The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-06-17
taft NOT EAGER
TO GO ON BENCH
War Secretary Remains in
Presidential Race.
NOT TO SUCCEED FULLER
Taft Is the Favorite Son of the Ad-
ministration for the Foose-
welt Succession.

Secretary of War Taft has not heard
of the plan to place him on the Supreme
Bench In succession to Chief Justice
Melville W. Fuller. thus taking him out
of the list OF serious Presidential posi-
bilities.
This assertion Is made urequivocally on
authority which unquestionably Is abso-
lutte The Secretary has been represent
ed IN some recent dispatches as about
to be withdrawn from the Presidential
lists by reason of his impending eleva-
ton to the Chi,f )usticeship. Not only
is this not true, but II is said on equally
good authority that the Secretary Of
War is not aspiring to the judicial posi-
| ton.
Extreme interest was developed in po-
litical circles by the reports printed in
several newspapers tina. the Secretary
would soon be taken from the array of
aspirants for the Roosevelt succession
1t was represented that this decision of
the matter would leave Senator Foraker
a free field In Ohio, and would also take
the Roosevelt Administration out for
! consideration as a factor in determin-
| ing the succession. Secretary Taft has
been looked upon as the candidate most
! favored by the President, and this be-
| lief has been much strengthened by re-
! cent activities Of Secretary Taft.
Denial Is Significant.
There Is. therefore. especial signifi-
canoe in the prompt and definite denial
of the Chief Justiceship story which was
forthcoming today. 1t is considered by
politicians as tantamount to placing the
| Secretary of War Indefinitely in the
| Presidential field; 1t makes very appar-
| ent that there will be a contest for con-
| troll of the Ohio delegation unless con-
! ditions greatly change; 1t is taken TO
mean that the Roosevelt Administration
will permit its followers to understand
/ that 1t has a favorite son, and that the
head of the War Department Is the pre-
| ferred one
| Secretary Taft has very plainly been
| the actual premier among the Presi-
| dents advisers for some time past He
J has been put forth as the spokesman OF
! the Administration In some important
matters. He has clearly aligned himself
| as the Cabinet exponent of the "Roose-
| Welt idea He has been accepted as
/ the man most likely to make appeal TO
! the country as representative of the
Z, Roosevelt type of thought and action.
! He has been growing from day to day
/ into n larger figure on the Presidential
horizon.
No 1ndecorous Side Taking.
| 1t is well known that the President has
given assurance that he will not in
decorously take sides or allow the Ad-
| niniStratton to be forced into the posi-
! ton of apparently doing so. But the fol-
! lowers of the President will make their
| choice OF candidates; and Secretary Taft
| has been more and more looked upon as
the leader around whom they would be
| likely 70 rally.
With Secretary Taft out of it. Vice
President Fairbanks would be the domi-
mating figure at this time. 1t is not too
much to say that Mr.. Fairbanks himself
believes he would have an easy wav to
the White House If Taft were to keep
out of It, or If the Ohio fight between
Taft and Foraker should render both
unavailable.
This Is the delicate situation which
Secretary Tafts friends consider
ing. it is said, with much concern. Their
belief, it is understood. is that Ohio's
choice will be largely influenced by the
attitude of the rest of inc country. The
Taft following believes that it will be-
come apparent to Ohioans that the
country at large prefers Taft 10 For
aker; and this they expect will turn the
scale in Ohio in favor of the Secretary
of War Ohio loves winner.
The possibility of the liberal element
of the party being divided between Taft
and some new man, such as La Toilette,
is considerably discussed.
Shaw, Foraker, Fairbanks and Cannon
apparently stand TO divide allegiance of
the conservative elements of the party,
and that one man should have the sup
port OF all the liberals is regarded by
politicians as almost Impossible.
LaFollette would appeal to radicals,
while Taft would rather be classified as
discussion of the possibility of :. middle
Western LaFollette movement develop
ing. 1t is considered by politicians as ex-
Eemely nebulous thus far.