The Washington herald., 1907-06-10
TAFT MEN HUSTLING
Secretary'S Boomers Decide
on Immediate Action.
WILL NOT WAIT FOR OHIO
President and His Advisers Center
Ing Their Efforts on Controlling
Second Choice of DeIegates-KnOx
Safe from Any Invasion of His
TerritOry-OFgRnizat Perfected.

Secretary Tafts friends have become
aggressive in pushing his candidacy for
the Presidential nomination. They have
decided not 20 wait any longer for a decla-
ration in his favor by the Ohio Republi-
cans. but to extend their organization to
other States as rapidly as possible. The
center Of their operations will be Column
bus, and their Warwick will be Arthur l.
Vorys, who is now in New York attending
"a meeting of State insurance commission
ers and incidentally organizing a Taft
movement in the Empire State.
The Taft managers are satisfied that
they can confidently claim two important
advantages over any other Presidential
boom: First, that the Secretary Of War
is the first choice of the President, which
will become more and more certain as the
canvass grows; second, that Ohio viii be
practically unanimous for Taft.
The summer months will be devoted TO
perfecting organizations in the various
States. and the real active hustling viii
be begun in the early autumn. No part OF
the country will be overlooked. In States
that have favorite sons, a fight will be
made 10 secure secOnd-choice delegates.
President the First Choice.
a delegation from one of the Southern
States called at the White House recently
and informed the President that their
State would send a delegation TO the next
national convention whose first choice
would be Roosevelt
But l am more interested in knowing
who will be their second choice prompt
~ responded the President. In this way
he reiterated his refusal to be candi-
date for another term. and at the same
time emphasized upon his callers the inn
portance Of looking after the second
choice delegates.
To care for the second-choice delegates
is to be a distinct feature OF the Taft
boomers policy The President, in I'M
pressing upon his friends the Importance
Of keeping a sharp lookout for the sec
ond-choice delegates, betrayed an appre-
hension over the alleged programme Of
the Five Dollar Conspirators, 20
which included play upon the favorite
son idea.
Within a week the President has ex-
pressed his high regard for Senator Knox,
but at the same time adhered to his for
mer declarations that his Secretary Of
War would make the ideal leader for the
campaign Of 1905 He would not be dis
appointed were Senator Knox nominated,
and realizing this. the Taft boomers will
provoke no quarrel with the Knox fol-
lowers. The Taft boomers are said to be-
lieve that ultimately the followers Of Taft
and Knox will be found working har-
moniously 10 bring about the nomination
of a candidate whose adherence to the
Roosevelt policies will not be open to
question.
No Interference Likely.
It is not likely that any steps will be
taken by the President or his friends. TO
prevent the selection and instruction Of
Roosevelt delegates TO the national con-
vention Of 1905 Those States which show
q disposition 10 select Roosevelt dele
gates in disregard of the Presidents
election night announcement will not be
hampered in so doing but each delegate,
according to the understanding Of the
administration wishes. will be exam
ined carefully. and will be given a sec
ond choice treatment to prevent wrong
delivery.
The administration forces are giving
careful attention 10 the makeup of the
national committee. That body will de-
termine the place Of holding the next
convention. an important factor that is
not being overlooked, and il will likewise
have 90 do with arranging the list Of
delegates and providing for the tempo
rary organization of the committee.
VOrys Sees President.
Arthur Vorys of Ohio. superintendent
Of insurance, who has charge Of the for
tunes Of Secretary Of War Taft in the
Buckeye State. had conference with
President Roosevelt. Representative Bur
ton. and Secretary OF the Interior Gar
field Just before he left for New York
yesterday. Nj VOrys called at the White
House by appointment, it is understood,
and remained some time in conference
with the President. The political stua-
ton was gone over in detail and Mr..
VOrys reported that il was all Taft in
Ohio.
Mr.. NOrys goes 10 New York ostensibly
20 attend a meeting Of State insurance
commissioners. Il is learned that the
real object Of the trip is 10 size up the
situation in the Empire state. While in
New York City Mr.. Vorys will confer
with men interested in the Presidential
candidacy Of Secretary Taft.
Senator Knox came to Washington yes
terday from his farm at Valley Forge,
l.
take a rest for several weeks. Mr. Knox
declined to talk about his Presidential
boom 1t IS evident, however, that he is
feeling pretty good over the outlook