Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03

II is to become place where policies
will be as they are in the rest or the
country-a subject of uncertainty: SUD
JcCt for discussion; a SUBJECT LOT ihue-
Pcndence of action.
In reference 10 tho visit to BirminS-
man, of coSrse shall visit your city.
If it be possible for me. | shall go there
ON my return from Panama. lnls Is very
uncertain, however. but it is uncertain
how long I shall have to stay there, and
] have certain fixed engagements in the
north and at my own home In CINCINNATI
which may prevent. IF | can stop on my
Wav from Panama, I'll advise you by
cable from Panama.
But in any event. I am coming to the
south early in my administration, ana
coming to the important cities OF the
south. Birmingham, in many respects.
especially in the respects that Gen
Rhodes has referred to, Is one OF the
most important cities i'll the south. pc
cause 1t represents the mining interests
of this section, which arc so numerous
Taft Explains His View.
II hope you will not think that | have
misunderstood your coming; that / am
misled into supposing that this means
an extreme movement on the one hand or
that Ii is merely an expression OF hoSpltal-
ity on the other. hope you will not sup
!
luton or a landslide of partisan charac-
ter What l welcome Is an agitation,
which means independence of action; and
that is all If it were to happen that
the party of which l am tho representa-
tive were to succeed i'll controlling two
Or three states in the south, 1t would
by no means necessarily inurc 10 the
benefit of that party for the reason that
the soIidity of the south has made
number of the states in the north solid
III is not working for party purpose
therefore to hope, either on your part or
on my part. that the solid south shall
he broken up. 1t only means the hope
that there shall not be politically II south
a north or al east or a west or
any sectional political lines
Il cannot express the pleasure L have
found in coming so far down into OlXle
and Of receiving the heartfelt welcome
that i have received-not a welcome. with
reference to Gen. Rhodes. which l fear
at all or am seeking to avoid. but what
! may characterize as very conSlderale
welcome: a welcome which takes into
consideration my primary reason for be-
ing hereto get rest before assuming
the burdens of office-and also which con-
strues my coming into an indication of
my interest in the south and my pleasure
in meeting southerners of influence who
lead the thought here, and OF desire
10 impress the south that l don't feel
that l am coming into an enemy's
country.
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 If it is
possible to do SO. and Mr.. Taft thinks
il is. he will have his special car stopped
at Athens on his return from Atlanta
long enough to go to .he state univer-
sity 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 of
commerce for dinner. The speech and
the dinner will take place January21.
No Cabinet Slate Until March q,
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 that
some of the places would be filled and
the announcements made before he sails
He said he should not consider foreign
appointments until his cabinet was COM
pete.
Referring to printed report that
Charles p. Taft was likely to succeed
of ST. James. Mr.. Taft said there was
no foundation for it.
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Massa-
chusetts arrived here today by invita-
lion Mr.. Lodge spent the greater part
of the afternoon with Mr.. Taft and has
engagements for tomorrow to continue
the consultation. He expects to leave
for Washington tomorrow night. The
senator said tonight that he had nothing
whatever to say for publication. Mr.
Taft said they had discussed cabinet
matters. The friendlinesS of Mr.. Lodge
for Postmaster General Meyer is well
known; also the fact that he believes
Mr.. Meyers services would add to the
strength OF the cabinet. preferably as the
lead of the Treasury Department.
William Nelson Cromwell of New York
has been invited here by Mr.. Taft.
John Hays Hammond. president of the
National League of Republican Clubs
and Frank III. Hitchcock, chairman of the
republican national committee, attended
a barbecue at the lodge of the local hunt
QUO here today.