Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-01-21
Talks HVhb Re
cord Readers.
MR.. TAFT AND THE SOUTH.

Mr.. TAFT AND THE SOUTH.
One of the most notable gatherings
ever held In the southland took place
in the citv OF Atlanta. Ga. few
evenings ago. President-elect Taft
was the guest of. honor and other
distinguished mon were present frcn
all of the southern states. The ban
ouet was given as compliment to
Mr.. Taft and choice. we'll Drowned
possum and 'taters. cooked southern
stvle, were served In great abundance
Mr.. Taft was on the program for
speech. and if we may judge from the
press reports of the gathering. he won
the applause and admiration of the
entire company. Since his election
MIR. Taft has spent most of his time
in the south mingling with the
people down there and consulting the
leading men of affairs who reside
south of the Mason and Dixon line
BY these associations and conferences
he has learned a great deal about the
conditions of the south that he could
have acquired ia no other way.
and using his own words; 1.-The south
has won Mr. Taft. That he has
reached some sound conclusions is
evidenced bv portions of his address
As he arose to speak Mr.. Taft was
given a generous welcome and began
by saying ~ am republican. bat
ccncede fully the great advantage to
the country in having a democratic
party sufficiently powerful. some
times to win the presidential election,
and ALWAYS to put the republican
party. when in control. in fear of
possible or probable defeat.
The south and southern people
are conservative and they do not
change in mercurial way. With
them traditions are respected. and
are strong motives of action. -
: In Speaking of the attitude his adj
ministration would assume toward
the south Mr.. Taft said THE direct
local effect of a national administers.
ton upon the south. is chiefly through
its local officials. appointed and ex-
ercising their functions through the
section, and therefore. the expression
of the administration toward the
southern people takes its color in the
character of those officials. The adj
ministration may be properly held
accountable and its policy determined
by the qualifications. fitness and stand
ing of the men appointed to rep
the section.
Il realize. therefore, that express
sions of sympathy with the south and
an earnest desire to bring il closer to
the central government in thought and
action and feeling will have compare
lively little weight unless this ex-
preston is accompanied by such APP
pointments in the south as snail
prove this sympathy Ia be real and
substantial
Will Consider Fitness.
IAN can say with reference to the
policy of my ADMINISTRATION in the
south on this subject that l expect
to spare no effort to find out the
facts in respect to the character Of
proposed appointees. and so far as in
NE lies to select those whose character
and reputation and standing in the
community commend them to their
fellow citizens as persons qualified
and able to discharge their duties
well and whose presence in important
positions will remove. if any such
things exist. the sense of lienism in
the government which thew represent. I"
If this policy is followed by the new
administration a. better day will dawn
in the south and people of the north
and south will be brought closer
together Northerners do not under
stand the true conditions in the south
until they have lived among the
southern people. After a short resi-
dence there they soon realize the great
problems with which the southern
people bave been wrestling for these
manv years. A better understanding
of these conditions will assist materi-
ally in removing the barriers between
the north and south.