Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-22

fare Of the people of the south" he sati
with emphasis, "as I with the welfare
OF the people Of other sections. have
accomplished all that | can. hope to. n
votes and the political matters uau take
care Of themselves"
A tribute VAS paid 10 the memory Of
Mckinley, encouraging woras wtra
spoken to the sentimental and industrial
side of the south. MIR Taft spoke of the
oriental trade of this country and TIE
great interest of the south In that mat
ter because of the cotton commerce. lie
hoped that one of the results OF his al
ministration would be greatly to improve
trade in that direction. He concluded with
again giving thanks for his treatment
and promising TO come again.
The banquet tonight, was attended by
more than 200 men. the guests Of the Au-
gusta Chamber OF Commerce, and included
John d. Rockefeller. Governor Ansel Of
South Carolina and many other of distinc-
ton assembled to add to the b%rilliancy and
contribute to the oratory OF the occasion.
Georgia was toasted by Judge Henry {.
Hammond, South Carolina by Governor
Ansel, the southern press by T. w. 10y!
less and Augusta by Judge Joseph h.
Lamar.
SOONH -"
That Mr.. Taft had urged the south to
resume its old seat at the council table Of
the nation, led Judge Lamar TO discuss
some of the more serious problems which
confront the south. with cotton securely
enthroned as king, he said, the south was
even more interested in the foreign policy
of the government than was Plttsburg with
it's steel. Chicago with its meat products
and the west with Its grain. The south
wanted the open door kept open, wanted
the peace of the world maintained and the
efficiency OF the consular service extended.
The Importance OF the foreign situation.
Mr.. Lamar emphasized by the emphatic
assertion that the cotton exports exceeded
those OF corn, wheat, iron, steel and petrU-
leum and oil products. and consequently
brought more Foreign money TO this coun.
try than all the products combined.
The negro farmer of Georgia and the
south, he said, was poorer this year be-
cause of conditions in Asia. likewise many
a man at this dinner had found his pros.
perity lessened from the same cause.
AS to the tariff Judge Lamar remarked
that as interest in high tariff seemed 10
wane in the north it begins to grow In the
south. Legislation or reciprocal arrange
mont was needed for the protection of
cottonseed and its products, the clays, lum.
Der and nava stores, all products of the
south.
Mr.. Taft, the last speaker, voiced again
his cordiality and feeling for the south.
Although william II. Taft and john u.
Rockefeller have been guests of the Bon
Air hotel since Monday, 1t was $40 O'Clock
tonight at the banquet when they first met,
Mr.. Rockefeller had for some time been
holding an informal reception at which the
arriving guests had been eager attendants.
When Mr.. Taft arrived he established him
self a short distance from Mr.. Rockefeller
in the hotel assembly room. At once The
crowd began to desert the oil magnate and
assemble around Mr.. Taft.
Mr.. Rockefeller was taken by the hand
by C. A. Woods, manager OF the hotel and
formally presented to Mr.. Taft.
How are you Mr.. Rockefeller was the
salutation OF Mr.. Taft. 81 got around the
golf links In eighty eight today"
1T wanted to hear you speak this after
noon" was the reply of Mr.. Rockefeller.
but could not get near enough"
This ended the interview. as the ether
guests pressed forward for IN Introduction
to Mr.. Taft.