New-York tribune., 1909-11-04
TAFT MOVING NORTH
EV4DES PROHIBITION.
Meets Union and Confederate
Teterans IN alabama.

Birmingham. Ala. Nov s.-President Taft
brought his twenty hours stay in Birming
ham 10 a close this afternoon, and left
here for Macon. Ca He stopped tonight
for short stay at Opelika, Ala, and at
Columbus. Ga.
In his principal Birmingham address. de
Byered Al Capital Park this afternoon to
an immense and an unusually demonstra-
tive crowd the President again expressed
his good will toward The South. While
doing so a gray bearded man in the crowd
Called out.
God bless you' We all love YOU.
broad smile came over the Presidents
fsce he replied:
That reminds me IF the old quotation:
1t may be all right to dissembe your love,
but why did YOU kick me downstairs?' But
] have no fault tn find on that score,
added the President. The fact that you
had so little 10 do with putting mo where
am makes me appreciate the warmth and
sinoerity of your reception all the more
The President urged support in carrying
out the Roosevelt policies. to bring about
better conditions OF honesty and integrity
in business and public affairs without re-
gard 10 party lines
The President referred to the proposal
20 amend the state constitution by provid
ing in # for an indefinite continuance Of
state wide prohibition. lie promptly was
asked how he stood on the question.
Il am not an AIahsmian," he replied
amid laughter. 'and ] am in somewhat the
position OF Brother Fox who, when ne was
called upon 10 decide a case between a
lion and some other ferocious beast. pro-
tested that he had bad cold and had
entirely lost his sense OF SMELL
When the President left the luncheon.
the way from the clubhouse door to the
waiting automobile lined on one side
by veterans of the Confederate army. and
the other side by veterans of the Grand
Army of the Republic AS he passed down
this avenue. Mr. Taft shook hands alter
natey with each one.
As he shook hands with one Of the Con-
federates. the old fellow said:
AIR. President, you have captured the
Secessionists. the Ku Klux and the cranky
Democrats, all of them
Well. that's whole lot smilingly re-
piled the President.
During his stay in Birmingham the Prest-
dent said that he always thought of Bir-
ningham as one of the group of cities, like
Atlanta, Pittsburg, Chicago, Minneapolis.
Seattle and Los Angeles, that Go things y
Birmingham" said the President, be
cause of her cosmopolitan character and
because she is booming more and more
aware of how close she is to the North
and how close she is TO the entire country
in A business way. is influencing the South,
as the North is influenced toward her, to
believe that this country is ceasing 10 have
sections-not ceasing to have traditions.
And there is distinction I would like to
make as emphatic as possible.
~ would not have the South give up
p single ons of her noble traditions
would not have her abate a single bit OF
the deep pride she feels in all her great
heroes that represented her in that awful
struggle between tho North and South; but
] would have the whole country know, as
] believe the South is growing herself to
know that il is possible TO preserve all
those traditions intact and have a warm
and deeply loyal love of the old flag 10
which she has come back and to know
thai the North respects her for those
traditions she preserves and does not ask
her 10 discard one. but only wishes to
unne with her i'm the benefits of a COM
mon cause and Of a sympathy and associa-
ton between the peoples of the two sec
tious that viii certainly lead us on to
greater and greater future.
Governor Conner of Alabama. who favors
the proposal TO put statewide prohibition
in The constitution. came in for lot. Of
good -Gatured chaff at tho cold water
dinner rendered the President last night
In one OF his speeches here to-day the
President sought to defend golf from the
charge that it is rich mans game The
President also told of the pleasure his trip
las given him He said:
Now ! speak with some fervor on the
game Of golf, because during the last prcsI-
Dental election b was not without caution
to the effect Of too great enthusiasm
shown on my part in reference 10 the
game. II supposed at that time. and
IL was EeTalded in the neWSpa perS as being
= game Indicating aristocrdtic leaning and
association with wealth. that was sup
l,osed 10 injure one in the standing of the
''rlsin people" Lincoln called them.
But | am hopeful now that the virtues
of golf trainer of character and q
leNeller. instead Of eXalter. Of people
viii he so we'll understood that I'm any
iuture political campaign golf will figure
rather a reason for clecting candi-
,',te who is addicted TO ii lhan to defeat
him.