Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-01
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Callers Inclined to Be Reticent
on Politics. i.
CONFERENCE WITH MELLEN
Railway Matters the Subject Of the
-..-~--~ =. Discussion.
FEELING THE PUBLIC PULSE
Work Of League OF Rspublican Clubs
New oacials In Porto
/. x4.a..., =aasa Rico.
DIFFERENCE WITH MELLEN
FEELING THE PUBLIC PULSE


|. x4..,e,, E,,asa Aico.
Most OF the statesmen and politicians at
the White House today were not in talka-
tive mood Senator Knox OF Pennsylvania
was one Of these, He paid a. brief visit to
the President. and when asked whether he
had anything to say connected with presi-
Dental politics, declared: II am not in
volved in these great matters" He does not
take seriously the propositions that he be
made the candidate of Pennsylvania in the
republican national convention.
Secretary Taft was another man who did
not yield to the opportunity to say some
thing Of political interest He has just re-
turned from Ohio. He said that so far as
he was concerned, he wanted q chance to
attend to business. and he preferred to
leave politics alone.
Senator Hemenway Of Indiana, the man
ager of the campaign Of Vice President
Fairbanks. called on the President to pay
his respects. He. too. had nothing to say,
diana. To the friends Of the Vice President
he has stated that the prospects for his
nomination brighten each day.
Railway Matters Discussed.
President Roosevelt was in conference
today with Charles 8. Mellen. president,
and T. e. Brynes. vice president, of the
New York. New Haven and Hartford rail-
road. They came to the city especially to
talk with the President, and railroad mat
tiers were under discussion. President
Mellen said that 1t would not be proper for
him to reveal what had been said during
the conference. II the President saw At
to make the conference public he had no
objection. He had long been q personal
friend of the President, he said. and called
upon him when in the city. On this occa-
sion, however, he had come to Washing
ton for no other purpose than to talk with
| the President.
After their call at the White House
Messrs. Mellen and Byrnes visited the In
terstate commerce commission. Later In
| the day Mr.. Melien went to New York and
Mr.. Byrnes to Boston.
Feeling the Public Pulse.
James B. Reynolds. who was the special
commissioner Of the President in the in
| vestigation Of the meat packers, and who
says he is still engaged in special work for
| the President, was at the White House for
some time Monday. Then he went hot
| foot to New York, where he spent Tuesday.
and today he was back at the White House.
| He spent his time In New York at the head
| quarters Of the League of Republican Clubs.
/ and It was asserted over here that he was
engaged in feeling the pulse Of the country
I as to President Roosevelt. When asked II
he was using the league to feel the public
| pulse in the interests Of the President. he
answered.: what question. It would be
out Of place in one who Is doing special
| work for the President to answer that cues
| tion." Today he did not care to talk. Ac-
| cording to Information the League of Re-
publican Clubs is sending out the following
letter to every part Of the country, and as
Mr.. Reynolds Ii one OF the leading lights
and officials of the, club. 1t Is said that the
work is being done under his guidance:
/ MY Dear Sir: In. view, of the present
agitation and the sharply drawn issue be-
tween the administration of President
send confidential1y to this headquarters
your view of the sentiment Of the voters
of your district whether for or against
President Roosevelt: your opinion as to the
developments Of the next year; and what
course Is likely to be taken politically in
your district with reference to the election
and instruction or non-instruction of dele
gates to the republican national convention
l. of net year?
TT will be great favor If you will kindly
respond at length to this letter. / am
yours respectfully and sincerely,
JOHN A. STEWART"
What Kansas is Thinking.
''Out in Kansas" said Representative
| Miller of that state today, ''the people are
not disposed to make any alignments for
| the republican nomination until they feel
| absolutely certain that the President is
| out of the race. Somehow they are not
willing to accept what he said in his state
ment on election night in 1904, and believe
enter the field. This is in spite Of the fact
that Senator Long. who stands close to
the. President, recently returned to the
state from Washington and gave out an in
terview, saying the President was not in
| the race and declaring himself for Taft I
| think 1t will take another utterance from
| the President before the people OF Kansas
| and elsewhere will relinquish their hesi-
| fancy about supporting the candidates. OF
some Of the other men,.
New Officers in Porto Rico.
Senator Warner OF Missouri asked the
| President today to appoint Prof 8. d. Gro
mer Of the University Of Missouri treasurer
| Of Porto Rico, and. the President promised
| to make the appointment. The President
| has decided to promote w. F. Willoughby,
| treasurer of the island to secretary to take
| the place made vacant by the promotion of
Secretary Post to the governorship. The
| promotion Of Mr.. Willoughby was made
| upon the recommendation of Secretary Taft
+ A. E. Randle presented to the President
r. l. B. Clark Of this city. Mr.. Clark Is
ninety years of age and was one of the
| delegates to the, convention that nominated
John C. Fremont for President in the first
republican convention. He was also a dele
| gate to the convention that nominated Lin
coin for the presidency.
To Commemorate. Stephen Girard.
/ President Roosevelt was today asked to
| attend the 157th celebration Of the birthday
Of Stephen Girard In Philadelphia. which
occurred on the 10th of this month. The
| President expressed to the committee his
| regret that'h could not accept the Invita-
| ton. which was extended by committee
including Louis Wagner. VIM Potter. Alfred
Moore and F. NJ. Highley. members of the
| board of directors of city trusts OF Phila-
delphia.
/
THE RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS.
New Orleans Nan Objects to Honors