1909- Notes of the Celebration

Miss Carrie Louise Davidson, the attractive daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Davidson, was the winner of the second prize for the best decorated double team in the parade Thursday. This young lady’s name did not appear in full yesterday morning, owning to the dropping of one of the lines in the story of The Observer.

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The central committee of the celebration which was bonded to return the United States flags to Washington unharmed is beginning to think a partial forfeiture will be necessary in view of the fact that a number of the larger flags have been badly used by the elements. The mixture of rain and wind was too much for some of them and they suffered bad tears.

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Little Miss Helen Lethco, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. D. Lethco, secured the first prize for the prettiest pony cart. It was decorated with yellow butterflies. In the list of names of those who rode on the colonial float, the names of Misses Hazeline Thomas and Isabel Beall, also the two pages, little Miss Mary Brevard Alexander and Master James Graham, should have appeared.

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A citizen calls attention to the fact that the papers missed observing the snow that fell Thursday during the heavy downpour of rain. This is not so unnatural, after all, in view of the fact that so many other things more important were being looked after. He is certain, however, that snow did fall during the downpour and bonds himself to the extent of his words that the statement is accurate.

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The confetti battles were never more fiercely fought in the city than during the first two days and nights of the celebration. The streets were literally thronged with young people engaged in throwing the stuff at the other folks. During one of the engagements, a colored damsel, dressed “to kill,” was strutting up the street and somebody emptied a bag of confetti down her back. “Oh, mercy,” she exclaimed, “why did you throw that confederacy on me.”

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Mr. Osmond L. Barringer was about the only man in the city who was prepared for the deluge that characterized Thursday’s celebration. But the day before he had received a consignment of 17 row boats and one gasoline launch for service this summer on the pond at Lakeview Park. Several times during the day he was almost persuaded to put out the launch. It could have operated without trouble along several streets.

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One of the handsomest specimens of the culinary art ever exhibited in Charlotte was the centerpiece executed by Mr. L. P. Riccy, chef of the Selwyn, for the President’s dining Thursday night. It was an elegant three-story affair, a white dove with an olive branch perched on high and gold fishes playing about the base. All the trimmings were in white, the whole making a most beautiful and wondrous display.

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Whether his higher officer assigned him deliberately to the President’s stand or that it just happened that he was given the place, is immaterial, but the presence of Col. Thomas Black in the President’s special place on the reviewing stand was eminently in keeping with the fitness of things. Colonel Tom occupied the north end of the stand as a sort of guard and he gave the Chief Executive occasional glances, as much as to say, “Old fellow, I’m about as big a man as you are.” Which he is, corporeally.

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The United States soldiers left yesterday morning over the Southern for their encampments. The infantry went back to Fort McPherson, Ga., and the cavalry to Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. One section of the train left at 10 o’clock and the other an hour later. The troopers that were at the celebration made a great showing and assisted materially in making the programme attractive. The number of men here this time was considerably in excess of that three years ago. The drilling was very much enjoyed and the officers displayed their fine technique in being able to command such precision on the field.

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Any account of the celebration and the coming of President Taft which does not include mention of the touching invocation at the Auditorium of Rev. Dr. William Morris Kincaid, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, of the city, just prior to the significant address of the nation’s Chief Executive, would fall short to a marked degree. Those who heard it say that it was one of the most appropriate and beautiful ever heard in the city, and formed a fitting introduction to a meeting the like of which has never before been held in the State.

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The management of the Young Men’s Christian Association displayed a magnanimous spirit in offering free places to sit during the passing of the parade Thursday. While the excellent seats afforded at the Association Building would have easily commanded fine prices, the directorate agreed that it would not be the proper thing to do to fix any charges and went even so far as to provide as many chairs as could be crowded into the available spaces. This course has been widely commented upon and the liberal spirit displayed has been very much complimented in view of the fact that so many seats in that neighborhood were sold.

