The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-04
Boomerang Joke Embarrass-
 ing to Governor. INDICATES WILLINGNESS TO
 ACCEPT CRANES PLACE Banqueters Immediately Secsad Suggestion Win Petitions Now Famous Augusta Incident ns- v1ved by Presideat's visft To Rhodes' Homes--sehosl Bsys
 Form Line One and one
 Half Miles Leng.
BY WILL T. STEPHAN.

Birmingham, Nov. S- Special. )--- While the assembled thousands were today cheering President Taft as he made his way slowly through the city at the head of long procession. . boomerang joke of Governor Conner was getting in its work.
 A half-dozen men were circulating petitions insisting upon and urging the President to make the Governor Ain- bassador to China. or if that post was filled. to send him to "Dahomey or some other country south of China"
 It all came of joking remark made by the Governor at the Hnlman ban- quet the previous night. but the nem- ory of the jest will finger long in Birmingham. when the Presidents visit will be a dim memory
 The Governor in his banquet speech naturally enlarged upon the greatness and resources of Alabama. He fn- formed the President that if he needed a man to serve as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. he could find him by looking over the Birmingham bar. and he concluded: If you have not found q man to take the post of Am- bassador to China. why give 1t to mes
 4ssna Him to Chfna.v
 With one accord the diners shouted to the President to grant his request ., "send him to China" Let him TO to siam" What's the matter with Da- homeyT' These and similar calls went up. As far as stirring up enthusiasn went nothing approached the Govern OTIS suggestion that he might go as Ambassador to China. He could not we'll continue his remarks, but he smiled and held his ground while the shouts were going on.
 Tho President was vasfly. tickleds Ha enjoyed the incident hugely and the other members of the Presidential party weary with much travelling. saw something humorous and refreshing h the popular approval that the Gov- eonrr had not expected. And every man that had a speech to make aftes that. played upon the Governors joka and the endorsement that 1t had re- ceived.
 This thing, coming right in the midst of heated campaign. was bound to be welded somehow Into politics. and, sure enough. before noon half dozen petitions were circulating about the streets of Birmingham. reading as follows:
 ''The President:
 "Sir:--whereas, 1t has come to our knowledge that our great Governor, B. B. Conner, has signified his willing ness to go to China as United States Minister. we, the undersigned citizens of Alabama, most heartily join the Governor in his petition. and would further petition that If the position he seeks has already been filled, you ap- point him to go to Dahomey. or some country south of China"
 The presentation of one of the pe- titions to any crowd on the street was certain to stir up laughter.
 Defenders stsp Petition
 That's good"
 Flaw. haw. femme sign Il" one man with a petition said that at least 5000 men had signed the request. Ills own petition had 25o names on 1t. It was planned to present the petitions to the President before he got away this afternoon. but the anti-anlendmen1 leaders persuaded the movers in the plan to abandon 1t on the argument that the matter looked like disrespect to the Chief Executive of the State.
 President Tafts graceful act of vis- iting the home of General Rufus N Rhodes, who was unable tp be pres- ent at any of the festivities, has been praised and favorably noted in Birmingham. The President was fully informed of the storm of criticism which followed the Augusta speech of General Rhodes when he extended the invitation for the President to visit Birmingham. So, on his way to the Country Club breakfast. the President had his automobile driven to the handsome Rhodes home on the South rna too i'll to even see the President Mrs. Rhodes met and greeted Mr. Taft.
 At the Country Club. the President turned again to the Augusta incident. He expressed regret because of the illness of his friend.
 And I regret. too, that I was the unconscious agency w9ich brought criticism upon my friend"
 The President. golf enthusiast that he is. looked sorrowfully upon the ex- cellent links of the Country Club, He and his company aresplaying one night stands and they have no time to saun- ter around golf courses.
 It was a notable crowd--au immense crowd that watched the President thread his way through the city at the head of the long winding process sion. It Is no trouble at any time to get a crowd in Btrmingam, and when
 
 the streets until persplring policemen were nearly worried to death. They have half-a- dozen skyscrapers heres and when the Presidential party was acknowledging the cheers. every win dow was packed with humanity looking down upon the crowded streets and a fringe of men decorated the roof Of each skyscraper.
 Behind the President there marched A mile and a half of school boys, not boys and girls. but just boys. 1t was easily the notable feature of the pn- rade-thousands of boys between and 17 years old. four deep and stretched out for a mile and a half. I have seen the mines of the Birmingham district. I have seen places where you could, as one man said. dig coal with one hand and iron ore with the others have seen the steel mills and the for- est of furnace stacks here. have been through the marble lined skyscrapers ana have looked upon the 1uxurlous