Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-14
hvsg|s Against unwa'Fanted
Criticism Of Great Undertaking.
SAYS work BENG HONESTLY DONE
In Progress Through Three Southern
states President-Eiect IS Cordially
Greeted at Every Stop-F'ora'
Tributes and 'Possums.
IRv Associated Press J

BIRMINGHAM. Al.A., Feb. T.. -~-
Talking through LOuisiana' MISSES
sippi and Alabama just like campaign
DAYS Presid,nt.rl.ct Taft had today
Z the qualification which h" "vid"huH
enjoyed. being heartily received oS
large and enthusiastic crowds VIII"
had not voted for him.
He took numerous occasions I"
make his appreciation plain. at the
same time leaving u touch of irony
behind in the form of remihdtf
that his pre-campaign predictions nal
surely come true. and not only III"
re South seem willing to accept nun
M their President but his greatest
desire was to be the President Of
every man, woman and child In the
nation.
There was one other burden on the
Taft mind tCday-a desire TO $40"
his utter contempt for what h" term
cd the baselcss and hurtful criticisms
of the work being done on IN" rama
ma canal.
Remarks on Canal.
The canal remarks of Mr.. Tar
were delivered with unusual mani
festations OF aggressirenesS
THE Panama cana! Is going 10 he
4 bnilt., he declared, land what | want
Won to do and what want every
American citizen to do is to stand
by the men who are building 1t.
Voices: I'VE will do it'D
4 Don't set a fire in the rear. don't
tlistrust men that are giving 40 their
strength and energy and enterprise
to put that great wO:k through. When
you have agents who are doing your
work, YOU should stand behind them.
I IL you don't, you cannot get your
work done. The men who do your
work are entitled to your help and
s confidence and you ought not to al
low yourselves to be led astray by
buncombe speeches on the floor Of
the House of Representatives or by
headlines in sensational newspapers.
and 60 back on the men that are
doing your work.
=. Il don't care whether you are
I Democrats or Republicans. you want
the work done and when the army
engineers. who are doing this work
are giving all their time to the car
rying out of this work. you are not
men to go back on them or to be
lieve every idle story that comes
from the mouth Of some politician
who Is seeking to make himself pro
minent or to give himself the ad
vertisement of little. unfounded
sensational statement.
Work Done honestly.
THAT work is being done honestly.
Il know what l am talking about 1t
will be built and all the wind oppo-
sition that comes, merely from 4
desire TO exalt and exploit the man
who makes himself responsible.
wont obstruct it, | know what the
1 people Of the United States want in
]. that regard and in SO far as have
power as the executive Of this Cou-
try. I am going to push that work
Z and I am going to stand behind the
men who are doing il. And now,
gentlemen. you have gotten me into
more heat than / expected. but
z thank you very much for your wei
come."
There was a cordial leave-taking n;
New Orleans when the Taft party
departed
Siidell. La. turned out the frs.
crowd TO greet the Presiden:-elec'
and from that time on he was almos,
constantly on the rear platform o!
5 the train expressing his pleasure al
the crowds and talking 10 the people
OF their government
Mrs. Tai: took part in the demons
trations and was cheered by the PEG
pic.
Floral tributes. bon bons and tw
live billy possums'' contributed The
prcs eltaiions OF the day.
The possums were allowed 10 es
cape from their wooden crate am
take % the weeds a: nigh.fali.
P:cayune PolarviiIe. Lumbert on
PuTyis. Hattirsburg. Ellisvilie. Lau