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The work of tearing down the various displays of illumination and decoration of other sorts was barely begun yesterday, the weather being so unfit for outdoor work. In this connection, it might be well to insert the suggestion of a well-known citizen who advises that as much as possible of the decorations be allowed to remain on the buildings until after the North Carolina Bankers’ Convention in this city next week. This applies particularly to the electric displays. As to the ornate national colors which have been so prominent on the chief buildings for more than a week, and the government flags, they should be left where they are until dried by the sun.

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The rain Thursday interfered with many plans which had been devised for the President’s pleasure. One was a trip about the city in order that he might see something of industrial Charlotte. Mr. Stuart W. Cramer was to have this in hand, using his elegant White runabout for the purpose. In order that nothing might be wanting, Mr. Cramer, through the kind offices of Mr. Osmond L. Barringer, had a monster Model M 7-passenger White car brought here from Atlanta, Ga., for the purpose of providing the necessary escort of citizens and secret service men on the trip. As it was, the big car could be used only to carry the President from the Auditorium out to Biddle and return, a flying trip.

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Thursday’s rain was something awful, the precipitation being more than three and one-half inches. Yesterday the Catawba and all tributary streams were out of their banks and raging like mad. The river was 15 feet high. One of the results was the tying-up of a number of automobiles which had made the trip through the country to Charlotte from neighboring towns for the celebration. It is estimated that there were a dozen or more cars here yesterday unable to get away. Mr. James Williamson, of Burlington, has his machine here and also Messrs. Henry, of Asheville, and Lambeth, of Thomasville, and two gentlemen from Cheraw, S. C., Messrs. Malloy and DuVal, of Cheraw, were forced to leave their cars at Monroe and make the trip by rail.

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The souvenir paper weight fashioned by Mr. Carl Bentheim at the instance of the descendants of the signers for presentation to President Taft on the occasion of his visit to Charlotte was formally given into the hands of the nation’s chief executive Thursday evening by Maj. W. A. Graham, State Commissioner of Agriculture, himself a descendant. In reply to Maj. Graham’s few words, the President, holding the beautiful token in his hand, said:

“I thank you and I am glad that the face wears the smile that won’t wear off.” Whereupon he bowed and the select company present smilingly retired. The manner as well as the words were most cordial.

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Mr. Richard Weightman, of Washington, editorial writer on The New York Sun, is a visitor in the city, the guest of Mr. J. P. Caldwell, editor of The Observer, and Mr. D. A. Tompkins, at the Selwyn. Mr. Weightman did not come for the celebration, arriving yesterday morning, but for a social visit. He is a Louisianian by birth and a veteran of the war between the States. For years he was chief editorial writer on The Washington Post prior to his connection with The Sun and is esteemed one of the most able and influential writers at the national capital. He will return to Washington this evening. Yesterday, Mr. Tompkins entertained a few friends at lunch at the Selwyn in his honor and Mr. Caldwell gave a dinner for him at his home on South Tryon street last night.

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The fact that the electric current had been cut off of the wires on South Tryon street during the passing of the parade probably saved the lives of an unlimited number of people. Near the close of the fine procession of military, civic and floral parts, one of the floats came in contact with one of the overhead electric lighting wires and it sagged near the heads of the immense throng on the street. For a time, it appeared that a panic was inevitable, the fact that a drenching rain was just then beginning and the throng was scattering in all directions. The officials of the 4 C’s, however, showed their superior wisdom in taking the precaution of stopping the street cars on that line and shutting off the current that would have dealt death to a multitude had it been broken from its moorings and dropped to the ground while conveying its full voltage.

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The great amount of work toward preparing for the celebration was noticeable to all the visitors and even to those who are accustomed to the immense displays in the greater cities of the country. Of all the decorative work, however, the electric illumination for which Charlotte is fast becoming far-famed appeared to elicit the widest approbation. It was a matter of universal comment that the city showed the visitors that it was the electric centre of the South in being able to command such an elaborate electric decoration. This has become a favorite sort of display in Charlotte and it is evident that no other is serving a better purpose of advertisement or more universally meeting the need for an adequate decoration. All of which is due in large measure to the public spirit and generosity on the part of the Southern Power Company and Mr. W. S. Lee, Jr.

