The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-03
NO POLITICS in 1T.
Taft Continues to Insist on This
in Speeches
Before Southern Audiences. Re-
ferring to His Trip.
KEEP THE TRADITIONS
But Give Up Secti0nalism Is
His Plea.
Parade i'm Birmingham Includes
800 Automobiles.

Birmingham, Ala, Nov. 3.-In his
public utterances here today, President
Taft continued to give voice to his
hope OF winning the south to closer
union in commerce. sympathy and SEN
tlment with the states of the north.
In doing this. he declared he would
not have the south give up one of her
noble traditions not abate in any de-
gree the pride she feels in those who
represented her in the civil war.
Wherever he went today the presi-
dent was received by enthusiastic
crowds and it is growing more and
more evident that his welcome in the
south is probably the most cordial he
has received in any section of the
country. The president likes to repeat
to the cheers of the people the state
ment that his visit is without politi-
cal significance and that he accepts
the welcome of the south in the same
broad spirit.
During his stay in Birmingham, the
president has learned much of the won
derful growth of the city and of the
development of the great coal and iron
district. He declared today that he al
ways thought of Birmingham as one
of the group of cities. like Atlanta,
Pittsburg, Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle
and Los Angeles. that do things"
Birmingham, said the president,
because of her cosmopolitan character
and because she is becoming more and
more aware of how close she is to the
north and how close she is to the entire
country in business way is influencing
the south to believe that this country is
have traditions. And there is a distinc-
ton I would like to make as emphatic
as possible.
Sections and Traditions.
81 would not have the south give up
a single one of her noble traditions. I
W ould not have her abate a single bit Of
the deep pride she feels in all her
that awful struggle between the north
and south, but I would have the whole
country know. as l believe the south is
growing herself to know, that it is
possible to preserve all those traditions
intact and have warm and deeply
loyal love of the old flag to which she
has come back. and to know that the
north respects her for those traditions
she preserves and does not ask to dis
card one, but only wishes to unite with
her in the benefits of a common cause,
and of sympathy and a situation be-
tween the peoples of the two sections
that would certainly lead us on to great
, er and greater future
Governor Conner, of Alabama. who
| favors the proposal to put state wide
prohibition in the constitution, came in
| for lot of good natured chaff at the
| cold water" banquet rendered the
president last night The governor said
! that Birmingham usually got from her
visitors anything they had that Birm-
| ingham wanted
| All Become Funny.
| He said the president might leave
| several choice federal positions here so
| that he might fill the vacancies on the
| supreme court bench from the Birm-
| ingham bar
| "And we understand you want a
| minister to China he continued. Mr..
President. you might give that to me-
At this sally the hall fairly shook
| with cheers and laughter that con-
tinued for five or six minutes. Presi-
dent Taft, in his speech, said he never
| heard such appreciation of a suggestion
for public office before, and Secretary
i of War Dickinson declared. ami
| shouts of laughter, that it reminded
him of the old fellow who addressed a
letter to the president of the United
States, saying: "Tolly asks me to write
you to get him a 'furrin' foreign) ap-
pointment. You know Tolly as well aS