The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-28
President Is Compelled To Leave Body of FIOtiIIa
BOATS CANNOT KEEP UP
The oieander Is Running From Two to Three Hours Behind Time. Others Are Late-Given Rous-
 ing Reception at Memphis

Helena. Ark. October 27.-President Tafts river trip went all to pieces today owing to the inability of the vessels fol- lowing his flagship, the Oeander, to keep up to the designated speed. The Pres ident tried to stay with the fleet as far as he possibly could, and delayed his ar rival in Memphis three hours this morn ing in order that the boats carrying the 26 governors and the IF congressman, as well as other vessels carrying delegates to the waterways convention in New Or leans, might land at the same time.
 Leaving Memphis one hour and a half late this afternoon the Oleander had to press forward at top speed in order to reach here at D, m. two hours behind the scheduled time
 In making the run the Orleander left the other vessels far astern.
 The delays have wrought havoc with the schedule for the remainder of the trip.
 Three Hours Late.
 Leaving here nearly three hours late tonight, the President will not reach Vicksburg until o'clock or after to- morrow night, that being his next stop. Even to make that city by o'clock the President will have to leave the other ves- sells behind.
 It had been MT. Taft's decision to ride over the battlefields at Vicksburg, and he may be denied that pleasure because of the delay. It had been intended that the Prsident should be welcomed once more to Arkansas by Governor Donaghey, but the governors boat was an hour be- hind the President, and the Introductory speech was made by Mayor Martin The President spoke briefly from a stand erected in the center of the city
 The night air and the bad condition Of his voice did not offer favorable cir curnstances for a longer address,.
 At Memphis.
 Mir Taft received q azSss. .,-iy,s dess,t,r- , strative welcome in Memo ssis today As his boat drew up to the .s~.se the place was black with people, The roofs of the tall buildings fronting the river also were crowded. The delay on the arrival caused much confusion in the western Tennessee metropolis however and two or the Presidents cabinet ministers came near getting left on the return from the Auditorium, the automobile plan hays-ss gone all awry in the confusion of so many distinguished guests landing in the city at the same time.
 The President spoke first at Memnhis at the Y. M. c. A. building and afterward made waterways speech in the Audi tor1um, in which he pointed out few plain truths. He declared that such com mercial advantages as the Mississippi river already afforded were not being taken advantage of. He also pointed out the hard work that would have to he done to start system of commerce even after the deep waterway is secured
 Fleet Is Late.
 The steamer Oleander was nearly an hour ahead of the remainder of the fleet and President Taft's immediate pe rtv wac all that alighted here, The President is still very hoarse, and it was with great effort that he spoke. He referred to the hotilla jestingly, referring to 1t as A. show booked for full performance. and regretted that part of the show was called upon to fill the entire engagement The trip down the river, according to the President, has amply demonstrated the inadequacy of present river traffic h compete with the railroads and is good argument for deep waterways
 Speaking of the occasion for the trip the President said:
 President Speaks.
 Some will say that the trip is merely a free junket but those who know under stand that the time of the men who are making the trip is too valuable and they could not afford to spend 1t except to inn press upon the country what is one of the most important issues of the time."
 Here he used the local point as an iI- lustration of the necessity of a deep waterway.
 Congress has the power to improve the riverways. They have spent much money, but have not entered into 8 gem eral plan. We all realize that if we do anything effectively and economically it must be a general plan. If it Is proven. practical, I believe 1t ought to be done and done quickly. We ought to treat it like we have treated the Panama canal issue, and not in pecemeal. I advocate the issue of bonds."
 As the fotila was leaving here shortly after o'clock this evening President Taft went aboard the steamer Quincy for din- ner, as the guest of the IF congress- men on board. The Oleander remained within hailing distance of the Ouincv while the dinner was in progress and took the President again on board while the boats were en route, 20 miles below haze.
 Davidson III.
 Memphis October Ex-Governor David son of Wisconsin was unable to take part in the reception of President Taft and it's attendant programme today. on account of a slight indisposition which confined him to his stateroom on the steamer St. Paul.
 vicksburg Ready
 Vicksburg, Miss, October 27-yicks burg the historic city upon the hills towering above the Mississippi river awaits with unabating interest the ar rival at D. m. tomorrow of President Taft and the distinguished party accom- panying him down the Mississippi The city Is gay with flags and Is displaying many other signs of patriotic expression on this occasion Already several thou sand visitors from every city and vll- lase within radius of 100 miles are here to participate In the welcome
 A magnificent panorama on water and on land will be graphically displayed to the distinguished guests who will first view vicksburg as they enter the Yaxoo canal Upon landing they will be driven