The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-12-04
NATIONAL
CAPITAL
CMan Special to The Advertiser.)

again in his giant chair His pre-
election wanderings and subsequen
inspection of army posts in the Fa
West and Southwest did not exhaus
his supply of cheer. He beamed upol
the little array of officials and settle
. down to an attack upon the paper
that had been mounting high in hi
absence. There was forthwith new lif
in the administration of the Panama
Canal, of Cuba, and the Philippines
as far as Washington supervision 4
concerned.
Army officers approached the Secre
tary with wry faces as to Cuba. The,
had been absorbing rumors that thing!
in Cuba were going to the bow-wows
Some of them had nearly arranged it
in their own minds, that the Liberals
disappointed at not securing offices
were taking to the woods and mus
be appeased by an earlier date for thu
elections.
All that did not disturb the Secre.
'tary. Some of Gov. Magoons dis
patches have been forwarded to me
while have been away" he observed
"They indicated that everything is go-
ing along at Havana about as usual
Many kinds of discouraging reports
can be had out of Cuba, If one goes
where the tickle populace is talking
and plotting. But some of the most
alarming plots that are talked today
in Cuba are forgotten by their origin
ators tomorrow. The Secretary knows
that conditions are very discouraging.
He told the President so. Neither of
| than npnHdnnf ha off n
Set up a new and stable government
will succeed. OF late, property owners,
who wanted soldiers detailed to guard
their holdings, have been disappointed
because no soldiers are available for
that duty. They have made a "hol-
ler,' and it has been heard all the way
to Washington There has been no
particular reason for their outcry, ex-
cept a desire for greater security
which the presence of Uncle Sams
soldiers would give Property is in no
special jeopardy down there at pres
ent.
1t is suspected, however, that the
gloomy reports are a part of the an
nexation campaign, Of which more will
be heard as the session of Congress
comes on. There will be organized ef-
forts to discredit the movement for a
new Independent government. Millions
of dollars of United States investments
in Cuba are ready on occasion to
shrek in one tremendous chorus for
immediate annexation. That financial
voice will be powerful. 1t VIII speak
in numerous devious ways at first, as
the opportunity offers, because the
popular sentiment just now is averse
to annexation.
TRAVELLER TAFT.
The Secretary is having many and
varied experiences as a cabinet officer.
He is the great traveller of the Pres
ident's official family. He may not
have Travelled more miles as cabinet
officer than Secretary Shaw has travel
ed. The latter has been out on the
circuit great deal of the time. But
Secretary Taft has travelled more
widely. No man now connected with
the administration in a leading official
position has seen more of this country
and its possessions. He has Travelled
all over the Philippines and a year ago
last summer made his long remember
ed return trip with a distinguished
party. He has been to Panama and,
during the past autumn, has resided
officially in Havana. Now he has con-
cluded great swing around the circle,
going into the far northwest and down
into the great southwest.
The Secretary is a good traveller.
Others of his station would prefer
more ease. He takes to the road with
out protest. He travels thousands of
miles on short notice and, between
times. works on industriously. II pre-
vious contact with all sorts and condi-
tions of men and the holding of a
number of different offices in very diff
ferent parts of the globe where the
stars and stripes float can qualify one
for the Presidency, as such service
ought, Secretary Taft has some ad-
vantage over his rivals for 1902.
PRESIDENTIAL PLANNING
The training for presidential honors
in the next campaign has thus far been
inside the paddock. 1t will be soon on
the open course. There is yet no de-
clared candidate. The aspirants have
been lying low" No maneuver could
bring a direct acknowledgment Now
things will quickly change. for the
delegate-getting season will come anon.
There has been a lot of quiet wrestling
for delegates already. but II has been
in understandings with state leaders
and in making favorable impressions
upon voters. Little things the known
asnirants have done from time to time
have indicated their activities.
There has been no long and earnest
campaign for the presidential nomina-
tion OF the Republicans since 1896. That
campaign began many months before
the st. Louis convention. 1t really
started with the election OF the Repub>
lican House in the F'ifty-fourth Con-
less and was In full swing by 1895.
How Mckinley and Reed came down
the stretch for a while neck and neck.
and how Mark Hanna gradually wean-
ed the Southern delegates from Reed
so that Mckinley was made an easy
winner, is well remembered. Mckinley
had practically no opposition for re-
nomination, and the opposition to the
nomination OF Roosevelt, four years
later, although noisy and persistent,
never threatened to become effective.
The outlines OF the preliminary strug-
gle for the nomination little more
than year hence can now be given
with some accuracy Taft and Foraker