Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-11-02
TAFT LEAVES FOR The WEST
Secretary Of War Cracks, Joke or I've on
His stenographsr
Mr.. BRYAN Also fAlls UNDER HIS WIT
Csbines Omcer Looks Upon Omaha as
Natural Gateway 60 West since
Meeting Congressman
John l.. Kennedy.

Secretary Taft ana his private secretary
left for the west on the Overland Limited
on the Union Pacific Thursday morning
after having spent the night at the home
Of Senator Millard. The secretary arrived
AZ Union station about half an hour ahead
of train time and showed the Jolly good
fellow he is by holding a sort of informal
reception at which the depot employees
were presented to him.
Doesn't re ok funny IN that long coat?'
the secretary remarked as his private sec
rotary went hustling by after having
checked the baggage
"This is a busy gateway" added Judge
Taft. Il always look upon Omaha MS be-
ing the main gateway to the west and
northwest, the same as Kansas City Is TO
the southwest That is one of the strong
arguments John Kennedy Is always put
ting up for a supply depot here. | have
heard them so many times I believe /
could get up and make an argument for
Omaha myself
This state is pretty we'll supplied with
military posts with Fort Omaha and Fort
Crook and Fort Robinson and Fort Mo
brara. / snail visit these after finish this
trip TO Idaho and Wyoming. We expect to
be in Cheyenne next Tuesday and will then
return to official business and inspect some
of the army posts. including Fort Riley
and Fort Leavenworth."
you sec, Mr.. Secretary, Omaha is right
in the center of these" said Mr.. Kennedy
and therefore the natural distributing
point"
"oh. yes, I have heard that before said
the secretary, smiling.
Interested In Bryan.
Did the west look upon Mr.. Bryan's
,,tterances when he landed in New York
the same as the east dido" Mr.. Taft asked
reporter for The Bee. "The east thought
he had become somewhat conservative from
his travels until that speech in which he
advocated the government ownership OF
railroads. Then 1t was seen he had not Inn
proved any"
.'The attitude Of Mr.. Bryan-a fine man
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS me Of the dog which
was the king OF the walk and could whip
49,, ether dog which came along He
Mad lust one way of working. When a
strange dog appeared he would jump at
his left fore leg and crush It and hold
q, until the other dog was whipped. one
dav a three-legged dog came along with
ont any left front leg and the other dog
was completely lost and was whipped by
I the three-legged dog Just 50 with Bryan.
4 While some Of the people were out of
work he has a hobby Of working on their
nreiudices against those who had property,
hut when prosperity became so rampant In
the land he was lost and did not Know
what to do so he took up this cry OF
government ownership Of railroads Like
the dog. he has lost the left front leg to
grab at and doesn't know what to do"
Joke ON Ills stenOErapher.
Secretary Taft's regular private secre-
tary. Mr.. Carpenter, was detained in Wash.
ington, and therefore w. w. Mischler, the
stenographer, acted as secretary. Mr.. Taft's
| sense of humor found much room for ex'
preston at the expense of Mr.. Mischief
The latter is a small nervous man, al
ways doing his utmost to see that every.
thing goes on all right and much upset al
| the least hitch. Some little routine ar
rangement about Pullman fare was neces
sary before the Taft car proceeded wes
oyer the Union Pacific Thursday morning
City Passenger Agent Abbott of the Unioi
| Pacific had taken pains to make ou
| everything and take It to the Burwoot
theater Wednesday night. Just before thu
meeting he presented it to Mr.. M!schler
who had not been put TO tie least in
convenience over the matter.
But Mr. Mlschlers mind was not easy
He worried for several hours over tina
Pullman matter, much to the Amusement
of Secretary Taft. After the meeting
Wednesday night Judge Taft. evidentl,
ooking for some fun, asked his stenog
| apher:
'Have you got that Pullman matter al
liked up, Mischler?'
Eyes, sir, but l had an awful time with
t." replied the nervous secretary pro
tenn
Judge Taft laughed heartily over the af
Fair.