New-York tribune., 1909-01-16
.SOTrTH HAS WON Me-
WILLIAM H. TAFT
co>TTNTED DEMONSTR4
TION N ATLANTA.
.,possum Supper" Most ambitious
Rorguet in City,s History-Cheer-
irg Cro5cds Euer3rchere.

all dav Recognizing the climax OF the
4's end continuous demonstrations in the
,.,r+ and imposing scene presented at the
he,a tonight he exclaimed with evil
.,,as Of great feeling
had not hoped TO win the South. but the
South has won me
rhe famous "'possum supper Wes the most
,,,ors hanouet this city has ever under
-, Though participated in by more thah
- r,ndred of the city's representative men, II
nv -so-ia5 in hv the entire population. 1t and
'xar-aceding eloquence Of welcome extended 10
-. r,,+ IN his reception al the capital and at
NJ -,sasr,ort Hotel. where he was sought by
.,o,ssnds constitute brilliant chapter III ms
tno"~ t;a,-.roer+s south Of the Mason and
record Of aciIeNeHleii'S
nixon line.
@-.fl,inp through Georgia" IS a literal de-
s,.ion of his trip to- day from Augusta 10 Al
-. And wherever the special train ~hlch
..Agata provided came 10 halt there were
,..r,ne crowds evidencing their cordiahty by
sa-el tributes. cheers. bands and speeches. IN
rbicb the President-elect was told he was re-
,nec,ed admired, loved
,f--1a bunch of vioiets plucked from toe
.-s,s Of Alexander stephens and presented ny
r-sndniece OF the distinguished Georgian
brought forth warm tribute 10 me iiii''
NJ stephens at Crawfordsvine
-ai,road Yards. where all locomotives tied open
.hair Whistles. and ceased only when he had re-
,f7 ro- the night Thousands were at the sta
-, thousands followed him through the streets
=, he WAS drawn by four horses 10 the Capitol
co,-ornor Smith and q committee OF seventy
gsvs him a formal reception. after Which 'he
,.o,a-7or presented him TO the crowd. and Mr-
Taft once more voiced his appreciation Of cord
,ou+v and good feeling at his reception. He was
escorted by a squad Of mounted police to the
Piedmont Hotel where he the guest OF
honor at 6 reception by the Chamber OF Com
-nerce the Ohio Society and the Yale Alumni.
t1overnor-elect Brown came with MI Taft.
co,-s-nor Smith received him and the officials
y, tbe city and state generally took part in MS
v,si,ou,e Mr. Taft will speak TO the negroes
here in the morning. go TO Athens to make an
address at the state university and return for
=. reception Of the Capital City Club to-mor-
row night
SPEECH AT THE BANQUET.
Nh Tan had given care to the preparation
of his banquet speech and he followed his man
uscrfpt closely. He had come South for rest to
tired nerves after a strenuous political cam
Tsgn he began, but when he realized he had
lslen into the hands OF strenuous Atantans he
hegsu to realize that his rest to be seriously
broken
Nj Taft said that he was proud 10 have been
the arst Republican candidate for the Presi
dsncy who had carried his canvass south Of
Mason and Dxon's line
In the presence Of Democrats and Republi-
csns here at a non partisan banquet expressing
the welcome of the whole community 1t would
neither be courteous nor appropriate for me to
90 into partisan discussion" MI Taft con-
tinued i can only refer 10 the fact with graf
ifcation and congrat tuIat tion that to-day the ex-
PRESTON Of sny political view in the South is
possible without involving social ostracism or
any Of the penalties with which it might have
been visited in earlier times Ten years have
made great difference in the attitude which
he controlling people Of the South occupy toward
The North and the government
The Presidenl-elect then summarized the
causes which had worked and were effecting
thls change-the Spanish war. the attitude OF
Mckinley. his lovable character and the prin-
opies he stood for in his campa igns: the sue
eessOn OF Roosevelt. with his Georgia mother
snd finally the wonderful business development
ef tie South
/ am Republican. but I concede fully the
seat advantage to the country Of having a
democratic party sufficiently powerful at times
!" win the Presidential elections and always to
put the Republican party when in control in
Ieaf OF possible or probable defeat. And 50
N the South no can deny the advantage
ust VII arise in local and state governments
Nhen there is substantial and intelligent mi
A0is which may become successful majority
IN punishment OF the abuses that are likely to
ei0" out Of the long continued and undisputed
H''o OF one party Added to that, the un-
ef-ainiy which may attend the result OF ma
uonei elections in state is certain TO give it
SaoFtonal Importance in the councils of the
nation.
t0useFFe that among some prominent mem
's's oi Congress there is disposition to charge
WIN an attempt to win the South over to
pu0"oanlsn and a somewhat contemptuous
estlon Of opinion that this is utterly i'm
toe- To them I would cay that am not
iui OF winning the South over, as they saw
ena' the South has succeeded in win
ling me-
MS COMING NOT PARTISAN.
my coming had been partisan M sucb
as this tonight would have been DOS
ano SO may say of all the receptions and
hS4ohs OF good will and welcome that
,h,. eoeiVed from point to point throughout
a, 0'lern country. The very success of my
,.s.. e very reason why il gives me so much
uon' is the pronounced non-partlsan
leter OF the welcome which has been so
V extended to me
,, il This indirectly makes not for par
soNantage but for continuance OF the
''heht IN favor Of independence of speech
euoh and political tolerance. its result is
s,.. % % al citizens. Of whatever political party
4e'oice 10 have brought about
ne direct local effect Of a national admin
a.1 upon the South is chiefly through its
. aieiaIs, appointed and exercising their
Vls through the section and therefore the