Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-07-14
TAFT TO Be A CANDIDATE
Big Man Of the Cabinet May Sue
ceed President Roosevelt
IS so STATED AT WASHINGTON
But a Telegram From Chicago States
That the Secretary Denies
the Persistent Rumor.

Washington, d. O., July i2 I'm
tbs view of political observers in
Washington. Secretary Taft will be a
candidate for the republican nominal
tion for the presidency in 1908.
Taft Ia u candidate. declared a
republican Of national reputation.
Whether he will be the residuary
legatee of President Roosevelt / can
not saw at this time. In fact, | do
not know. It has been said that the
president has determined TO support
Taft as his successor, but, just at this
time. | am inclined to doubt that
| do rot believe that President
Roosevelt has committed himself yet
on the question of his successor,
although | am quite certain he will
do so before the convention perhaps,
before many months elapse. He cannot
keen OF of the game. Ii would not
be In accord with his ~inclinations OF
to have a hand in the nomination OF
the republican standard. bearer. Taft
Is very close to him. The secretary
stands for about what the president
advocates. They ara hand in glove as
TO principles and methods. know Of
no man who represents SO nearly
what the president renresents as Taft
In some respects, Secretary Taft
might be said to 40 a step farther than
the president goes. Where the presi-
dent jumps a fyg-rail fence, Taft
wosld he incliued to make the jump
six rails. / DO ret desire to be unfair
10 the secretary, but | mean to indi-
cate that he would 20 the president
inst one better on almost any national
proposition,
Have yen any idea that Secrs tary
Taft will accept the presidents proffer
of a seat on the United States Supreme
coart?'
mo, / have not" was the reply
"Taft's ambition has been to be chief
Justice of the Supreme court aud, II
that opportunity were offered 10 him.
he might embrace IL but / doubt
whether he would accept an associate
iust.ceship. That prefer, you know,
has been suspended for several months
4 d termination of the matte- will
not have to be made until next DC.
toher. Meantime, the political situa-
ton in the country will be sized uD.
II it should be deemed desirable to
Secretary Taft ana his friends that he
make a race for the republican presi.
Dental nomination. some other mar
will be named for the vacancy In
the Supreme court. II he should not
40 to the Supreme court. 1t may be
taken as a certainty that he has cen
{ naed to enter the prudential ron
re-t. / nelieve he will not do that un.
less he has practical sssurance from
President Roosevelt that he may de
pend upon the presidents support
do you think there is a chance that
the president. himself, may be q candi.
date for the republican nomination
again:f'
Eyes. there is a chance-something
more than a chance, perhaps bat,
/ am convinced the president is sin
eere ia ms expressed desire not again
to be a candidate. II the nominal
tion we're forced upon him / scarcely
see how he could get awav from it
bat il would be most unusual for the
convention TO force the nomination
upon anybody. No republican or
democratic presidential nomination
ever yet has gone a begging, and it
se ms unlikely that any snch contin-
2 ncy should arise.
TAFT DENIES STATEMENT.
Detroit. Mich. Jniy 21 -"Don't
ask me about IL. / am not" was
Secretary Of War Taft's reply to the
question: "Are you a candidate
for PRESIDENT" here this morning.
Mr.. Taft was On his wav TO Puf-In-
Bay, o., to address the Ohio Bar ASSOC
citation. He arrived here BY train aud
was taken abroad A. l.. Sephens'
yacht, the Albatros, on which he will
make the trip 10 Put-In-Bay. Tile
committee in charge had a difficult
time fitting Taft with a Yachting cap
for the trip owing to his head being
to large for those provided. He CON-
promised by accepting the loan Of one