The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-10
Declares That He Has Had
a Wonderfully Good Time
on the Trip
Mr. TAFT WILL SPEND
TODAY IN RICHMOND
Makes Characteristic Speech at Will
nington, N. C.-CompIiments Peo-
pie On Their Doing Things
Early in Every National Crisis.

Wilmington, N c., November s-His
13,OOO-mile journey through Ss states and
territories all but concluded. President
Taft is speeding tonight toward Rich
mond, where he will stop tomorrow until
late afternoon, leaving then for Wash
ington to spend the night at home In the
White House. The President says he has
had a wonderfully good time on his long
trip but is pretty well tagged out and is
glad that his travels are soon to be over.
Mr.. Taft has given up all idea of visit
ing the isthmus of Panama this winter
and will make no more long trips of any
sort until next summer. when he hopes to
visit Alaska. He will spend the Christ
mas holidays in the White House with
his family gathered around him. The
President is especially glad In getting
home to know that Mrs. Taft is so much
better. The great Improvement which
began at Beverly during the summer has
continued rapidly and complete recovery
from the nervous breakdown Of last
spring is certain in the very near future.
During his Sc days on the road President
Taft has not let the setting of sun
gram. He has literally interspersed the
daily messages by wire with long letters
detailing the most minute happenings of
his eventful trip and in this way has ac-
tually written a complete history of his
journeyings.
Day in Wilmington.
The Presidents day in Wilmington
called out great display of enthusiasm
on the part of residents of the Old North
State who came from all sections to par
ticipate In his welcome. In many ways
the celebration of the Presidents visit
here was one of the most significant of
his trip. Governor Kitchin extended the
formal welcome of the state in an adj
dress which bristled with the patriotism
of the SOUTH and which embodied one
of the most glowing tributes the Pres
ident has received.
Arriving here before daylight this morn
ing. the President slept until nearly 6
o'clock when he was escorted to the
beautiful colonial home of James Sprunt,
one of the greatest exporters of cotton in
the south, where southern home break
fast was served. George Washington and
Daniel Webster had known the hospital
ity of the same splendid mansion. At
the end of the meal Mayor MacRea of
Wilmington voiced the welcome to the
city and. created Mr.. Taft IAN honorary
Tarheel' for life.
From the sprunt home the party motor
ed in review of 1900 school children of
the city, arranged in a living flame of
flags. He stopped for while and list
ened, then moved to another section of
the city, where he reviewed the colored
children and made an. address.
Boarding the revenue cutter Seminole
at 1920 o'clock with a committee of 80
or more citizens as an escort, the Presi-
dent was taken for IA sail of % miles
down the waterway and return. Will
mington is desirous of deeping her chan
mel to the sea from "a to 30 feet and the
ride was to give the President an abject
lesson as to the need of the improve
ment. During the trip the President sent
a wireless telegram to Mrs. Taft. The
tramp steamer Beatty Bridge. sailing for
Liverpool with 100000 worth OF cotton
saluted the President, and the crew stood
at the rail and gave him three cheers.
A big phonograph on board the vessel
could he heart across the water grinding
out Hail Columbia in most patriotic
American manner
Takes Carriage Ride.
when the river trip had ended President
Taft was taken for carriage ride
through several miles of Wilmington
streets.
The parade ended at the city hail. where
the President spoke. Tonight he attended
q supper at the Masonic temple before
leaving for Richmond at p. m
Governor Kitchin, in introducing the
President this afternoon, declared that he
wanted Mr.. Taft to know that the south
was his country. as the north Is our
country"
"a little more than generation ago.
said Governor Kitchin, ''this section of
the country thought it could get along
WITHOUT the rest of the country. But the
north knew 1t could not get along with
out the south, which in the high court
of might went against us. We thought
tbe successful litigants acted badly for
a time. but 1t Is all forgotten now and
we cherish 1t no more
Governor Kitchin said that while the
south was asking no favors. but only JUS
tice and a fair chance there was no one
in the entire country more determined
that this fair chance snouio oe siVeh IMAM
President Taft.
..Tbere are no divisions in this fair land
of Columbia today" he went on, "and
want to say to you, Mr.. President, that
Won have never met better, truer nor
drawer audience tnan tne onO "iiei'
Creets YOU here today And to this audi
ence I would say that no more illus
trous or able man has ever visited VIII
mington than William Howard Tart.
In his address President Taft said;
President Talks.
II have visited North Carolina before
and in doing SO l have found that you
were a little earlier in doing everything
that had to be done In the crisis of the
nation than anybody else have found
that you made a declaration Of independ-
ence at Mecklenburg about year before
we thought of 1t in other parts Of the
country. And understand, that you sup
pressed the stamp tax and emptied out
the tea a very considerable time before
they had that tea party In Boston har-
Dor. It ID, therefore. q matter of ex-
(C0NTINUnD on PAGD ~