Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-11-10
FINE TRIP DOWN
OLD MISSISSIPPI
GOVERNOR DAVIDSON AND COLO
MEL MuNsoN RETURN FROM
NEW ORLEANS.
PLEASED WITH GENEROUS RE-
cEPTIoN ACCORDED BY PEo-
PIE OF SOUTH.
PRESIDENT TAFT WON DIXIE
BY HIS EARNEST
WAY.

Madison, Nov f.
With an exalted appreciation of the
loyalty. the patriotism and the great
heartedness of the southern people.
Governor Davidson and Private Sec
rotary @. G. Munson returned yester-
day from their trip down the Missis-
sippi river with President Taft and
the party of state executives and con-
gressmen who went by boat from st.
Louis to New Orleans.
Governor Davidson was somewhat
wearied after the long ride by train
they left New Orleans Tuesday morn
ing-but pleased with the many ex-
periences of the journey.
1T was fine" he said without a
disagreeable incident nor one to mar
the pleasure of the trip, except a
slight personal indisposition of day
which really was of no significance.
There was not a drop of rain on the
entire trip and the weather was as
fine as could be, said the governor.
.And then the evening ride on the
great river meath the bright Kentucky
moon: Twas grand. beyond my power
TO tell"
Governor Davidson and Colonel
Munson enjoyed the company, too, for
it was most distinguished. There
were executives of 30 states, east and
west and congressman from north and
south, representing every shade OF
opinion, not only as party lines may
divide men but in respect to the var
led interests of this great country.
But there was no politics in the
trip" said Governor Davidson. ut
was an undertaking that had for its
purpose the education of men upon
question that is one of the foremost
in the public mind today. that of en-
Iarging the possibilities of our rivers
to make them more available for the
uses of transportation"
Governor Davidson was pleased with
what he saw upon the occasion of the
stop at Vicksburg, Miss, where was
one of the seats of bloody strife dur
ing the civil war and where some IL
900 union soldier boys were buried.
There Is a national cemetery there
anu II = leans MCll vi TINS FASAS 5Of
ernmenC that it is so faithfully guard
ed and kept The work on the monu-
ments and markers for wisconsin sol
diers which are to be dedicated next
May, is progressing finely, said the
governor.
Speaking of the southern people
Governor Davidson declared that they
IN hot hos nj
tally and generous beyond measure.
everywhere we stopped we were
given royal reception and nothing
was too good for us. 1t is hardly to
be believed that these people who
were once at war with US of the north
and who within two generations har-
bored the bitterest of enmity. even to
the bitterness of four-year strife
when brother fought his brother, could
so subdue their passions as to so soon
become wholly reconciled.
But the memory of that strife has
nearly gone, or at least is covered
over with the mantle of charity and
the people of the southland now seek
the friendship of those of the north
land
All the way down the father OF
waters there were stops wherever
they could be made and the people
welcomed the party with every atten
ton and with generous hospitality.
And it would do you good, said
Governor Davidson, ito note with
what respect and with what Difference
the people of the south received Pres
ident Taft In truth the president has
won the south, at least that part of II
bordering the great river. He wor
his way into their confidence by his
earnestness and his frankness anC
they like him because they believe ht
means business.
Then, too. there was Uncle Joe
Cannon: he was next on the program
10 President Taft at every stopping
place and it was really surprising, the
spontaniety of the honor accorded the
unique speaker of the lower house o.
congress, he who is looked upon as {
veritable monster in politics by those
who do not know him. But the trutf
is that this man from Danv' lie, Hi
uois who by force of character ha'
won way to the very fore in oul
government, is a most likable person
genial. jolly and just as human as tht
rest of us"
Governor Davidson said that tbs
most interesting place visited on th'
trip was New Orleans. 1t is the com
mercial center of the gulf region ant
the business done there is reyela
ton to those who have only know
casually of the importance Of tn
commercial interests of the south. /
is city of some 100000 population
well governed and well kept.
Asked his views upon the question
OF deep waterways, particularly tn
lakes-to-the-gulf plan, Governor Ds
wilson said that Re was fully in az
cord with the spirit of improvement
that has possessed the people of tn
middle west He said that the plal
to make our rivers highways Of CON
rnerce is one that commands the al
.ention of all thoughtful men and tn
problem is one for the present genel
alton to solve. However he said
iii must be approached with the u