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A limited touch with some representative Charlotte citizens reveals the fact that the people here were immensely pleased with President Taft, irrespective of party affiliations. Many loyal and abiding Democrats were profoundly impressed with the liberality of spirit of the nation’s Chief Executive. They like his principles and his attitude toward the South, the eminent independence in ideas which he displayed, the plain, unadorned, and yet becoming dignity evidenced in speech and conduct, the great good cheer and beaming countenance which marks his every move, and the whole-hearted, whole-souled disposition of the President. Not only those who came in immediate touch with the distinguished visitor, but even those who merely caught a good glance at him during his stay here found in his face an exhibition of temper and a strength of character that fills well the ideal of an American citizen.

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The question arising prominently now in the minds of everybody relates to what extent the celebration crowd would have grown had the weather been in the very least propitious. Fair estimates place the visitors to the city Thursday at 30,000. Of course, many run far over this number, while a few, perhaps, strike lower. That seems to be to all fair-minded prognosticators as a good guess. The exceedingly threatening weather of the early morning, or just about the time the special trains from various points in the Carolinas, were scheduled to leave, cut down the number of visitors extensively. It is a fact that an enormous number of people from the nearby towns refrained from risking themselves in the city under such unfavorable clouds and they made no preparation to come. It is also true that a very considerable number of the people from the county did not come, fearing the weather. All things considered, it is believed that the crowd would have run up to 60,000 visitors under different atmospheric conditions. ______________

The great celebration lasted three days and there was no mishap of any consequence worth chronicling. This is perhaps the most striking feature of the week. Of the thousands on the streets, not a single one was run over by a street car, automobile, truck or anything else. True, there were many narrow escapes but the fact remains that no one was seriously injured in any way whatsoever. This speaks well for the efficiency of the committee on arrangements and those who had the affair in hand.

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Nothing can be said as to the outcome of the celebration financially until the first of next week. Mr. C. A. Williams stated last night that all the bills were not in and there were many loose strings yet unassessed. Several days, he said, would be required to get everything in systematic order. Had the rain not intervened, the committee would have had easy sailing but as it is things are rather doubtful. If the city, however, had to pay for the amount of profitable advertising secured at so much per inch, it is safe to say that another substantial bond issue would have to be floated in order to pay the bill.

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That crooks, pickpockets and undesirbales generally are no respecters of persons has been many times manifested, particularly on such occasions as that offered by the President’s visit Thursday. Chief Justice Walter Clark, of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, had his pockets rifled during the crush at the reviewing stand as the parade was passing and relieved of $10. It was when the storm broke out afresh and when there was a wild scramble for shelter. In the stampede the pickpocket , who had evidently selected his man before time, did his work. His reward, however, was very disappointing. There were others doubtless who were also touched.

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While the benevolent organizations were “providentially hindered” from making a little money with which to send boxes to missionaries, purchase new church carpets, or do something else of like character, the “near-beer saloons” operating under cover, of the elements as well as the laws of the land, simply coined the money by the barrels. There was one joint in the Selwyn Hotel, one at the Buford, one or more at the Central and at various places in the city, to say nothing of other institutions elsewhere. And what a thriving trade did they enjoy! The torrential rains, instead of hurting their business, helped it, for it drove the people indoors. The ways of Providence are indeed strange.

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The number and calibre of the visiting newspaper men who came here for the celebration was surprising to those familiar with the situation. Mr. Dick Oulahan, of The New York Sun; Mr. Robert H. Patchin, of The New York Herald; Mr. James Hay, Jr., of the Munsey papers, and Mr. Robert W. Small, special writer for The Assoicated Press, and the others, all with headquarters at the news centre of the country, Washington, are among the leading newspaper writers in the country. All were surprised and impressed with the progressive spirit everywhere apparent. “It looks like a New England city,” remarked one to an Observer man, in speaking of the town. All are jolly good fellows, broadly tolerant, widely read, experienced and acquainted with men and measures of first rank.

