The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-11-04
PRESIDENTIAL MEMPHIS
THOUSANDS CHEER AND GUNS
SALUTE NATIONS CHIEF.
Pleasurerui Day Passes Without
Hitch in Programme Crowds
Throng City Streets.

memphis, lenn.-fof thIet Htth"b
hours filled with patriotic interest Will
lam Howard Taft, President of the
United States, was Wednesday the guest
of the city of Memphis and the people
of the adjacent territory.
lie was accompanied by Secretary Of
War John NJ Dickinson, Secretary Of
labor Charles Nagel, Postmaster-General
Frank II. Hitchcock, Speaker Joseph G.
Cannon OF the congress, the governors OF
thirty-two states, twenty United States
senators and III congressman,
There were with the president also
ambassadors from majority of the Cen
trail and South American republics,
notable army and navy officers and 9TH
err distinguished citizens from many
states and countries.
The stay in the city was limited. The
historic party left Immediately after the
conclusion of a brief programme TO con-
tinue its pilgrimage down the Mississippi
river and to be present at the national
waterways convention to be held in New
Orleans.
Welcome Typically Southern.
The brief morning visit was a notable
one for the people of this city and vicin-
ity. The reception extended President
Taft contained all of the cordial warmth
of responsive Southern people. The
tribute to him was dual in intent. He
was welcomed personally and as the
man; he was welcomed as the chief exec
utive Of the greatest government in the
world. There were no disturbing Incl
dents. There we're no unfortunate oc-
currences. There was nothing to mar
the visit or to create any possible I'M
pleasant after reflection. II was another
superb picture to adorn the local gallery
of satisfying achievements.
The programme scheduled was consid-
erably delayed BY the late arrival Of the
presidential party.
Presidential Fleet Late.
Instead of o'clock. il was lO:45
when the visiting river fleet of fourteen
boats anchored before the federal build
ing. 1t was just 1.45 when the vanish
ing curls of smoke from the stacks of
the fourteen departing boats left a
lingering reminder Of the passing.
But history had been made during the
brief tarrying and recollections had been
left behind. .u4
Climate conditions were perfect. The
day was soft, throaty and Southern. DC
tober had stolen the weather Of May.
The streets and river front were filed
with mild windy sunshine. Creations
subtle scheme was worked out in the
glinting autumn foliage along the ter
raced fronts of Confederate and Chicka-
saw parks. The sky was the color Of
boiled starch. II was day of days.
Crowds Throng Bluffs.
Even at the early hour of o'clock,
when shadows still lnrked along the
river front as the sunrise faded, people
began to select and station themselves in
places of vantage, anticipating the ar
rival OF the presidential party at the
hour announced. They began a long,
painful, patient and patriotic wait which
did not terminate until the tower clock
of the federal building had licked past
eleven. They were tired, but none the
less enthusiastic, and later followed the
parade and visited the Young Mems
Christian Association building and even
the Auditorium to hear this nan of
many make his brief address to the
people of this community. 20
Democracy Rampant.
Throughout the morning the air was
filed with the palpitant and the expect
ant. Party lines were forgotten in the
throngs on the street and the Republican
tariff was buried in the cosmopolitan
vastness of humanity. Time stood on
tiptoe while the restless crowd waited,
blacks and whitss touching elbows in
the democracy of the moment.
At 1890 curls OF smoke over the tops
Of the gaunt and starved willows of
Hen and Chickens Island announced the
coming Of the fleet. "a
Cheers Greet 0leander.
The watching crowd waited for min
ute and then signaled the event with
cheer that trembltd over the muddy
waters. II was the Psychological mo-
ment, and the pent.up enthusiasm found
vent in other cheers.
Taft on the Deck.
As the presidents bot advanced, and
the other boats of the ileet came into
view around the point, the cheers Of the
multitude swelled, reaching a grand eli
max when Mr.. Taft's portly figure could
be seen standing on the texas deck Of his
flagship. II was noisy, though dis
tinctly hearty and cordial welcome from
a people through whose veins surged the
HOOD of natriotism. and in whose hearts
arose a spontaneous desire TO extend the
hospitality of Memphis, of Tennessee.
and of the South TO the chief executive
Of the republic
Taft Smile Perpetual.
II was in this way that the president
and his party were met and welcomed
and the yitaseopic events which fol-
lowed this were numerous but brief. The
scene outside and along the route OF ths
parade eludes verbal accompaniment