Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-21
Rousing Greeting Given to the
Next President.
OUTDOOR MASS MEETING
Windows and Neighboring Roofs
Full of. People.
TAFT SHOWS APPRECIATION
Says He Has Found What He
Sought-Health and Happiness.
Talks of Trip to Canal Zone.

AUGUSTA, Ga. January 21.-Richmond
county, Ga, modestly stepped under the
spotlight yesterday and proclaimed Will
liam II. Taft as her very own-that he
was a resident of Augusta when the pres
idential electors declared him to be the
President-eect; that as such he was a
Georgian by birth and had lived where
he was born all of his presidential life
Ten thousand Augustans clinched this
claim with mighty shout of approval
which was echoed again and again as
Maj. j. c. c. Black said many other COM
plimentary things about Mr.. Taft in pre-
senting him to the mighty mass meeting
which had assembled around the same
stand from which President Mckinley
spoke more than ten years ago. The
streets, the windows and the neighboring
roofs were full of people, and when the
distinguished visitor told how he liked
Augusta, and pledged himself to come
again, all hearts were as CHEEKY and faces
as radiant as the warm afternoon sun
and mellow southern air.
Political Phase Of His Visit.
Turning his attention to the political
phase of his visit south, Mr.. Taft was
not, he said. excited some seemed to
be about the effect. IF / can convince
the southern people that this administra-
ton is as much concerned with the well
fare of the people of the SOUTH he said
with emphasis, "as it is with the welfare
of the people of every other section,
have accomplished all that l can hope to-
The votes and the political matters can
take care of themselves
The banquet scene last night at the
Terrace was one of richness and anima-
ton. The atmosphere of the south was
indicated in the long sprays of the green
pine and the fresh blossoms of southern
Smilax. The ball room. the assembly
room and the dining room were bowers
of palms and flowers as they terraced
into one another by rising steps in an
effect of vastness and splendor. More
than two hundred men. the guests of the
Augusta Chamber of Commerce, and in
Guiding John d. Rockefeller Gov. Ansel
of South Carolina, who was inaugurated
yesterday. and many others of distinction
assembled to add to the brilliancy and
contribute sto the oratory of the occa-
sion. The speeches were directed by
the president of the chamber of COM
merce. l.. c. Hayne. Georgia was toasted
by Judge Henry c. Hammond: South
Carolina by Gov. Ansel; the southern
press. by T. w. Loyless. and Augusta, by
Judge Joseph r. Lamar.
Mr.. Taft Discusses Canal Visit.
1t was after / o'clock before Mr.. Taft
was introduced to the guests of the ban
quet. After he had dealt smilngly with
the humorous speech of Editor Loyless
and given the other speakers serious at
tention, he devoted some time to the dis
cussion of the Panama canal and the
object of his coming visit to the isthmus.
He did this he said, because there seemed
to be disposition in some quarters to
misunderstood his visit Congress, he
said, had after due and careful con-
sideration settled the type of canal that
should be built. The criticism which was
made at the time of this settlement. and
which was made in furtherance OF the
sea-level plan. had since been repeated.
The natural belief in the sea level canal.
which Mr.. Taft said perhaps the whole
country entertained, was a belief which
comes through lact of understanding
the exact situation. He was such
a believer until he had visited the 18TH
mus. Answering the criticism that he
might be going down there with his mind
made up in advance, he said the Situa-
ton was analogous to a judge who had
decided a case regarding which subse-
qucnt evidence had been discovered. He
was going there to ascertain If subse-
quent evidence really existed, as had been
stated in, some of the press Of the coun-
try, which would justify a change of the
plan. He was frank to hint that he did
not believe such evidence existed. The
great benefits of the canal were reviewed
by Mr.. Taft. which. besides stimulting
trade with South America, would double
the effectiveness of our navy.
Taft and Rockefeller Meet.
Although Mr.. Taft and John d. Rookie
feller have been guests of the same no.
tel since Monday, it was last night at
the banquet when they first met. Mr..
Rockefeller had for some time been hold
ing an informal reception, at which the
arriving guests had been eager attend
ants When Mr.. Taft arrived he es-
tdbIished himself short distance from
Mr.. Rockefeller in the assembly room of
the hotel At once the crowd began to
desert the oil magnate and assemble
around Mr.. Taft. Mr.. Rockefeller was
taken by the hand by Mr.. c. A. Woods
manager of the hotel, and formally pre-
scented to Mr.. Taft.
How are you, Mr.. Rockefeller was
the jovial salutation of Mr.. Taft. Il
got around the golf links in So today"
Il wanted to hear you speak this after
noon.' was the reply of Mr.. Rockefeller,
who added with a touch of regret in his
voice, but | could not get near enough"