The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-03
Introduces the President.


POSTMASTER Johnston now came to the
introduction Of President Taft. IT had
the pleasure of going down the Mississippi
the other day with President Taft. We
are now on dry land. So dry that the
breath of our governor smells like heaven,
though 1t may be some weeks old.
I'VE all love the President. We believe
him an honest, upright. faithful man-lit-
tie off in his politics, but all right in his
patriotism We know that he can't de-
pend on those Yankees all the time and
when he wants people to die by him he
must come down south. Now, l know you
want to make lion of him, but warn
you not TO do SO as Teddy Roosevelt
is now engaged in killing lions
Speaking for the whole gulf states,
can say that no man ever came into our
states who SO heartily commanded our
love and respect. Now, gentlemen, pre-
sent to you William H. Taft, President of
the United States
Brought to Their Feet.
The banqueters rose to their feet and
gave the executive a ringing cheer. His
broad front turned first one way and
then the other, and he smiled until there
was quiet. Then he smiled again.
when your distinguished chairman
arose he first advised that there be no
reference to politics. He, however, as
regulation in his own case. 1t reminds
me of the story of the gentleman who
wandered into a saloon in Nevada where
poker game was on and he saw the
dealer transfer four aces from the bot
tom of the deck to his hand. He nudged
the man next him and asked: Did you
see that man transfer those acres from
the bottom of the deck? when his neigh
Dor turned upon him indignant and said:
Isn't it his deal? I am entirely willing
to recognize his authority to exclude
politics from the rest of u.s.
However, 1 cannot refrain from OBJ
serving the connection between the poll
tics of Alabama and the governor of the
state. You seem to attach to it the ne
cessity of purgatory after the term. 1
am not at all sure but that 1t Is a good
plan as it makes for excellent senators
afterward
II have known Birmingham as a grow
ing, thriving city. Those who haven't
lived in Birmingham associate 1t with
three or four other cities. Though you
may object, as man up tree, I insist
upon it Birmingham, Atlanta, Pittsburg,
Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle and Los
Angeles are types of a growing pros
porous and business development that
one wko swings around the country as /
have done feels the greatest national
pride in dwelling upon.
"They are in the first class. They have
a public spirit and determination to
succeed that has developed almost into a
chimney draft; 1T takes you off your feet.
There seems to be nothing that can limit
its growth.
And you have something substantial;
something tangible, at your doors upon
which you can base your future even
more than these other cities. You have
a wealth here that is hardly equaled In
the world. 1 am glad you have grasped
your opportunities which will certainly
make you the Pittsburg of the south and
one of the greatest industrial centers of
the world
Hits Governor Again.
He then took UP the governors sugges-
tons for filing the vacancies when he
gets back to washington. 1T thought the
reference to the associate justiceship en-
tirely too indefinite. and when he made
his definite suggestion it received a much
more definite approval When he names
the associate justice he will be rendering
me much more assistance"
He then applied his doctrine to all cities.
st find everywhere the spirit of progress
and determination overcome obstacles to
growth, which Is typically American. Not
in corner Of the country have I found
anything but optimism, a request for an
equal chance and determination to come
out first.
Everywhere I have noted the homoge-
neity of the American people, type diff
ferent from any other nation, and a
type of all our cities.
'I can only hope and pray that in our
material progress we will not lose sight
of the fact that unless we accompany it
with betterment of our moral standards 1t
will not be worth anything to the nation.
j think in the last 10 years under the In
fuence of Theodore Roosevelt these
dangers have been called to our attention
and we must steer clear of monopoly and
greed.
Must Have Integrity.
"And now that we are about to resume
prosperity, as / believe within the next
five years we will surpass anything in the
history of the world, it would be wise
that it not come, unless with It comes
equality of opportunity to the American
citizen and business integrity. the eradi-
cation of all things which tend to corrup-
ton in politics and business.
birmingham, because she is cosmopoli-
tan, because she is close to the north In q
business way. can do more toward in1u-
encing her neighbors 10 abolish section
alism. I would not have you give up =
single tradition but I would have the