The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-04
STOOD BY POSTUM
President Taft Told Georgians
He Liked Tt.
When Asked Regarding the
FavOrfte Southern Dish.
ATTENDS STATE FAIR
Which Is in Progress This Week
at Macon.
STATE FAIR
Live POssums and PersimmOns
Among the Decorations.

Macon, Ga, Nov. 4.-President Taft
has formally come to the defense of the
postum" When somebody in a crowd
in Columbus, Ca, shouted: How
about 'possum?' he said:
I'm some way or other the impression
has gone abroad that have particu-
lar love for that dish. Well, at Atlanta
they gave me a dish of 'possum that
was very well cooked and that 1 en-
joyed very much. am bound to say
that I could not distinguish 1t from the
taste Of young pig, but have had TO
encounter in insisting that I did like 1t,
certain sort of prejudice, that Is said
to exist against that animal in the
tastes of some people. Now, don't en-
terrain that sort of prejudice"
1t was nearly o'clock this morning
when President Taft awoke in his prl-
vate car. He was welcomed by the
various committees Of Macon citizens,
who had gathered at the union station.
where the train had been parked over
night and then was escorted to the
residence of Congressman Charles L..
Bartlett for breakfast. The breakfast
party was small
From the Bartlett home, the president
was escorted to the state fair grounds.
The welcome accorded the nations
head was one Of the most enthusiastic
received anywhere on the trip. The
streets were lined with thousands of
citizens and school children, the schools
having closed for half holiday.
The decorations also were suggestive
of Taft day." live 'possums and per-
simmons forming part of the elaborate
scheme. Stores, offices and homes werc
gay with national colors mixed with d
liberal display of the confederate en-
b1ems.
At the fair grounds the president was
accorded a cordial reception and made
From the ir Grounds
the presidential party went directly to
the train and departed for SavanrsS
where they will arrive about $3.50 this
evening.
Governor Brown of Georgia, and 9TH
er state officials accompanied the parry.
Says stand by the Law.
President Taft in his speech at the
fair grounds today touched on the
constitutional limitations placed on the
authority of the executive and declared
that he did not think disregarding the
statutes was the best method of remOv-
ing limitations that interfere with re-
forms.
The federal constitution, he said.
had been drawn with great wisdom
and there were few respects in which
| it could be improved.
call 1 have said.' he went on,
brings to me a little sermon on the
wisdom and necessity of following the
| law as it is. Sometimes in the zest
| and enthusiasm of desiring -reIOr ms,
we feel impotence with the limita-
lions of the statutes that prevent the
immediate accomplishment of our pur-
pose and we are tempted to disregard
and ignore them.
"But think you will agree with me
that is not the best way if the limita-
lions interfere with progress. The
people should be told of the limita-
ions, they should be aroused to the
necessity of wiping out those !in1ita-
tions and to the necessity of a change.
They should not leave it to the execu-
tive to disregard the written law. be-
cause what he proposes to do is the
! law of higher morality"
Such a disregard of the law the
president said. would soon lead an
executive into wilderness out of
which he could not guide himself.
| "First make your law according to
your desires and ambitions said the
president, land then follow it.
at am telling you of these limitations
| of the executive and of the duty OF
the congress, because this winter
xpect to recommend a lot of things
to congress and I want you to know
where the responsibility lies if they
/ fail to pass"