The Washington herald., 1909-11-04
TAFT FIGHTS SHY
OF PROHIBITION
Answers Question by Repeat
ING Fable Of the Fox.
SAYS SUBJECT Is TOO HOT
President Believes Alabama Loves
Him, Despite Fact the state Voted
Birmingham, and Expects TO See
City Linked to Gulf by Water.

Birmingham. Ala, Nov. "A man In
terrupted President Tafts speech at Cap
itol Park here this afternoon The Presi-
dent was speaking on the relations be
tween the North and the South. We all
love YOU" the man shouted. The Presi-
dent paused q moment chuclLed quietly.
and then said:
We'll. you all remember that old quo
tation: Perhaps Il was right TO dissem-
BILE your love, but why did you kick me
downstairs "
IL was five minutes before the 5000 or
600 people could take their hands of
their sides and the President could make
himself heard.
.I am quite aware" he went on, that
IN addressing an Alabama audience 1 am
talking to one that while perhaps 1t
loves me, AT least 1 hope it does II feels
that the interest of the country requires
the selection Of some other candidates. I
am not obtecting 20 that In the slightest,
I feel proud that while you entertain that
opinion on that particular question, you
give me such a cordial. heartfelt recep-
tion."
Too Hot for Him.
The first question fired at the President
when he entered Alabama was this one,
BY a boy;
"Eow do you stand on prohibition. on
the amendment" meaning the proposed
prohibition amendment 20 the Alabama
State constitution. The State now has
one OF the most stringent prohibition laws
I'm the Union, but Gov. Conner and his
supporters are trying 90 make political
capital out Of the new issue. and the
State Is split wide open over IL.
When il came TO this temperance Ques-
ton. the President fell back on the old
fable OF the fox and the hon. I am not
an Albanian said ne. "and you re-
member that time when Reynard, the fox,
was invited TO decide a question between
the lion and some other powerful animal
He had a cold and could not smell. I
must take a subject not quite so red
hot"
The subject the President did select for
his Birmingham address was Birmingham
herself
I doubt" said he, 'If there is any city
IN the country situated with respect TO
the manufacture OK iron and the mining
of coal as happy and as fortunate as
this city"
The President ventured the opinion that
the future would see Birmingham linked
10y water TO the Gulf, and praised her as
leading the new South IN business and
industrial enterprise.
Hears Confederate Yell.
Besides the speech in Capitol square,
the President took breakfast at the Coun-
try Club. and reviewed a big parade from
the veranda. Heading the parade were
about 100 Confederate veterans. and be-
fore them tramped two OF the strongest,
one carrying the Stars and Stripes and
the other the Confederate colors. Each
Of the veterans greeted the President
with a rebel yell as they passed the re-
viewing stand Later the President shook
hands with them all. and one said:
you, sab. have conquered the recess
sionists, the Ku-Klux, and the cranky
Democrats"
The President left Birmingham at :
o'clock this afternoon, declaring that he
had had one Of the pleasantest stays OF
his trip IN this city. He viii speak at
Macon tomorrow morning and at Savan-
nah at night