Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-01-21
DAY STREET MEETING;
BANQUET At NIGHT
AUGUSTA Proc|dlms Tart as Her Very
Own and Shows Appreciation
Of His Presence.
STATESMAN RESPONDS HAPPILY
Delivers Addresses in Which He
Says Nice Things Of All About Him
--Joculariy Refers to Difficulties
Of Cabinet Making-Many Others
Make Speeches.

AUGUSTA. GA. Jan. 2".-R'ch-
mond county, Georgia, mOdestly
stepped under the spotlight today
and proclaimed William H. Taft as
her very uwn-"that he was Il resi-
dent OF Augusta when the presidential!
electors declared him to be the Pres
ident-elect: that as such he was
Georgian by birth and had lived
where he was born all OF his presi-
dental life"
Ten thousand Augustlans c!inched
this claim with a mighty shout OF
approval which was echoed again
and again as Major J. c. c. Black
said many o:her complimentary things
about Mr. Taft in presenting 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
adjacent roofs were full of people
and when the distinguished visitor
today said how he liked Augusta and
pledged himself to come again. all
hearts we're as CHEEKY and faces as
radiant as the warm afternoon sun
AMI mellow Southern air
Day Full Of Features.
But the tig street meeting. pre-
ceded as it was by a concert of the
fourteenth artillery band from Fort
Mcpherson. was by no means the
extent Of the Taft-Augusta day fes-
tivities.
There was a banquet tonight at
The Terrace the big hotel just
across the Savannah river, where
were brought together the distin-
guished men of Georgian and South
Carolina. and again was the solidi-
ty of the South's hospitality dem
onstrated beyond question.
After midnight. when it was all
over, Augusta had shown to Mr.. Taft
an appreciation Of his presence, an
understanding Of his position. and
an admire ton for his personality. and
to the South and to the country. the
little city had modestly made her
bow as graceful entertainer Of the
great.
What Taft Thought.
> What the President-elect thought
OF i, all is best told in his words
TO the people whom he addressed as
my fellow citizens OF Augusta"
It was his delight that the comb
nation of fate, coed sense and judg-
ment had brought him to 1--we here
for six weeks in Augusta.
He had come here in search OF
health and happiness: he had found
10th: he should take both away with
h.m. and leave Augusta no poorer
thereby
;-S.t
a fnll year he had had the pleasure
of complete family gathering.
the weather had been such that
he had not, ne said. missed singi"
secular day from the golf links: but
h" had come here also to make his;
cabinet. the difficulties of which only
those If his hearers knew who had
ever had a cabinet to make
But" he added according 10 the
sum total Of information in this di-
rection. We will get along some way
with reference &c that cabinet
Some Things Undone.
There were other things he had
intended TO do in preparation for the
presidency which he hal not done.
But il Is the first time that that
kind Of a duty has been thrust upor
me-. and have been just waiting in
this healthy atmos phcre 10 get good
and ready.
Mr. Taft ducit upon IN" happy
moral. industrial socia! and financial
condition in which the city fin IS
itself
He WAS indebted 10 all ;he citiz"ns
for his kindly and hospitble vel
come.
Il have had tho pleasure o: meet
ing yorr farmers and you. capita AZ
SITS. yrur ministers and your lay
mcn. your lawyers. ard yoIr clients
and ! like them all have been bar
bccled. have T.: he'd! did not catch
ANY, have sutcmohilcd. hav" rid
den. J have played golf 7 have met
your beautiful women. and youi
bright men. and rejoice again that
fate and good judgment brought me
20 Augusta"
Not Exercised Over Politics.
Turning his attention TO the port
icaI phs g Of his visit South. Mr. Tar
~as not. he said. exercised as SOM
seemed to - about 'hc effect.
II can convince the Southerr
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