Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-04
By President Taft, Who
Seems to Win All Hearts.
Confederate Veteran Assures
I. Him Of His Great Victory.
Nations Chief Executive Puts In
A Busy Day at Birmingham.

Birmingham. Ala, Nov. 3.-President
Taft brought his 20-hours stay IN
Birmingham to a close this afternoon
and left for Macon, Ga. He stopped to-
night for short stay at Opelika, Ala
and at Columbus, Ga.
In his principal Birmingham address
delivered at Capital park this after
noon to an immense and unusually de-
monstrative crowd, the President again
expressed his good will toward the
South. While doing so, gray headed
man in the crowd called out:
God bless you; we all love you"
A broad smile came over the Presi-
dents face as he replied,
That reminds me of the old quota
ton 1T may be all right to dissemble
your love, but why did you kick me
down stairs
But have no fault to find on that
score" added the President. THE fact
that you had so little to do with put
ting me where l am, makes me appre-
ciate the warmth and sincerity of your
reception all the more"
The President urged support in car
rying out the Roosevelt policies, to
DIlIS tiDouI OCllCi SoIidllloilo vi IloI-
esty and integrity in business and pub
lie affairs, without regard to party
lines.
The President referred to the prop
ositiOn to amend the state cOnstitu-
ton by providing in it for an indefinite
continuance of state wide prohibition
He promptly was asked how he stood
on the question.
Il am not an Alabaman,' he replied.
amid laughter, land am in somewhat
the same position as the brother fox,
who when he was called upon to de-
eide a case between a lion and some
other ferocious beast. protested that ne
had bad cold and had entirely lost
his sense of SMELL"
When the President left the lunch
con the way from the clubhouse door
to the waiting automobile was lined on
one side by veterans of the Confeder-
ate army and on the other side by
veterans Of the Grand Army of the
Republic. AS he passed down this ave-
nue., Mr.. Taft shook hands alternately
with each one.
AS he shook hands with one of the
Confederates. the old fellow said:
"Mr. President, you have captured
the Secessionists, the Ku klux and the
cranky Democrats, all of them"
"Well, that's whole lot" snilingly
replied the President.
Birmingham, Ala, Nov. 3.-President
Taft and party arose early today at
the Hillman hotel and the local COM
mittees were on hand ready to begin
today's program. At $50 the President
was driven to the Country Club or
breakfast.
About noon began the parade, COM
posed of commercial, civic and frater-
nal organizations, school children and
no less than 800 automobiles.
AS the Presidential party passed the
Paul Hayne school on the south side,
several hundred children sang 1.-The
Star Spangled Banner" and Dixie"
The President, after riding through
the better part of the business section
of the city at the head of the parade.
took his position on the reviewing
stand in front of the Southern Club,
the Fashionable club of the city, and
the parade passed in review Luncheon
was served afterward at the Southern
Club.
At o'clock this afternoon the Pres
ident addressed the people in Capital
park.