New-York tribune., 1909-05-16
SOUTHERN CITIES TO
ENTERTAIN MR.. TAFT
PRESIDENT TO HELP IN
TWO CELEBRATIONS.
VIII Be Central Figure of Veterans
Ceremony and Mecklenburg
memOrdtiOn.

Petersburg Va Nav 15-On Wednesday this city
Will entertain a President OF the United States for
the first time in more than generation President
Taft will here from Washington TO attend the
unveiing of the monument erected by Pennsyl-
vania veterans to the memory of their brave COM
rades who fell at the siege Of Petersburg and in
honor Of General Hartranft, commander of the
Sd Division. 9Th Corps. Army Of the Potomac, and
later Governor of Pennsylvania
To Brigadier General ]. F. Hartranft, COM
maudng the 80 Division who had charge Of the
assault great credit is due. and his divisions are
especially congratulated on the distinguished sue
cess which their good conduct has met with IN
their first engagement So wrote General Parks
in his official report the recapture of Fort Sted-
man A heartfelt. most cordial greeting and the
best of good cheer await the men in blue members
of the Grand Army OF the Republic, who will be
the guests OF Petersburg.
The monument has been erected on the line sepa-
rating Dnwiddie end Prince George counties. and
when the President reaches that boundary the fes-
tivtties will begin. mounted troop will escort
Mr.. Taft the unveiling stand and thence TO the
city. Luncheon will be served at the old Boiling
mansion on Centre Hill. where President Lincoln
stopped when he visited Petersburg to confer with
General Grant This house the subject OF
Lincoln pun Some one remarked TO the President
that IT did not seem necessary 10 rent such large
house for headquarters. and Mr. Lincoln, who had
been examining some holes in the walls. dryIy an
swered: General Grants gunners seem To nave
attended to the rent question fairly WELL
Speeches will follow the luncheon Governor
stuart Of Pennsyl, ania will respond when his state
is toasted and President Alderman OF the Uni
versitv Of Virginia will acknowledge the comPIi-
nlent to the Old Dominion. Mr.. McIllwaine VIII
sneak for Petersburg and Mr.. Taft will deliver the
address CT the day.
The only visit which the President will make IN
Petersburg will be Mrs. William Mahon, the
widow of the Confederate general who gained vic
tory at the Battle of the Crater.
THENCE TO CHARLOTTE, N. G..
From Petersburg President Taft will go to Char
lotte Mecklenburg County n. c., TO attend the
celebration held there annually on May 70 IN com
nnemoration OF the "Mecklenburg Declaration OF
Independence The fete OF 1853 Will surpass all Its
predecessors both in magnitude and magnihcence
The town has bought huge quantities of bunting
much of which is already in place, and three great
arches have been raised. Practically all of North
Carolinas militia will parade before the President
and representatives OF the commercial fraternal
and social organizations will add their quota TO
the pageant Farmers will give their helpers a
holiday for the occasion, mills will close tne
wheels In factories will turning and stores WI"
he vacated Besides the annual holiday MI laIt
will be the attraction, for the President has great
popularity in North Carolina Tne President WIZ
sneak at $3.50 D. m after he has been entertained at
an informal luncheon He will be the guest OF honor
at dinner in the evening Among the otHei
guests will be Governor Robert b. Glenn OF Norta
carolina; Senator Joseph VI. Dixon, or Montana
and ] F. Johnston, OF alabama, both native North
Carolinians; Senator Albert B. Cumnins' OF IOWA.
a North Carolinian by descent; the two senator's
from the "Old North State" Messrs. oVeFLnah ana
c,r,roons and DR. William Mecklenburg Polk or
New York. whose name bespeaks his ancestry
After the dinner the President viii return 10 WASH
ington.
Tba ..NTecklenburg Declaration occupies a curl
GUS MACE in the history OF the United States II Is
series OF five resolutions purporting to have been
odoDtad AZ Charlotte on Mag %. fI75 or more than
= 80 before the Declaration OF Independence was
signed. by a convention of delegates representing
each militia company OF the county
These resolutions. five In number. were puoished
+, ..1rha Ia,e,gh Register on April 90 1873. and.
according to this newspaper report, declared:
n, THAT whoever aids abets the invasion OF
American rights is enemy 20 this country
Ausrical and to the inherent and inalienable
rights OF man.
q, That all political bands between those pass-l
ing the resolutions and the mother country are
a,sso,,ss the citizens or Mecklenourg County alb
.olved OF allegiance 10 the British Crown and all
politioai connectscn w.th that nation broken OF