The Washington herald., 1907-08-19

William Howard Taft, Secretary of
War, and the globe-trotter Of the Cab
met. left Washington at 7:15 last night
on his trip around the world. Secretary
Tafts objective point is Mania, where
he goes to attend the opening OF the first
Philippine assembly. which will meet
October Is. and before which body he win
deliver an address. Instead of returning
home across the Pacific. he viii take the
Trans-slberian Railway. and come back
by way Of Moscow and Berlin.
The Secretary spent busy day before
leaving. devoting his attention to winding
up departmental business. and in the
preparation Of the speech which he will
deliver in Lexington, KY. next Thursday
afternoon. During the week since he re-
turned from his vacation at Murray
Bay, Canada, Secretary Taft has dis
posed OF a vast amount OF business. and
last night when ne took his leave Of
Washington everything was in good
shape TO turn over to Assistant Secretary
Oliver. who viii be Acting Secretary Of
War in the absence Of Mr.. Taft.
Wife to Join Him.
Accompanying the Secretary were his
confidential secretary. Mr.. Aiichler. and
a messenger. His private secretary. Fred
w. Carpenter, viii leave here next week,
and in ST. Paul viii meet Mrs. Taft and
the Secretary's little son, Charlie Taft.
who is TO accompany his parents around
the world Mrs Taft is now al Murray
Bay They Will proceed to Gardner.
Mont. where they viii be joined by Brig
Gen. Clarence r. Edwards. Chief Of the
Insular Bureau who Is also 10 accom-
pany the party. Gen Edwards and Mrs.
Taft viii meet Secretary Taft az Gard
ner. and four days viii be spent in Yel-
lowstone Park
En- route to the Coast the Secretary
viii deliver speeches at Columbus. Lex
ington. oklahoma City. Joplin. Spring
field. Mo: Denver. Portland, Tacoma.
and Seattle, The party will san from
Seattle on the steamer Minnesota on
September 10 They viii stop for sew
eral DAYS in Japan. and from there go TO
Hongkons, and thence to Manila, ar
irving there on October Il
After a little more than two weeks in
the islands they viii go to Vladivostok.
and there take the Trans Siberian Rail-
way direct TO Moscow, reaching there on
November 3. They will visit St. Peters
burg and Berlin. and perhaps TWO or
three other European cities. and sail
probably from Bremen so as to reach
home the middle Of December.
Taft Their Favorite.
Taft Far in the Lead is the caption
that appears on postal cards just received
here from the Taft headquarters at Co
lumbus. Ohio. The statement is made
that the editors Of the leading indepen-
dent newspapers Of the various Congress
sional districts in the United States were
recently called upon 10 indicate the SEN
timent in their districts in regard to the
choice for the Presidency in 1865.
Responses received from 2S5 districts"
the postal reads. show Secretary Taft
to be the pre-eminent favOrite of the
people" To the question. IF Roosevelt
is eliminated, who viii your Congress
sional district favor as the Republican
candidate?' 1876 favored Taft IS favored
Fairbanks. and . voted for Knox. Other
candidates received scattering votes. as
follows; Hughes. Is; Cannon, s; La Fol
lette. Q; Shaw. l.
who DO you think will be the next Pres
ident OF the United States?" was another
question asked On this Taft also led
with So districts. as represented
by Independent newspapers. declaring him
to be their choice. Roosevelt followed
with 81 votes. Bryan, 81; Hughes. 10:
Knox. 4; Fairbanks and Folk, . each
while Cannon, CuIberson, and Cortelyou
each got one vote.