The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-23

'ACASSN NOO0t NNoA Ao3 oA
listed him as one of it's citi
Cincinnati, Ohio. Wilmington was
to call him "Our President" but
hundreds of other cities and towns
did likewise. He was entertained
in the hall of the House of Repre-
sentatives in Columbia, South
Carolina, and talked to the gath
cred company there in a "folksy"
way; and Richmond, Virginia,
later received him with open arms,
and the President shook hands
patiently and smilingly with every
one.
Mr.. Taft had been spending
about three months in the fall of
1909 touring the country. He swung
around a great circle in the West,
and then had the good judgment to
appear in the South, where he
readily was adopted. He had been
elected by the Republicans Of the
country as President, but his visit
to the South brought out no reflec-
tons as to political prejudice and
antipathies.
Wilmington had been placed on
the itinerary of the President. and
the city was full Of a happy antici-
patton of his coming. He was to be
not only her guest, but the guest Of
the State of North Carolina. The
newspapers Of the State were ar
dent in their stories OF the move
ments Of the President and his ex-
pected visit to the State.
The Governor, William Walton
Kitchen, was coming to e him.
The Adjutant General, J. F. Arm
field, enlisted the interest of the
militia of State, and companies
from Greensboro, New Bern, Colds.
boro, Raleigh. Tarboro, Franklin.
ton, Concord, Rocky Mount, Wash.
iHgton, Kinston, Fayetteville, Clin-
ton, Lumber Bridge, and all other
available military units. were book
ed to attend. The old Wilmington
company, the Wilmington Light In.
fdntry, was elated at the prospect
Of receiving the visitors.
There were also the Naval Re
serves from New Bern, as well as
of Wilmington, and the company Of
United States troops stationed a
Fort Caswell. And there we're sew,
eral military bands. These woulc
all come, and help to provide q
fasting ponp of soldiery.
Senator Lee S. Overman started
or the way to Wilmington, and the
States representatives in congres.
had planned to come. Congressmer
Hannibal L. Goodwin, Charles R
Thomas, john H. Small, Robert M
Page. and C. H. Cowles were en-
route; and apparently every other
public man of the State who coulc
do SO had made plans to witness
the States welcome to the Chief
Executive.
Wilmington was aquiver with en-
thusiastic preparations, and its
business of the hour was the laying
of itself out for the biggest enter,
tainment rendered in its history
While the whole State was a unit
in ardent anticipation, Wilmington
was the boiling point OF great in.
terest. Committees were at work
and everybody had something tt
do.
The days were flying by and the
President reached Augusta on Nov.
7th. Wilmington newspapers car.
ried glowing accounts of his visit
there. The next day, the 9th, he
was in Columbia; and that might
he was on his way to Wilmington.
His private car was attached to
the train which arrived at mid.
night. and he remained at the sta.
ton for the night.
Meantime. everything was ready
for the great reception.
In front of the postoffice build.
ing on Front and Chestnut streets,
there was a huge triumphal arch.
snow white, and standing thirty
feet high. 1t was aglow with cleo
trio lights. and, blazing upon its
topn1ost curve, was the legend
welcome to the Land Of the Long.
Leaf Pine"
Thanking the arch we're two
large portraits of the President
which were literally embraced II
the beautiful foliage of the long
leaf pine. And the whole of From
street was converted into a pine
forest. For seven blocks trees were
placed at regular intervals, Great
ing the effect of a long avenue O.
rich foliage. Interspersed among
pines were fluttering and waving
flags and pennants Of bunting
Each building on the street vice
with every other in the effort tc
make its ornamentation as beauti
full as possible.
All the downtown section was
profusely decorated, and the whole
city was bright with colored tokens
of welcome. Front street from the
union station to Orange vas hung
with swinging rows of tungsten
llSllLS. 1IlCSc COIlVCl lCO tlG otiC &C
into a "Great White Way and
the people crowded the sidewalks
to enjoy the bright glow and to
feast their eyes upon the rich green
Of the pines and the mass OF
swaying colors.
On the block beside the Atlantic
Coast Line offices or Front street
there was the Court of Honor
Here were six stately snow-white
columns, standing twenty-five Feet
high, and crowned with the ever.
present pine and festooned with
Southern smilax. Innumerable in.
candescent la m glisteneo
through the green decorations. One
passing through the Court Of Hon.
or" was strangely affected with a
sense of beauty. 1t was all so diff.
fereat from the usual plain appear
ance of the street.