The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-21
Citizens Hold Regular Jubilee
 Over the President- Elect
IA BIG BANQUET IS GIVEN
Taft Makes a FeIicltous Address to a
 Great Street Crowd and Pays s
 @ High Tribute to the South and It's People.

asta. January 20.-Richmond county, G la. modestly stepped under the spot Ii. today and proclaimed William H. Tt $ her very own-that he was res id,( of Augusta when the presidential electors declared him to be the President elect; that as such, he was Georgian py birth and had lived where he was porn all of his presidential life.
 Then thousands of Augustans clinched this claim with a mighty shout of ap- proval which was echoed again and agaln as Mai. J. c. c. Black said many other complimentary things about MT Ialt Ill presenting him to the mighty mass meet ing which had assembled around the same stand on which President Mckinley spoke more than 10 years ago. The streets the windows and the adjacent roofs were full of people, and when the distinguished visitor told how he hkea Augusta and pledged himself to come toain all hearts were as cheery and faces as radiant as the warm afternoon sun and mellow southern air.
 Big Banquet at Night.
 Rut the big street meeting, preceueu as fl was by a concert by the Fourteenlh Artillery band from Fort ScrlVen, was py m means the extent of the Taft Augusta day festivities. There was panquel eo- night at "Terrace," the big hotel across 4he Sovannah river. where were brought together the distinguished men or Geor- eia and South Carolina, and again was inc solidity of the south's hospltallls demonstrated beyond question.
 After midnirtg, when 1t was all oNei A1,5,,stAa ha .s,t6wn to MT. Taft an ap s,,reciat,on Ufshis presence, an understands inc of his position and admiration ID, his personality; and to the south, any to the country, the little city had mooes. lv made her bow as gracetul eh'er'aiie' of the great. .Lo,ob+ of fl all ,s hest told in his words to the people whom he addressed as My fellow citizens of Augusta" It was his delight that the combination of fate, good sense anu Juus ment had brought him to live TOT sih weeks in Augusta. He had come III search of health and happinessi ne hau both he would take them away With him and leave Augusta no poorer tnereoy. |. was here, for the first time In luil year. he had the pleasure of complete family gathering. The weather had been such that he had not, he said missed a single 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 cab inets to make But" he added as the sum total of information in this direc- ton, i've will get along some way with reference to that cabinet.
 Getting Good and Ready.
 There were other things he had intended to do in preparation for the presidency which he had not done. But 1t Is the first time that that kind of a duty has been thrust upon me, and I have been inst waiting in this healthy atmosphere to get good and ready"
 MT. Taft dwelt upon the happy moral industrial, racial and financial condition in which the city found itself. He was indebted to all the citizens for his kindly and hospitable welcome. '1 have had the pleasure of meeting your farmers and your capitalists, your ministers and your lav-,en. your lawyers and your clients and I like them all. I have been barbe- cued, I have f1shed-I didnt catch any I have automobiled, I have ridden, have played golf, I have met your beau tiful women. and I have enjoyed the sparkle of the wit and humor and genius
  that fate and good judgment brought me to Augusta"
 Turning his attention to the political phase of his visit south Mir Taft was not he said, excited as some seemed to be about the effect. "If I can convince the southern people that this administration Is as much concerned with the welfare of the people of the south" he said with emphasis. 'as it is with the welfare of the people ol every other section, I have accomplished all that I can hope to, The votes and the political matters can take care of themselves"
 Tribute to Mckinley.
 tribute was paid to the memory of Mckinley encouraging words were spoken to the sentimental and indus trial side of the south. MT. Taft spoke of the Oriental trade of this coun try. and the great interest of the south in that matter, because of the cotton commerce. He hoped that one of the results of his administration would be greatly to improve trade in that direc- ton. He concluded with again giving thanks for his treatment, and promising to come again.
 The banquet scene tonight was one of richness and animation. To the splendid architecture of the big win ter hotel was added the atmosphere oi the south in the long sprays of the green pine. and the fresh blossoms oi southern smilax. The ball room the assembling room and the dining room were bowers of palms and flowers, as they terraced Into each other by risins steps, in an effect of vastness ana splendor.
 More than 200 men, the guests of the Augusta Chamber of Commerce and in cluding John D. Rockefeller, Governor Ansel of South Carolina, who was in augurated today, and many others oi distinction, essayed to add to the bril- lance and contribute to the oratory ot the occasion The speeches were directed by the president of the Cham Der of Commerce. MT. Hayne. Georgia was toasted by Judge Henry c. Ham mond, South Carolina by Governor An sel, the southern press by T. W. Loy-