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The North Carolina Yale Alumni Association held its organization meeting Thursday at the Selwyn Hotel, and elected Mr. C. J. Harris, of Hillsboro, president; Prof. Joseph Hyde Pratt, of Chapel Hill, vice president; Mr. A. J. Draper, treasurer, and Mr. L. A. Dodsworth, secretary. The meeting was held in the morning and there wer about 50 old Yale students present. Among them was Rev. Dr. B. S. Bronson, of Macon, formerly the rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal church of this city. Dr. Bronson is one of the oldest living graduates of Yale, having been a member of the class of 1849.

After the reception held by the President at the Selwyn Hotel, President Taft met with the members of the association in one of the rooms at the hotel, and for over a half hour delighted them with his charming cordiality and genial manner. It was a pleasure to those present, on the first social meeting of the alumni in North Carolina, to have Mr. Taft with them.

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To be mistaken for the first lady of the land is an honor that seldom comes to anyone, but this was the experience enjoyed by Mrs. Wade H. Harris at the President’s reception Thursday evening. Mrs. Harris had been a guest at the dinner given in the President’s honor in the private banquet hall at the Selwyn and after it was over accompanied the rest of the party to the parlors, where the formal reception was to take place. As the invited guests began to arrive, by some chance, Mrs. Harris found herself next to the President, and almost in line with him at the time she paid no attention to this, being rather amused at the manner in which the different guests approached the nation’s Chief Executive. One did this, while another did that, and still another something else. For a few minutes all went well until some guest, no doubt abstracted, stepped up and said, in substance, “And we are so much pleased to have you along, too. It is an honor indeed to have you with us at the same time.” This occurred once but not twice for Mrs. Harris immediately hurried to the other end of the parlor. She enjoyed the experience, however, immensely.

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A young man was indicted and brought before the city court yesterday morning charged with being drunk the night before. He was well dressed and evidently a young man of means and standing in his community. Asked the court:

Recorder Smith –“You are charged with being drunk; how do you plead?”

Prisoner –“Guilty.”

Recorder Smith – “Where are you from?”

Prisoner –“South Carolina.”

Recorder Smith –“You say you are from South Carolina,” the court becoming interested.

Prisoner –“Yes, sir.”

Recorder Smith – “What are you doing over here?”

Prisoner –“Attending the celebration.”

Recorder Smith –“Do you believe in the authenticity of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence?”

Prisoner –“I do.”

“Mr. Clerk,” ordered the recorder, “discharge the prisoner,” and then turning to the young man in question, he said: “Go in peace. I cannot punish you at this time, coming from the State you do and holding the belief you do. ‘Thy faith hath made thee whole!’”

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No account of Thursday’s celebration could have done the subject justice. There were so many features connected with the President’s visit that no newspaper story, written as it had to be under the most trying circumstances and against time, could be comprehensive in all details. And so there were incidents that had to be omitted for the time being which, had the paper been a weekly and with a score of men on its local staff, might have been given. To indicate something of the storm and streess period which lasted for hours Thursday night in The Observer’s city news rooms, sometimes designated the Mule Pen, it may be stated that in addition to the four staff men pounding typewriters, there was a stenographer, and six visiting New York and Washington newspaper men, all battling with machines as if for life on the events of the day to say nothing of the streams of visitors that kept coming and going all the while and the unceasing ringing of the various telephone and other bells. And then just outside welled the concourse of discordant sounds similar in kind to those which Milton describes as characterizing Pandemonium. The din was something awful. Under such conditions was the 16,000 word story in yesterday’s paper created.

