The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-02-19
A CREOLE DINNER FOR PRESl-
DENT-ELECT TAFT

New Orleans, Feb. 4.-The coming
OF President-elect Taft to New Or
leans, Feb. HIP, en- rotue from Pana-
ma TO Washington for the Inaugural
ten, will be, in all probability, the
occasion of one of the most elaborate
demonstrations in honor of an indi-
vidual ever given in the city of New
Orleans, famed as it is for lavish hos
pitality. Governors of all southern
states, Secretary Of War Luke E.
Wright, a Tennesseean, and other
distinguished public men have been
invited to be the guests of the Pro
gressive Union, under whose auspices
the entertainment is being given, and
court of cooks" composed OF
number of famous New Orleans chefs,
each celebrated for some particular
Creole triumph of cuisine, will per-
sOnally prepare the feast, which will
be given either at the Grunewald or
st. Charles hotel. One thousand
hosts are expected to dine with Mr..
Taft as their guest at a typical Gre
ole repast,, which will be accompan-
led by all the adornments of Louisi-
ana's resources. The banquet hall
will be decorated in Spanish moss,
sugar cane, oranges, rice, cotton, and
other natural products. Mr.. Taft, with
his fast scout cruisers Birmingham
and Salem, will be met at the mouth
of the river by a flOtilla of vessels
loaded with committees and escorted
in review before the city and landed
at the head of Canal street. A com
mittee of 1000 citizens in Prince AL
bert coats, top hats and white bou-
tOnnieres, will receive him with bar
ed heads. Governor Sanders has or
dered out the militia for the grand
military and civic parade and the
Eighth Band Coast Artillery corps, U.
S. A, has been ordered by the secre-
tary of war to proceed to New Or
leans to participate in the reception,
while the United States troops at
jackson barracks, this city, and the
jackies and marines from the war
ships and state naval brigade, will
add color and liveliness to the demon
stration. Railroads have put on a
rate of one fare plus 25 cents, cover
ing points in Texas, Louisiana, Ar
kansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Ala
bama, Florida and Georgia, and an
enormous crowd is expected, espe-
cially as the Progressive Union will
refund the railroad fare of buyers
who make purchases of $1,000 or more
in the city.
Mr.. Taft has cabled the Progress
sive Union that he will leave Colon
February Sth, arriving off Southwest
Pass on the morning of February II,
where he will transfer to the Bir- |
mingham, the North Carolina pro- |
ceeding to Hampton Roads to join the |
navy to welcome the homecoming Pa /
cific fleet. He will arrive here in the |
afternoon of the 18th, and the parade |
will follow.
Next morning he will play golf and |
lunch at the Country Club. During
the afternoon he will make a public
address, and Mrs. Taft and the ladies |
of her party will be entertained by |
the ladies of New Orleans at a recep- |
ton. At the banquet President Phil
lip Werlein Of the Progressive Union |
will preside as toast master, the only |
addresses being by Mayor Martin
Behrman, Governor J. Y. Sanders and |
Mr. Taft
Sometime during the day will be |
set aside for a short talk to the ne
gr0es of New Orleans.
Mr.. Taft will leave Saturday morn
ing and may go to Cincinnati, his old
home, before proceeding to Washing
ton for his Inauguration March f.