The sun., 1909-11-02
TAFT ON THE HOMESTRETCH
WILL BE RACK IN WASHING
TON IN NINE DAYS MORE.
says He Found No Discontent Among
People on Long JOurney-Teils Boys
20 stick TO Farm-JaclSsOn People
at Odds Over Wet or Dry Banquet


JACKSON, Miss. Nov. with New
Orleans behind him President Taft is on
the last leg OF his long journey.
He has nine days more in the Southern
States. but he already has seen enough
OF the South to enable him to say that
his two months study OF oonditi ons
throughout the country is practically
finished.
The impressions that he has gathered
from the trip were summarized by him
In a speech here to-day. Said he
Il have gone from the Atlantic to the
Pacific Ocean, down the Pacific coast
to the southwest corner OF the country.
through the Territories and that great
domain Of Texas to st. Louis. down the
Mississippi to New Orleans. and I have
made. the Lord forgive me and the Lord
help those who have heard me. 2O0-odd
speeches and have survived the hearings
OF 200 more. and arm able to say that we
never in all our oountry's history were
as homogeneous a people. as closely
allied In all our hopes and ambitions and
In all our pride Of country and patriotism
as we are to-day.
1T Is possible that there are corners in
this country that have escaped me where
there is discomfort. but II 80 have not
found them. In every town. had almost
said every hamlet-in every city and
county. in every State. I have found the
individual saying to himself: I am con-
tented here because I know what will
make this city. or this town OF this county
the best in the State and am going to
do that very thing
And in respect to the ambitions Of the
people il has been the same. every one
proud to be a citizen OF the town or the
county or the State and all proud to be
Americans and to rejoice and thank God
that the Starry Flag waves over united
country"
The President spent sixteen hours In
this city. more time than he gave to
Chicago or San Francisco. Here in Jack
son they say that Mr.. Taft is the first
President who ever discovered that the
city is on the map. President McKin-
leys special train stopped here for a
second or two. but no Chief Executive
had over honored the city with visit
until to-day.
In view OF this fact and because of the
great men in American history that Mis-
sissippi has produced President Taft
measure of the Presidential presence
jackson appreciated the compliment
and did her best to make the Presidents 8
long stay in the city pleasant.
Everybody seemd to have in mind the
words OF Mississippi's famous Lamar:
love each other more.
The Mississippi folks certainly did their
best to make the Presidents acquaint-
ance. and Mr.. Taft was equally cordial and
chummy.
In CARRYING out this Taft celebration
jackson had a good many things TO con-
tend against. There was a State fair.
a circus. a balloon ascension and para
chute drop. The CIRCUS and the balloon
ascension alone would have discouraged
the ordinary city, but jackson managed
to have the circus parade and the Tart
The circus outfit. with its long line Of
wild animal cages Indians and bareback
riders, waited in a side street until the
Taft procession had passed and had dis
appea red into the State fair grounds.
Then the circus bands struck up and tol-
lowed on down the street. TINS enabling
the jackson folks to kill two birds with
one stone.
The President helped swell the gate
receipts Of the jackson Fair. just as he
has those Of many other shows on his
trip. The President acknowledged when
he started out from Boston that this gate
receipt swelling business was TO be one
OF his chief functions. and fair managers
have met him more than half way.
In his speech at the fair grounds the
| President said:
Here in Mississippi you have been able
to restrain that tendency OF your young
men to 20 into great cities. You have q
great population and they are remain
ing so. and | congratulate you on that
fact.
The truth il If I were advising a young
man in this country as to his future pro-
fession | should say to him that there
robably IA a greater opportunity Tor
real reward for assiduity, industry. at
tention TO business and scientific inves-
tigation in the profession OF agriculture
than any other profession that this country
affords.
by the tradition Of your State the most
OF your great men were both lawyers
and farmers. | am not altogether certain
that that combination makes Tor good
agriculture. l am afraid that some dis
tinguished members OF your bar find, or
did find before you gave up, everything
OF that sort, that glass OF milk was about
as expensive as a glass OF champagne.
But the tendency toward the country
and the country life is something we
ought to encourage. lt tends toward
sane and philosophical and quiet con-
sideration OF the problems OF life. 1t
takes out that nervous exhaustion. OF
energy; IL takes out the bling spirit;
it takes out Of the life Of the citizen that
hurry and rapidity that. carry men
quickly to their graves, and It makes for
the happiness Of Individuals and families
far greater than the pursuit Of any trade
or profession that brings you into the
maelstrom OF great city life.'
The Presidents programme included,
besides visit to the State fair. luncheon
at the Governors home. an automobile
sightseeing trip and dinner this
evening.
The dinner had caused considera BILE
OF a fuss between the vets and the drys
in the city. The drys were opposed TO
having wine served and they carried the
matter into the pulpits OF some OF the
churches The vets. however. refused
TO give in. and then the temperance
, people threatened to get out an iniunc-
ton restraining the vets from using wine
at the banquet.
The wine drinkers carried the day by
going to New Orleans and buying their
supply in Louisiana. Now the teetotalers
say they will carry the question OF the
Taft banquet to the polls.
Mississippi is a dry State. The Presi-
dent himself does not drink wine or any
thing else stronger than coffee. so that the
, Jackson people we're raising a rumpus
on their own account.