Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-01-28
GREETED MR. TAFT
GREAT MASS MEETING AND BAN.
QUIET IN PRESIDENT ELECTS
HONOR IN AUGUSTA.
COMPLIMENTS EXCHANGED
Much Good Feeling Displayed In
Speeches Of Mr. TAFT And
southernors--PromInent
Men There.

Augusta, Ga, Jan. 21.-Richmond
county. Georgia, Wednesday modest
ly proclaimed William H. Taft as Its
own-that he was a resident OF Au-
gusta when the presidential electors
in the various states declared him to
be the president-elect; that as sucn
as he was Georgian by birth and
had lived where he was born all OF
his presidential life.
Thousands of Augustans clincned
this claim with shout Of approval
as Mai. ]. @. Black said many other
complimentary things about Mr.. Taft
In presenting him to the great mass
meeting which had assembled around
the same stand from which President
Mckinley once spoke.
The big street meeting, however
was by no means the extent OF the
Taft Augusta day festivities. There
was a banquet Wednesday night at
"the Terrace" where were brought
together the distinguished men Oh
Georgia and South Carolina. :.
After midnight, when 1t was all
over, Augusta had shown to Mr.. Tar
an appreciation of his presence, an
understanding of his position and his
admiration for his personality; and
to the south and to the country the
little city had modestly made her bow
as a graceful entertainer of the great
What the president-elect thought OF
It all is best told in his words to the
people whom he addressed as my
fellow citizens of Augusta"
1t was delight that the combina
ton Of fate, good sense and judgment
had brought him to live for six weeks
in, Augusta. He had come In search
Of health and happiness; he had
found both; he should take both away
with him, and leave Augusta no poor
or thereby. 1t was here for the firs'
time in a full year he had had the
pleasure of complete family gather
ing. The weather had been SUCH
that he had not, he said, missed
single secular day FROM the golf links
but he had come here also to make
his cabinet, the difficulties of which
only those Of his hearers knew who
had ever had cabinets to make.
Mr.. Taft dwelt upon the happI
moral. industrial, racial and fnancia
condition of the city. He was indebt
ed to all the citizens for its kind!
and hospitable welcome.
Turning his attention to the politi
cal phase Of his visit south, Mr.. Tai
was not, he said, excited as som'
seemed to be about the effect. II
can convince the southern people tina
this administration is as much con
cerned with the welfare Of the pee
ple Of the SOUTH" he said with EN-
phasis, "as 1t is withSthe welfare 0
the people of other sections, nav
accomplished all that can hope &c
The votes and the political matter
can take care of themselves"
A tribute was paid to the memor
Of Mckinley, encouraging words wer
spoken to the sentimental and indus
trial side of the south. Mr.. Tai
spoke Of the Oriental trade OF TIL
country and the great interest OF tn
south in that matter because Of tn
cotton commerce. He hoped that on
Of the results Of his administrator
would be greatly to improve trade u
that direction. He concluded wit
again giving thanks for his treatmen
and promising to come again.
The banquet was attended BY NOR
than 200 men, the guests Of the Al
gusta chamber of commerce and II
cluded John D. Rockefeller, Gov. Al
sci Of South Carolina, and many oil
ers Of distinction assembled to add
the brilliancy and contribute to tn
oratory Of the occasion. Georgia wa
toasted by Judge Henry G. Hammond
, South Carolina by Gov. Ansel, tn
Southern press by T. W. Loyless an
Augusta by Judge Joseph r. Lamar.