Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-07-12
ROOSEVELT AND TAFT.
The Latter Is Just as Strenuous as
 the President 'Tid Said.

Washington. D. C., July 12.-In the view of political observers in Washington, Secretary Taft will be a candidate for the republican nom ination for the presidency in 1908.
 Taft is a candidate" declared a republican of national reputation, whose name, if mentioned, would carry conviction to the country. Whether he will be the residuary legatee of President Roosevelt can not say 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. I do not believe that President Roosevelt has committed himself yet on the question of his successor, al- though am quite certain he will do SO before the convention, perhaps before many months elapse. He can not keep out of the game. It would not be in accord with his inclinations not to have a hand in the nomination of the republican standard-bearer. Taft is very close to him. The sec retary stands for about what the president advocates. They are hand in glove as to principles and meth ods. know of no man who repre- sents so nearly what the president represents as Taft. In some respects Secretary Taft might be said to go a step farther than the president goes. Where the president jumps live rail fence. Taft would be inclined to make the jump six rails. l do not desire to be unfair to the secretary, but mean to indicate that he would go the president one better on almost any national proposition"
 Have you any idea that Secretary Taft will accept the presidents prof. fer of a seat on the United States su- preme court?"
 No. I have not" was the reply. "Taft's ambition has been to be chief justice of the supreme court, and II that opportunity were offered to him he might embrace 1t, but I doubt whether he would accept an associate justiceship. That proffer, you know, has been suspended Tor several months. A determination of the matter will not have to be made until next October. Meantime. the politi- cal situation in the country will be sized up. If 1t should be deemed de sirable to Secretary Taft and his friends that he make a race for the republican presidential nomination some other man will be named for the vacancy on the supreme court IL fs known that the secretary's lam fly are anxious that he should be. come an active candidate for the presidency. Personally, he Is disin. clined toward that idea If. how. ever, he should not so to the su' preme court. it may be taken as certainty that he has concluded tc enter the presidential contest be. iieve be will not do that unless hs has practical assurances from Presi- dent Roosevelt that he may depend upon the presidents support
 DO you think there is chance the president. himself. may be a can dsdate for the republican nomination againg"
 ~Yes. there is a chance-somethinf more than a chance. perhaps. but am convinced the president Is sin cere in his expressed desire not again to be a candidate. If the nomination were forced upon him I scarcely ses how he could get away from It, ou 1t would be most unusual for th' convention to force the nomination upon anybody. No republican oi democratic presidential nomination ever yet has gone s-besEinE. and | seers unlikely that any such con tfnreney should srise-"
 Secretary Tsft's speech before th' North Carolina republicans al Creensboro has induced deal o political gossip Ia Washington Ina it wss -O- K-d- by the president | ifnorn srt the s>crefsrys uttsrenee' had the endorsement Of the admin frrrsrion- The speech is rsEsrted q the key-ro-s of the sutuuns cor E-essfonal csnrziEn and as nosanl' sixrfa<zrt of future political even<s ift indicated . dirpoet<1oa on 1e pr lof fhe presz6ezt to urQs oocrotn<'