The Sentinel=record., 1909-11-03
IS ON THE LAST FEW DAYS OF HIS THIRTEEN THOUSAND
 MILE TRIP.
Is Waging Campaign for "Wnning the South to Closer Union to
 States of the North.

South to Closer Union With the States of the North" was in full swing when the chief executive reach ed here at 7:35 o'clock tonight. At his various stops in Mississippi, cul- minating at Columbus, the old home of Secretary of War Dickinson, the president had called out the cheers of the people by his declaration of friend ship to the south by the repeated statement that his visit was without political significance.
 Tt is not that we want to make you Republicans,' said the president, "or that we want 10 become Demo crats. We all have our views and our tastes in that regard. It Is that you shall come to believe that you are as near to the heart of the central gov. ernment as now administered as any other people in the nnfon."
 The old rebel yell was heard in Columbus as the president spoke to- day as it has not been heard in years
 The pretty little town was crowded to the bursting point with excursion ists. President Taft's address from a stand erected on Main street seemed to catch the fancy of the crowd and nearly every sentence of his talk WAS punctuated with cheers,
 In speaking of his desire to bring the Southern people close to their neighbors of the north and west, Pres ident Taft declared that the cordial reception he has thus far had con- vinces him that the southern people are willing to come more than Lalf way in the encouragement of that sen timent
 Secretary Dickinson in a speech at Columbus, declared as a judge of the federal court, with a Jurisdiction ex. tending into the southern country, President Taft came to know much of the character, the traditions, the aims and ambitions of the southern people and was nearer to them in this regard than was Grover Cleveland, who was elected by their suffrage. The secretary said the presiacns had no such ''eheap or paltry pur- pose as the gaining of votes and re- peated amid cheers the presidents own declaration that his visit to the south was without political purpose
 The president Is to be the guest of Birmingham until o'clock tomorrow. His entertainment began tonight with an elaborate banquet presided over by HUnited Stateb Senator J. F.Johnson and at which the speakers included Gov ernor CDmer, James Brown, R. N. Rhodes, J. B. Babb, Secretary of War Dickinson and the president.
 When he arrived in the city this evening" Mir. Taft was met at the sta- ton by Mayor o'Brien and commit tee of itizens. The streets about the depot and leading from there to the hotel were thronged.
 Tomorrow the president will break. fast at the Country Club, will partici- pate in and review parade, will lunch at the Southern Club and in the afternon make an address in Capitol Park. The president has entirely re- covered his voice he Eost in Texas and which gradually came back to him during he trip down the Mississippi and the stay in New Orleans. In ad- diticn to declaring his good will to the people of the south. he had a few words to say with reference to mar riage and woman's suffrage when he was surrounded on the campus of the Female Industrial Institute and Col lege by 800 as pretty girls as could be | found in the south and afterward helped to serve the supper, his party and the citizens of Columbus, the first barbecue of the presidential tour.
 Mir. Taft said he would be the last man in the world to put anything in the way of matrimony, but he believ- ed a girl should be so situated as to her future as to be able to make a free choice and to look forward to a life of unmixed happiness.
 Education in the arts and industries were the best means of bringing this condition of affairs about. he said.
 T know that it is generally suppos. ed" continued tine president. that those who inherit wealth are in the best situation for a future happiness.
 T mean in this world" 1" he added. amid laughter.