Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-19
JUDGE TAFT IN ATLANTA.
President Elect Talks Nicely to the
South.

Atlanta last Friday and Saturday. The
president elect went from Augusta on
a special train making half dozen
rear platform speeches along the way,
and when he reached Atlanta every
steam whistle in the city was set 60
ing and kept going for hours. The
city was gaily and elaborately decor
ated, and the streets were thronged
with eager interested people. The
programme of the two days included
quite a number Of receptions and
speechmaking; but the feature Of 1t
was a grand banquet at the Piedmont
hotel, at which 'possum and 'taters
with simmon beer was the most strik-
ing of the many rich courses served.
Inc banquet cost $40 plate and there
were present as many as 500 Of the
most prominent men Of Georgia. Be-
tween courses, especially after the In
PRODUCTION of the 'possum and 'taters,
some Of the banquetters joined In the
singing Of old southern plantation
songs, Judge Taft joining heartily in
The merriment.
Judge Taft had given care to the
preparation Of his banquet speech, re-
garding it as his important utterance
If the day, and in its delivery he fol-
lowed his manuscript closely. He had
come south for rest to tired nerves
after a strenuous political campaign,
lie began, but when he realized he had
fallen into the hands of the strenuous
Atlantians he began to realize that his
rest was to be seriously broken.
Mr.. Taft said with feeling that he
was proud to have been the first Re-
publican candidate for the presidency
who had carried his canvass south Of
Mason and Dixon's line.
I'm the presence Of Democrats and
Republicans here at a non-partisan
banquet expressing the welcome of the
whole community, 1t would neither be
courteous nor appropriate for me to &c
INTO a partisan discussion" Mr.. Taft
continued. II can only refer to the fact
with qualification and congratulation
that today the expression Of any polit-
ical view in the south is possible with
out involving social ostracism or any
IF the penalties with which 1t might
have been visited in earlier times. Ten
years have made a great difference in
the attitude which the controlling peo-
lie of the south occupy towards the
north and the government.
The president elect then summarized
the causes which had worked and were
effecting this change-the Spanish
war; the attitude Of Mckinley, his
lovable character and the principles he
stood for in his campaign; the success
sion of Roosevelt with his Georgia
mother; and finally the wonderful bus
mess developments Of the south.
Democratic Party Necessary.
IT am Republican but. I concede
fully the great advantage to the coun-
try Of having a Democratic party suf-
ficiently powerful at times to win the
presidential elections and always to put
the Republican party, when in control,
in fear Of a possible or probable de-
feat. And so in the south no one can
deny the advantage that will arise in
local and state governments when
there Is a substantial and intelligent
minority, which may become a sue
cessful majority in punishment Of the
abuses that are likely to grow out Of
the long continued and undisputed
control Of one party. Added to that,
the uncertainty which may attend the
result Of national elections in a state
Is certain to give 1t additional import
ance to the councils Of the nation.
II observe that among some promi-
nent members of congress there Is a
disposition to charge me with an at
tempt to win the south over to Repub-
Gus expression Of opinion that this Is
utterly impossible. To them l would
say that / am not hopeful Of winning
the south over as they say, but that
the south has succeeded in winning
me.
IF my coming had been partisan no
such meeting as this tonight would
have been possible, and so l may say
If all the receptions and expressions Of
good will and welcome that I have re-
ceived from point to point throughout
the southern country. The very sue
cess Of my trip the very reason why II
gives me so much satisfaction. Is the
pronounced partisan character of
the welcome which has been so kindly
extended to me.
Now if this indirectly makes, not
for a partisan advantage, but for q
continuance OF the movement in favor
# independence Of speech and action
and political tolerance. it's result Is one
that all citizens of whatever political
0arty must rejoice to have brought
about
His Policy In Appointments.
THE direct local effect Of a national
administration upon the south Is chief
ly through it's local officials, appointed
and exercising their functions through
the section, and therefore the express
sion Of the administration toward the
southern people takes its color In the
character CT those officials, and there
the administration may be properly
held accountable and it's policies de-
termined by the qualifications, fitness
and standing of the men appointed to-
represent II In the districts and states
Of the section. l realize, therefore,
that expressions of sympathy with the
south and an earnest desire TO bring
ii closer to the central government in
thought and action and feeling will
have comparatively little weight un-
less this expression IS accompanied by
such appointments in the south as
shall prove this sympathy to be real
and substantial.
"All l can say with reference to the
future policy of the administration in
the south on this subject Is that l eX-
pect to spare no effort to find out the
facts in respect to the character Of the
proposed appointees, and so far as in
me lies TO select men whose character
and reputation and standing in the
community commend them to their
fellowcitizens as persons qualified and
able to discharge their duties we'll, and
whose presence in important positions
will remove, if any such thing exists,
the sense of alienism in the govern
ment which they represent"
He said that the work Of the next
administration is TO be work Of Gre
alton and construction.
Tariff Revision First.
"Of course, the immediate great work
of the administration must be the re-
vision of the tariff" he said. I'm that
work the south Is quite as much inter-
ested as the north, and would have an
honest and genuine revision such as
has been promised by the party in
power"
He gave assurance to the southern
people that mo interest Of the south,
whether 1t share that interest with the
north. or whether it has a peculiar in
tereSt Of It's own, will be neglected in
the conduct of the government in so
far as that conduct shall be under the
control of its chief executive" In con-
Guiding, Mr.. Taft said:
Il beg of those of my hearers who
differ with me politically not to sup
pose that their Cordiality and cOurte-
Gus reception are misunderstood by
me. know that they spring from an
earnest and patriotic desire to pay