The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-11-11
A WELCOME TO TAFT
Wilmington Gives the Presi-
dent an Enthusiastic
Reception.
POLITICS Is NOT MENTIONED

.
Governor kitehin Warmly Praise.
the President In rre-entiag Hin
Ia the Crowd As.cmhled-rre~s
dent Taft Praised the Tar He~l
State and Its Pcople-The Excel
lent Program Carried Out IN
Every Dctaii-President Rreak.
tasted at Mr.. spr~nt'. Eiegaa,
Home or to Richmond and
Wilmington. \. c.. Nov s.-His
lS.ooO-mile journey through 81
States and Territories all hu. con-
cluded. President Taft is speeding
tonight toward Richmond, where
he will stop tomorrow until late
afternoon. leaving then for Wash
ington, to spend the night at home
in the White House
The Presidents day In Wilmington
called forth a great display OF en,hu-
siasm on the part OF the residents OF
the Old North State. who came from
all sections OF the commonwealth 10
participate In his welcome. In many
ways the celebration OF the PresI-
dents visit here was one OF the most
significant OF his trip. The welcome.
the efforts TO make his stay q pleas
ant memory, and the painstakIng
care with which the city was deco
rated with bunting and young trees
OF the longleaf pine district, bespoke
the spirit OF the day.
Governor w. W. Kitchin extended
the formal welcome OF the State in
an address which bristied with the
patriotism of the South. and which
embodied one of the most glowing
tributes the President has received
at the hands of thirty-three Gov
ernors. who have We'd one with the
other in eloquence OF compliment
Arriving here early this morning.
the President was escorted TO the
beautiful old colonial home of James
Sprunt. one OF the greatest exporters
OF cotton in all the South, where a
was 6tIf-
ed. George Washington and Dan
iel Webster had known the hospi-
tality Of the same splendid old man
sion. The breakfast was served In
the conservatory which had been
made into a grape arbor. At the
end of the meal Mayor McRae. OF
Wilmington, voiced the welcome 10
the city and created Mr.. Taft "an
honorary Tar Heel" for life.
From the Sprunt home the Presi-
dent motored in review OF 1900
school children OF the city arranged
in a living flag. In another section
Of the city he reviewed the coiored
children, and made them a little ad-
dress.
On the revenue cutter Seminole
the President this morning was TAX
en- for a sail twenty-five miles down
the waterway and return. VIII
mington is desirous OF deepening
her channel to the sea from twenty
Ave to thirty feet, and the ride was
to give the President an object les
son as to the need OF the improve
ment.
The tramp steamer Battersea
Bridge, sailing for Liverpool with
100000 worth OF cotton on board.
saluted the Panident. and the crew
stood at the yand gave him three
cheers. A big phonograph on board
the vessel could be heard across the
water grinding out Hail Columbia"
In a most patriotic American man
ner.
The river trip ended, President
Taft was taken for a carriage ride
through Wilmington. II was at his
own request that the route was
made as long as possible. The pa
rade ended at the city hall. where
the President spoke. Tonight he
attended a supper at the Masonic
Temple, and left the city at p. m.
Governor Kitchin, In introducing
the President this afternoon, declar-
ed that he wanted Mr. Taft to know
that the South was Ibis country an
the North Is our country"
"a little more than a generation
ago." said Governor Kitchin, this
section of the country thought IL
could get along without the rest OF
the country. But the North knew
1t could not get along without the
South, which In the high court OF
might went against US. We thought
the successful litigants acted bad for
time, but II Is all forgotten now
and we cherish II no more"
Governor Kitchin said that while
the South was asking no favors but
only justice and a fair chance. there
was no one in the entire country
more determined that this fair
chance should be given than Presi-
dent Taft.
He told Mr.. Taft: You have new
er met a better. truer or brsver
audience than the one which greets
you here to-day. And to this audi
ence I would say that no more illus
trious or able man has ever visited
Wilmington than William Howard
Taft"
'I have visited North Carolina be-
fore and In doing so I have found
that you were little earlier In do
ing everything that had to be done
in the crisis of the nation than any
body else. have found that you
CONTINUED on Page 81