The Winchester news., 1909-02-13
TAFT RECEIVES
GREAT OVATION
Makes Triumphal Trip Up
Mississippi River.
TALKS TO NEGROES TODAY


Mind-WiII BE Guest at Banquet
Given by Citizens Tonight.
New Orleans. Feb. - Presidents
elect William H. Taft landed here
from Panama and was most cnthusi-
astically received by the entire city,
whose guest he is to be until tomor-
row morning.
Mr.. Taft made a brief speech in
which he heartily approved the pres
ent lock type of canal across the
Isthmus of Panama. He reviewed a
parade of enthusiastic citizens miles
in length, and attended one of the
carnival season balls, that of the
Elves of Oberon. Mr.. Taft will today
address the Il egro population aid will
! spend several hours in aUtomObiling,
and at night be the guest of honor at
an elaborate banquet, at which nearly
500 prominent citizens will pay S25 a
plate to participate. Tomorrow morn
ing the president-elect will go to Gin
cinnati, from where, on Monday, he
will leave for Washington, returning
again to Cincinnati Wednesday.
Mr.. Taft received the first news of
the constitutional question which has
been raised against the appointment
| of Mr.. Bnox to a cabinet position, by
wireless, when he was apprised not
only by press messages, but by dis
patch giving the views of Senator
Knox.
That he was somewhat disturbed
over the situation was admitted, but
when he received the news of the dis
cabinet salary law by making the pay
Of the secretary of state what 1t was
before the recent increase, he was in
clined to take this as a happy solu-
tion Of the difficulty Pending a con-
ference on the matter, which will
take place between Mr.. Taft and Sen
ator Knox in Washington, it is under
stood the president-elect regards it as
impolitic to discuss the question for
publication.
With the return Of Mr.. Taft to the
country, cabinet speculation became
at once attractive. No information is
to be given to the public, however,
from the authoritative source. Mr..
Taft said he should adhere to his pre-
viously announced plan of keeping
silent and also keeping cabinet ap-
pointments open until the very last
moment to provide against possible
contingencies.
On the trip from Panama, Mr.. Taft
made the first draft of his inaugural
address. This he intends to submit
to certain friends IN Washington on
his forthcoming visit there next
week
The inability of the board Of civil
engineers to complete their report on
the resolutions regarding which their
advice has been asked regarding the
Panama canal made the Washington
visit planned by Mr.. Taft necessary.
The engineers will go at once to
Washington to complete their work.
1t may be stated that their report will
be a complete approval of the present
plans and methods on the isthmus.
They will not only recommend the
construction Of the Gatun dam, but
give it as their Judgment tnat the
dam will be perfectly safe if built to
height of lis instead of 135 feet,
thus saving expense in construction.
Mr.. Taft's entry into New Orleans
was picturesque and thrilling. He
came up the hundred miles Of the
Mississippi from its mouth on the
scout cruiser Birmingham at the rate
Of nearly 80 miles an hour, breaking
all records. All the shipping in the
dozen miles below the city the big
muddy stream was alive with tugs
and stern-wheelers having aboard
crowds Of shouting citizens. The con-
cert Of steam whistles, brass bands
and banks lined with saluting enthu-
siasts added to the scene. A big
stern-wheeler carried the local recep-
tion committee eight miles below the
city, which, with a dozen tugs and
other passenger steamers, novered
around the sleek cruiser, with her
war paint, as sAe slowed down and
struck seven-knet pace to keep in
company.
From the DyiaG bridge Mr.. Taft
was kept busy waving his cap and
answering sAlxtatioRs, while Mrs.
Tstt. een the quarterback, had her
share OF the eyatieA. A big red
barge. No. Ss. vss brought alongside
In. nidstrsaR at tke feot Of Canal
street, over wAieh the party boarded
the rsssptieA es1nittee's steamer.
fren whieh q IAndiaS was made.
The parade had been waiting an
hcsr, and the distinguished guest was
at once placed at its head in a car
riage drawn By fsur horses, and the
line 81 march, which covered nearly
I'VE miles. was taken up. ~, e..
PrssiGsnt-elect and Mrs. Taft broke
through many old traditions associat-
ed with the masked balls OF The car
vfSol aaaaoa ~han~ fhAv -o~ot ~ =