade given by the
Order of Red Men.
President Taft Arrives.
Just at ten o'clock Wednesday
morning the booming of a 21-gun sa-
lutte by the Charlotte artillery noti-
fled the people that President Taft had
arrived on his special train. Nearly
all the inhabitants and the thousands
of visitors were at the station, and
as Mr.. and Mrs. Taft alighted from
their car they were greeted with a
mighty roar of applause. A special
reception committee took the distin-
SucSlo III CudI &c anu
ed them to the Selwyn hotel, where
they were welcomed by Gov. Kitchin,
Senators Simmons and Overman and
the mayor of Charlotte.
After meeting all the committeeman
and their wives, Mr.. and Mrs. Taft,
together with Mrs. Stonemall Jack
son, the governor and mayor and 9TH
er distinguished visitors, were escort.
ed by a guard of old soldiers to re-
Viewing stand and witnessed a
grand parade of all the military and
civic organizations that could take
part in the celebration.
Mr.. Taft Speaks Twice.
A second installment of the music
festival in the Auditorium was graced
by the presence of the city's guests
and then all returned to the reviewing
stand, where President Taft delivered
an address. His words were listened
to with close attention and frequently
elected loud applause.
Later in the afternoon the president
made a speech to the colored people
and the students of Biddle university
From to 9:30 in the evening Mr.
and Mrs. Taft held public reception
in the parlors of the Selwyn hote
and shook hands with thousands O
people.
Military drills, band concerts anC
other entertainments were provided
for the crowds all Wednesday after
noon and evening, and the great cele
bration closed in blaze of glory.
Old Controversy Renewed.
The people of North Carolina
whose proudest boast has been tha
their ancestors were the first Amer
leans to throw off the yoke of Britisl
rule, now rejoice in the feeling tina
President Taft has recognized tn
justice of their claim, but the century
old controversy has broken out afrest
Many historians refuse to accord t
the pioneers of Mecklenburg count
the honor that is thus accorded then
These historians allude to the stor
as "the Mecklenburg myth" and there
by arouse the anger of North Care
linans.
According to those unbiased inve.
tigators who have looked most deel
ers did hold public meeting on Ma
81, ITS, and did adopt resolution
quite abreast of the public sentimer
of that time, but not venturing on til
field of independence further tina
to say that these resolutions were I
remain in full force till Great Britai
resigned it's pretensions. In 1898, {
earlier. some of the actors in the pr
ceedings endeavored to supply the re
ord from memory, unconsciously Il
termingling some of the phraseolog
of the Declaration of July A, whic
gave the resolutions the tone of
pronounced independency. Probab
through another dimness of memor
they affixed the date of May 20, III
to them.
Case for Meeklenburgers
The case for the Mecklenburgers
set forth as follows: In 1918 the
arose great rivalry between Mass