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One of the features of President’s Day was the escort of honor for the distinguished guest consisting of old soldiers, wearers of the blue and of the gray, who accompanied the President from his hotel to the reviewing stand three blocks distant shortly after 12 o’clock. First came the score of members of Hartranft Post, Grand Army of the Republic and then the larger delegation of the members of Mecklenburg Camp, United Confederate Veterans. These old soldiers braved the elements valiantly and made a splendid showing.

As the parade left the hotel, Capt. Archibald W. Butt, military aide to the President, stepped up to one of the old Confederates and asked:

“Where is your captain?”

“There he is,” pointing to the man at the head of the line.

“Well, we want you to act not only as an escort but as a guard. Are you prepared for any emergency?”

“That we are,” was the ready and decided response.

The word was then passed up the line, the action of the military aide in showing this trust and confidence in the old soldiers being deeply appreciated. Had there been any occasion for trouble, it is enough to have said that there would have been ample forces at hand to have met and coped with any situation.

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The Charleston party, consisting of Major J. C. Hemphill and Messrs. P. H. Gadsden, Dan Sinkler, J. C. Durant, J. C. Lusk and R. B. Pegram, which came up for the celebration in a private car, returned yesterday morning, leaving on No. 29 at 3 o’clock. That the visitors enjoyed themselves while in the city goes without saying. One of the party expressed himself as never before having had such a good time under such unpropitious circumstances, and this seemed to be the general verdict. The fact that Major Hemphill was present at this celebration was significant, his own statement to the contrary notwithstanding. Hereafter he will have to answer another two questions to possible interrogators, first, what about that never-to-be-forgotten speech and second, that visit to the mammoth celebration, May 20, 1909, on the occasion of the coming of President Taft who gave ample substantiation to the verity of the so-called “myth” by saying that “all that time we were gathering experience, we were gathering a sense of responsibility as to our own communities so that when in ’75 you declared your independence here, and in ’76 we all declared our independence at Philadelphia, we were in a condition with men as great, etc.”

The force of The Observer had prepared a surprise in the form of a float for the special benefit of Major Hemphill, but the awful deluge of rain prevented its appearance. A fine gander had been procured and also a large fat hen. An elegantly appointed cage had been constructed and in it the two famous birds awaited the coming of the hour when they should appear in all their glory. A large placard over the float bore the following:

“The Charleston tight-wads would not bring us and so we came anyhow.” This float was expected to be one of the features of the parade, but the elements interfered. And who says that the rain was not a blessing after all, to the Charleston party.

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While in the city Thursday, the President was presented with a hickory stick cut from Guilford battleground by Dr. R. K. Gregory. Dr. Gregory’s remarks to the President when he tendered the cane follow:

“Mr. President: It is a great pleasure that you have honored our people with your presence to take part in the celebration of the 134th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Especially as you are the first and only Republican President who has dared to have the courage of your convictions and shown by your actions that it is your purpose and determination to treat the great Southland with fairness and justice. Mr. President, that’s the way to win the solid South and secure your re-election in 1912, which I trust may be sure.

“To remind you of this occasion on your return home I present you a North Carolina hickory walking cane on which I have carved these words:

This cane was cut from the battle field of Guilford Court House, North Carolina, and presented by Dr. R. K. Gregory to William H. Taft, President of the United States of America, at Charlotte, N. C., May 20, 1909. The 134th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, May 20, 1775.

The American Declaration of Independence was at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1776.

Mecklenburg county, North Carolina, the Hornet’s Nest of America.

“I wish to remind you that the descendants of those ‘hero hornets’ who signed the Mecklenburg Declaration are here by thousands, and in the future, should a hostile foe dare set foot on this historic soil or any other part of our country, and you as the Commander-in-Chief of our army and navy, should call for volunteer soldiers to meet the foe, they would respond at a moment’s notice, and like their ancestors, fight back the enemy to the death and last ditch.

“May Almighty God, Ruler of the Universe, spare your valuable life to the good of this mighty nation, guide, guard and direct you in the discharge of your high and responsible duties as the Chief Magistrate of this great, grand and glorious Republic, the United States of America.”

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