The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1909-05-22
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.

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 a 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 a 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
errors 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 a big athletic meet and fol-
lowed by a 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 a 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-
fed 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. special
guished guests in charge and conduct
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. Stoneman Jack
son, the governor and mayor and 9TH
er distinguished visitors, were escort
ed by a guard of old soldiers to a 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 speech to the colored people
and the students Of Biddle university.
From to $3.50 in the evening Mr..
and Mrs. Taft held public reception
in the parlors of the SeIwyn hotel
and shook hands with thousands of
people.
Military drills, band concerts and
other entertainments were provided
for the crowds all Wednesday after
noon and evening, and the great cele-
bration closed in a blaze of glory.
Old Controversy Renewed.
The people of North Carolina.
whose proudest boast has been that
their ancestors were the first Amer
leans to throw off the yoke of British
rule, now rejoice in the feeling that
President Taft has recognized the
justice of their claim, but the century
old controversy has broken out afresh.
Many historians refuse to accord to
the pioneers Of Mecklenburg county
the honor that is thus accorded them.
These historians allude to the story
as the Mecklenburg myth" and there
by arouse the anger of North Caro-
linans
According to those unbiased inves-
tigators who have looked most deep
ly into the matter, the Mecklenburg-
ers did hold a public meeting on May
81, IT'S, and did adopt resolutions
quite abreast of the public sentiment
OF that time, but not venturing on the
field of independence further than
to say that these resolutions were to
remain in full force till Great Britain
resigned its pretensions. In 1893, or
earlier, some Of the actors in the pro-
EnIINn IN Rims nE MEMPHIS