The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-02
PRESIDENT TAFT IS
FORMALLY NOTIFIED
OF HIS NOMINATION
He Declares Preservation of
Constitution Is Prin-
cipal Issue
GIVES HIS VIEWS
ON THE OPPOSITION
Says Economic and Political Reyolu-
ton and Business Paralysis Would
Follow Republican Defeat.
Root Delivers Address

| OiON AAtpuDitaH btitats
Root Delivers Address
Washington. August 1.-Republican
leaders who crowded the east room of
the White House today to hear Pres
ldent Taft's speech accepting the
party's nomination for the presidency
were confident tonight that his adj
| dress would be the real keynote for
the campaign and express the belief
that II was one of the best speeches
Mr. Taft has delivered since he entered
the White House.
! Members Of the cabinet republican
leaders such as Senators Root. Lodge.
Smoot, Crane and Representatives.
Mann, Payne and others were conil-
dent that the Presidents address Will
be used as campaign document and
sent broadcast over the country. 1t
was praised In high terms by scores
! of the throng which flled the White
House to witness the notification.
The ceremony itself was short and
simple. The President and senator
Root spoke from platform raised
few feet above the floor OF the east
terrace of the White House with its
blooming scarlet geraniums and its tall
waving green palms as a background.
Mrs. Taft, Mrs. Leonard Wood. wife of
the chief Of staff OF the army Mrs.
Beckman winthrop, wife of the1 As
sistant Secretary of the Navy. and rMs
@. A. McClintock. the only women pres
ent, sat just below the platform while
Ia Inv hall OR
grouped members of the committee.
senators and congressman and other
invited guests.
Informal Affair
The affair was informal Most OF the
committee and congressman appeared
in unconventional dress, but former
Speaker Cannon, who was told yester-
day he could attend in mis- shirt
sleeves" and he comfortable, was one
of the few TO wear a frock coat.
The President apparently enjoyed the
loceasion immensely. After bis speech
he disappsured In his private apaf1
ments for a few minutes, returning
wearing a silk house coat instead or
his formal dress and acted as waiter
for Mrs Taft and the other women.
and mingled among the guests asked
to luncheon in the state dining room
After the last visitor had departed he
motored to Chew Chase to play golf
with Gen. Clarence Edwards, Thomas
| Webb of New Jersey and Chairman
Hilles of the republican national com
mittee.
| With several hundred politicians
lpresent there was plenty of discussion
about political subjects. Senator Newell
of Tennessee contributed to the excite
ment by announcing that he had con-
ltributed $1,000 to the Taft campaign
L. rri.. lrnt fbA
Information that so far no treasurer of
the committee has been named and Mr..
Hilles predicted that choice would
not be made for several days.
The custom begun by the Tafts of
serving buffet luncheons made II an
easy task to prepare for the compare
lively small number asked to be pres
ent today
Members of Committee
The state dining room was ready for
the luncheon after the programme of
speech making and handshaking was
over Members of the committee pres
ent were: Alabama, O. ID. Street; Ari
!zona, j. Lorenzo Hubbell; Arkansas, c.
E. Speer; Florida, III. $. Chubb; Georgia,
M. g. Morton; Kansas, John M. Landon
lKentucky X. G. Stoil: Louisiana, Reu-
bon II. Brown; Mississippi e. II. Nc
lKissick; New Mexico. j. II. Cunning
ham; North Carolina, Y. V. Walser;
lOklahoma, III. E. p. Stanford; South
Carolina Thomas l.. Grant; Tennessee.
John w. overall, Texas, Eugene Mar
shall, Virginia, r. A. Fulenwider
Mrs. Taft, radiant, stood by her hus-
band. Charles, the youngest son, was
present. Miss Helen Taft and Robert
Taft, the eldest son, were not in the
group.
Senator Roots speech delivered In
tones so well known In the Senate
l,h bar xuaa hea rd all and when he
finished the President began reading
his address of acceptance. printed doc
ument of some 10000 words A dais
J had been placed in the center OF the
east room surmounted by two colonial
lchairs. Senator Root occupied one and
President Taft the other.
Motion Picture Men There
Motion picture operations clicked off
THOUSANDS OF feet of flm white Sena-
tor Root and the President were speak
ing. 1t was the first time moving
picture had been taken in the Whits
House East room.
The state department will preserve one
of the films in its archives. When the
President reached the portion of his ad-
dress wherein he referred to the main
tensnce OF the nations institutions and
the preservation of the constitution many
Of his hearers thought he spoke with feel
ing. Then when he launched into de-
responsible for the popular unrest the
President spoke with considerable spirit.
He raised his voice and emphasiz his
words by gestures. While the President
was being notified the democrats in the
House were firing fusillades of campaign
oratory and eulogizing Woodrow Wilson
of New Jersey,
Your title to the nomination is clear
and as unimpeachable as the title OF any
candidate since political conventions be-
gan" Senator Root said at the conclusion
Of his address.
II accept the nomination offered me- I
replied President Taft.
He then started his speech of aceep-
tsnce. He added: II accept II a SEN
timent and expression that l will serve
the public faithfully"
Defines Issue
Although Mr., Taft defined in detail the
issues of the campaign as he saw them.
he reserved the right 10 amphfy his state
, nient in letter as the campaign de-
velops.
The supreme issue that confronts the
|, voters the President declared. was that