The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-05
Taft Delegation Returns lrl- umphantIy With the Jolly
 Chairman In Tow
IS TAKEN FOR LONG SPIN
 TO POINTS OF INTEREST
Luncheon Given at Southern Club By Prominent Citizens-lnformal Re- ception Held Later at the
 Federal Building.

Frank H. Hitchcock, big, fine looking,
 brany, the man who led William H.
 Tafts campaign to victory, the next Post
 master General of the United States, and
 a man who appears to be capable of some
 thing even bigger, was the guest of Bir-
 mingham yesterday.
 So great was the impression made in
 Augusta by the delegation of the city's big men that they not only returned with
 MT. Tafts pledge to visit Birmingham
 but brought along the next Presidents
 first lieutenant to prove the good will of
 the coming administration to the district My visit is purely friendly" said Mr. Hitchcock. "There can be no political sig nificance attached to it. Your delegation
 was kind enough to invite me, and l was glad enough to accept the opportunity to visit the city of which l had heard so much. I am more than pleased, not only with the city but with the people My reception and entertainment has been ! royal. and I feel sure that MT. Taft will
 have every cause to be glad of his de- cision
 'I can only assure the people of Bir- mingham and Alabama that you have MT. Tafts best wishes, and that he has your interests at heart. You will have no bet ter friend in the capital than President Taft"
 Met By Big Crowds. The return of the committee yesterday at noon was indeed triumphant. The special arrived shortly after noon, and
 was met by a big crowd of local people. After a handshaking and introduction at the station, the guest was packed into an automobile and big party with four ma chimes made a tour of Norwood, Glen Iris and Highland avenue. MT. Hitch
 cock was taken to the viewpoint on top or
 Red mountain and all the points of inter
 est and diversified industries were pointed
 out to him from this vantage. Returning to the Southern club lunch
 con was served, and for more than an
 hour speeches were made. Col. I. G. Bush acted as toastmaster, making jolly with the guest and MT. Hitchcock in a short talk expressed his delight with Blr-
 mingham and his feeling toward the south
 At about 3 o'clock MT. Hitchcock was taken to the federal building, where he held A. reception until D. m. All the federal employees and a score of prominent republicans visited him there and gave him welcome MT. Hitchcock has a, hand shake of his own, which seems to jerk ones face right into that of the chairman. Then he says something brief, pleasant and to the point.
 He returned to Augusta on the 4:lo
 train. promising to tell MT. Taft that the sooner his visit is paid the better he will enjoy it.
 TomIinson Makes Statement. Regarding MT Tafts visit to Brming- ham John w. Tomlinson, member or the democratic national committee regrettlng the fact that on account or pusihess en- eaeements it was absolutely impossible for him to accompany the committee Of invitation which went to Augusta, said that as a citizen of Birmingham he would take great pleasure in joining 1n a most cordial welcome to MT. Taft as one or
 the great men of the nation, as repupl1c-
 ans joined with democrats in welcoming
 MT. Bryan during his visits to Birming-
 ham. But" continued MT. Tomlinson CT am not prepared to make surrender
 of my democratic principles, nor am nrenared to go to the extent of saying
 that republican rule would specially ben
 eft the south or any portion or the union
 more than a democratic admln1stration
 of our federal affairs. l do not under
 stand that any of my democratic friends
 who went to Augusta intended to go to
 this extent Of course, we all applaud
 a stand for ones convictions When,
 however, a man cannot longer stand with
 the democratic party on principle, then
 he should join outright the republican
 party. or at least should not undertake
 to participate in the councils of the dem
 ocratic party or attempt to control it's nominations. I further do not subscribe
 to the idea of being locally a democrat and nationally a republican. As mem- Der of the democratic national committee I insist that democrat should be dem ocrat everywhere"