Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-10
The South ereets the New President.

the new chief executive to that Sec
ton of the country and his great and
growing popularity among the south
ern people made it generally expected
| that the leading newspapers of that
section, practically all of which are
Democratic in politics, would deal with
him more kindly than they have
with his predecessors in office.
This expectation has been fully
realized and from no section are
there more good wishes or warm
err words of praise for his inau-
gural address than from the South.
For instance, the Louisville Courier
Journal, edited by the redoubtable Col
onel Watterson, praises without re-
serve the new Presidents attitude
toward the South and the race ques-
ton. It says that no President before
in discussing the negro problem. The
Memphis Commercial Appeal praises
Taft as a man of broad learning, wide
experience and hopeful temperament.
from whom the country may expect a
common sense administration. The
Knoxville Sentinel predicts, under
Taft, an era of good will throughout
the country and a long step forward
toward bringing the North and South
together. The Richmond Times Dis
patch says that the inaugural utter
ance about the negro "gave as full re-
assurance to the South as could rea-
sonably be expected" The Richmond
News-Leader says that the address is
"characteristically American and pre-
diets that the new administration
which has opened so auspiciously will
be brilliant success.
The Atlanta Constitution. the lead
ing paper of the state where Mr.. Taft
has spent much of his time since his
election. is unreservedly. pleased with
the address and does not hesitate to
declare that the South will back up
the new President in his policies. Says
the Constitution: "From whatever an
gle we view it, this inaugural express
ion OF President Taft is epoehal. If his
administration stands by the policy he
has announced in the matter OF APP
pointments nthe South, this section
can 60 about its affairs confident that
there will be no disturbing factor to
arouse it's animosities or to mar its So
cial and economic serenity
The Augusta Chronicle feels the
same way and says that the South
has heard nothing so encouraging for
many years as the address of Presi-
dent Taft. The Charleston News and
Courier says that the South has abso-
lutte confidence in the courage, the
fairness and the good intentions of the
new President 1t goes on in these
words: HE has had large experience
in administrative work. He has
thoroughly trained legal mind. He
knows the law and he knows the peo-
pie. He has, besides, highly develop
ed sense Of humor. Gentleman and
scholar, lawyer and patriot, a man of
convictions and with the courage Of
his convictions, soft as silk but hard
as nails, he combines many of the quail
tiles of true greatness and we shall
be much disappointed if he does not
fill his office not only with honor to
himself but with advantage to the
country"
The Mobile Register says that no
re asonable citizen in any section of the
country can fail to agree with the main
points of his inaugural address. The
Florida Tir1es-U Union says that the
Taft administration cannot fail to ben
eft both races in the South if the pol
| icies of the anew President are carried
out Says the Times-Union, "Taft
does not belong to- Ohio or to the
North, but to the whole Union" The
New Orleans Times Democrat says
that Taft's expression of frieldliness
| in the South is happy, we'll consider
ed, and thoroughly appreciated" THIS
| paper says that the South has the
| best reason to be hopeful about the
| administration now beginning and de-
clares that the new President carries
with him into office the good will of all
the people of the country, regardless
of party.
These 10 leading newspapers from
all sections Of the South are all DEM
ocratic in politics and no doubt they
voice the sentiments of the great ma
iorlty of the people of that section,
| people who voted against William H
Taft, but who like him and have con-
fidence in him just the same and who
ion the people of the North and West
in the expectation that his admins
| tration will be an era of progress ano
prosperity and good Will for all the
country.