The St. Louis Republic., 1901-08-05
Republican National Committee
man Says He Is Too Busy
With Private Enterprises.
TALKS OF Gil IN THE WEST.
Evades Inquiries About the Presi'
Dental Possibilities and the Sit
uation in Ohio-Seems Net
tied at Webster Davis.

Il. c. Kerens, Republican National Com
mitteeman from Missouri has just returned
from a six weeks trip TO Utah. Nevada and
the Pacific Coast. To n reporter for The
Republic he said he knew nothing new In
politics.
But he said. II do know i great deal
about the country west of the Rockies
had a most pleasant trip. The country Is
in a prosperous condition. The mining In
terest Is fiourishing. The rainfall has been
plentiful throughout California and the en-
tire Pacific slope. The crops generally are
good Of course, total failure is impossible
because OF irrigation"
Mr. kerens is very much interested in the
oil industry OF the West. About it lie said:
The oil industry is becoming an impor-
tant factor in the way OF fuel. plentiful
supply OF fuel oil has been discovered in
Southern California. All locomotives N the
Southern Pacific and Atchison systems are
being rapidly converted from coal nur lers
to oil burners This is a great benefit TO the
railroads, as fuel is the greatest item N
operating expenses. The price OF coal on
the Pacific Coast has varied from slZ 10 si'
a ton Experts estimate that there is enough
oil already produced 10 last fifty years.
Il was informed by the management OF
the Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fe system
in California" said Mr.. kerens. that since
that system began using oil fuel four years
ago, the company's saving, rs compared
with the use of coal as fuel. has been >''-
OoOOo The Southern Pacific was act 50
quick to take TO oil fuel. but ;hl; road has
decided to follow the Atchison in TINS fe-
spect-
..fhe coastwise steamship lines on the IA
ciflc are beginning to use oil fuel Its use
will become general in the near 1utu.e
Later its use will extend east OF the Rock
les, and In my Judgment. ocean-goins
ST, amers on the Atlantic will take to its
use The San Pedro. Los Angeles and salt
, Lake Railroad, better known as Senator
Clark's road, uses oil for fuel exciusiVe-y-
The interview drifted around to politics
again. Mr.. Kerens was just back from tne
West, and said he didn't know thing. Ha
had been too busy looking after business 10 10
talk politics. Asked If he had anything 10
say at all on that subject. Mr.. kerens dc
| tated this statement:
81 have nothing to say on politics or the
political situation There's no campaign on
/ this year. and there's no election pending
In Ohio" was suggested. but Mr.. kerens
| was not interested-Ohio isn't Missouri.
Continuing. he said:
and have forgotten politics altogether.
Ny business affairs keep me constantly en-
| ployed, and am minding my own business
| as best / can"
| At the mention of any phase OF missouri
J or national politics. Mr.. kerens was op-
pressively Silent He thinks 1t Is too early
| to discuss presidential aspirants.
He would not discuss anybody's candi-
! dacy nor friends nor foes. He was very
/ much interested to hear that book on the
| Boer-British War by Webster Davis l.
| about to be issued. and remarked that lie
got the young orator his position in the
| Cabinet. He also seemed nettled that DAVIS
| had become a Democrat
web promised me he wouldn't hop. he
| said.
Told that Mr.. Davis received $4,000 for
l his book he suddenly decided that he woul
| not further discuss politics, after saying
I'm too busy to be envious of anybody
And then he added, Always keep youi
| promises, young man."