The Washington herald., 1909-01-16
SOUTH TO GAIN.
Continued from Page One.

10 out TIE Republican party. when N
contrOL in fear OF a possible or probable
defeat
The South and the Southern people are
conservative. and they don't change in a
mercurlal way. With them traditions are
respected and are strong motives OF &C
ton.
7 observe that among some promi-
neut members Of Congress there is a
disposition to charge me with an attempt
to win the South over 10 Republicanisn.
and a somewhat contemptuous expression
Of opinion that this is utterly impossible
To them ! would say that 1 am not
hopeful of winning the South over. as
they say. but that the South has sue
ceeded fl winning me. For never have
had a more cordial reception in any part
Of the country or the world than during
my present visit TO Georgia.
Visit Not a Failure.
While Mr.. Roosevelt Is lsboring IN
washington under the responsibilities Of
his great Office, I am enjoying the re-
spect. attention. and hospitality that pa
triotic Americans extend to the once
without at present carrying its burdens
Hence take issue with my friends
from the South In Congress who ascribe
failure 10 my coming. because I think it
has been a great success II my coming
had been partisan. no such meeting as
this tonight would have been possible"
Referring TO the question OF Federal
ofnceholders in the South. Mr. Taft said:
The direct local effect Of s national
=
through its local officials. appointed and
exercising their functions through the
section, and, therefore. the expression Of
the administration toward the Southern
people takes its color from the character
OF those officials. The administration
may De properly held accountable. and
It's policy determined by the ouslihca-
tons, fitness. and standing OF the men
appointed TO represent it in the district
and States Of the section.
7 realize, therefore, that expressions
OF sympathy vith the South and an earn
est desire 70 bring Il closer 20 the central
government IN thought and action and
feeling viii have comparatively lktle
weight unless this expression Is accom-
panied BY such appointments In the
South as shall prove this sympathy 70 be
real and substantial
Select Men Of Character.
'AIl I can say with reference TO the
future policy OF the administration IN
the South on this subject is that expect
TO spare no effort 10 ind out the facts
n respect 70 the character Of proposed
apDointees. and so far as IN ne les 20
select those whose character and repu-
tation and standing In the community
comment them TO their fellow-citize1s as
persons qualified and able 10 discharge
the duties vel. and whose presence IN
important. positions viii remove, II any
such thing exists. the sense OF alienism
IN the government which they represent
This declaration was greeted with
cheers by the diners Mr.. Taft went on
TO tel the Southerners that the work Of
the next administration is 10 be one Of
creation and construction. TO furnish
the machinery with which the great
principles announced and carried forward
10 successful establishment by Theodore
Roosevelt are to be clinched and main
tanned.
Tariff Revision First.
The legislation affecting the great
railway and industrial corporations" he
said, needs amendment, not 50 much to
change its principle or object as 70
facilitate its enforcement and make It's
violation less easy and advisable" Nj.
Taft added, however, that the immediate
great work Of the administration must be
an honest, genuine revision OF the tariff
Mr.. Taft arrived at Atlanta at O'Clock
in the afternoon and the city gave him
a fattering reception. His special train
was greeted with the tootings OF hun
dreds OF whistles and the ringing OF bells.
The noise was deafening. A crowd OF
several thousand was out al the railroad
station and the streets OF the city were
lined. Mr. Taft was escorted from his
train by the city council and a delega-
ton OF the chamber OF commerce to the
capitol
Mr.. Taft net Gov. Hoke Smith in the
latter's room and held q private recep-
ton there. Then conveyed by Hoke and
many other Democrats he made his way
70 the court in the center OF the capI-
toll. The Georgians were struggling 10
get IN on the ground floor and two gal
packed. Hoke Smith presented Mr.. Taft
as a man who has won distinction in
every post he has filed and as the next
ing the Georgisns for their hospitality
and expressions Of good viii.
Meets Ohio md Yale Men
At the Hotel Piedmont Mr.. Taft re-
ceived the Atlanta Yale Club and the
members of the Ohio Society OF this
city.
The Taft reception IN Atlanta was only
al example on a larger scale Of what
Mr. Taft experienced all the way across
Georgia He left Augusta at $50 o'clock
in the morning on a special train. Stops
were made at Thompson. the home OF
Tom Watson; at Charlottesville, the home
Of Alexander Stephens, the South's great
CommoReT. at Greensboro, RUtledge, So
cial Circle. CovingtOn, Decatur, and two
OF three other places.
At ali the stops Mr.. Taft was greeted
by big crowds. and at some Of them by
brass bands At several stations the
United Daughters OF the Confederacy
handed up bouquets Of roses, and at
others some OF the South's faireSt daugh-
tiers sang. first Dixie and then the
Star Spangled Banner"
At each Of the stops Mr.. Taft made q
brief speech.
Mr.. Taft VIII spend tomorrow morning
looking over Atlanta and making a speech
TO the negroes and students Of the School
Of Technology. About l O'Clock he wiz
board Z train and run out t. Athens.
where he viii speak at the University Of
Georgia He viii return 10 Atlanta in