The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-03
VISIT WILL Be MADE ON
HIS RETURN FROM PANAMA
Gen. Rufus NJ. Rhodes Delivers the In
vitation to Judge Taft In the Name
of the People of Birmingham
and Response Is Ready.

Augusta January 2.-(Special. )-Iaft
goes to birmingham! The President-elect
after hearing from the Birmingham dele
CATION today promised to return through
birmingham and stop over en- route from
Panama. The length of his stay in Bir-
mingham will depend upon his Panama
trip He will land at Gulfport and will go
north through Birmingham and will stop
over for visit.
Judge Taft came in from the golf links
at / o'clock. The Birmingham delegation
was massed upon the front porch OF his
residence when he came up In his auto
mobile. The volume of the party was ap-
parently too much for him, so he backed
off and came in the side entrance, calling
out Boys, 1 will see you in moment"
Mrs. Taft came In the rear entrance OF
the cottage first and spoke to Mr.. Kaul,
the chairman of the Birmingham delega-
ton. Judge Taft was but few seconds
behind with his golf clubs. "Glad to see
YOU. IL you will take me as I am,' said
he. Then he was introduced to all the
delegation, and with the spirit and en-
thusiasm of his game on the golf course,
he talked with the Birmingham delegation
and told them that he was going to Biz
mlngham.
The formalities of the talks are told
below as officially taken down, but the
real part of it cannot be told. 1t ID
enough to say that there was mutual
good feeling, and that the Presdent-elect
wants to come and will come, to Biz
mIngham. The official story follows:
Invitation Day.
This was invitation day at the Taft cot
IA ge. and the net result extends Mr.. Tafts
southern itinerary to include visits to
Birmingham, Ala, and Athens, Ga and
to address the people of Augusta from the
same street corner at which they once
listened to President Mckinley.
The Birmingham visit was induced by
large delegation of the business and pro-
fessional men from THAT city. Just when
Mr. Taft will make this visit is somewhat
uncertain. If 1t Is possible for him to
do so, he will go to Birmingham on his
way north from Panama; If not, he will
include that city in the itinerary which
he will make for an extended southern
will permit The Athens visit depends
somewhat on the Atlanta committee OF
arrangements for the festivities to be held
IN that city on the 18th and 10th instants
| 1t is possible to do so and Mr.. TAFT
thinks 1t is, he will have his special car
stopped at Athens on his return from
Atlanta long enough to go to the State
university and make an address.
His Augusta neighbors were made per-
fectly happy in the promise of the ad-
dress and the further willingness of the
President elect to place himself in the
hands of a committee of the chamber or
commerce for dinner. The speech and
the dinner will occur on January Il.
Completion of Cabinet.
Mr.. Taft said today that his cabinet
would not be completed until March 4.
He added that he expected to make
progress in that direction before he sailed
for Panama, the inference being thet some
of the places would be filled and the an
nouncement made before he sails. He
said he should not consider foreign ap-
pointments until his cabinet was COM
plete.
United States Senator Henry Cabot
Lodge of Massachusetts, arrived here to-
dav by invitation. Mr.. Lodge spent the
greater part of the afternoon with Mr..
Taft and has engagements for tomorrow
TO continue the consultation. He expects
10 leave for washington tomorrow night.
The senator said tonight that he had
nothing whatever to say for publication.
Mr.. Taft said they had discussed cab
met matters The friendliness of Mr..
Lodge for Postmaster General Meyer is
we'll known, also the fact that he be-
lieves Mr. Meyers service would add to
the strength of the cabinet, preferably
as the head of the treasury department
William Nelson Cromwell OF New York
has been invited here by Mr.. Tart.
John Hays Hammond. president of the
National League of Republican Clubs,
and Frank H. Hitchcock, chairman or the
republican national committee, attended
a barbecue at the lodge of the local hunt
club here today.
Birmingham Visitors.
The exchange Of felicitations between
Mr.. Taft and the Birmingham delegation
was decidedly cordial and interesting, as
showing the Importance attached to the
presence in the south of Mr.. Taft from
the viewpoint Of the business men of this
section. Gen. Rufus N. Rhodes, editor
of the Birmingham News, spoke for the
delegation, which was headed by John L.
Kaul. president of the Commercial club.
What he said was seconded by T. H.
Aldrich, large mining operator. E. w.
Barrett, editor Of The Age-Herald, spoke
as the representative of the press, and
Judge s. D. Wealkley the Bar associa-
tion.
OF the delegation of 25 not more than
five, it was said. were republicans. the
remainder being democrats.
Mr.. Rhodes Speech.
"Judge Taft" said Mr.. Rhodes, 81 am
going to take advantage of this oppor-
tunity to say to you that If you knew
the heart and head Of the men of the
south, and particularly of Birmingham,
YOU would know that they regard the
result of the last election as benedic-
tion from God Almighty Himself to the
people of the south, over their own pro-
test. am democrat; most of these
gentlemen are democrats but we all well
come your advent into the south, not
only because we have come to love you
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