The Washington herald., 1907-05-20
AT THE HOTELS.

Senator Scott. Of West Virginia was
chatting with some friends in the lobby
Of the New Willard last evening. when
the topic Of conversation swung around
to politics and Presidential possibilities.
The name Of the Secretary Of War be-
ing mentioned, the geniality Of the
consistently pleasant side Of his person
ality was commented upon. Senator Scott
agreed that Secretary Taft was possessed
OF extreme good nature. but told the fol-
lowing story 10 illustrate the sterner sids
to the Secretary's character;
Il notice a number OF papers speak OF
Secretary Taft and his good disposition,
said the Senator. 7 can verify that fact
from association with him on the trip
70 Manila and return, two years ago this
summer. But I am sure that he can be
positive. and very positive, when circum-
stances require him TO be so. For IN
stance. a young man, who was clerk in
the internal revenue bureau when / was
commissioner enlisted as a private and
was sent 10 the Philippine Islands, SERVED
one enlistment, and re-enlisted, was order
ed up for examination for commission.
passed the examination i'm the Philippines,
but. when he came to Fort Leavenworth,
was turned down because his chest meas
urement was not in the required proper
ton TO his weight and height He lacked
a half inch or so.
Il took him with me up to the War De-
partment when he came on 10 Washing
La o. sI...-
while / went In to see the Secretary and
tell him the circumstances The Secre-
tary sent for the court officers and took
up the case with them. They explained
that the young man was deficient in his
chest measurement.
Secretary Taft told me 20 bring the
young man in. He was Of s0ldierly ap-
pearance, and stood with hat In hand at
attention. The Secretary asked him how
long he had been in the army and where
he had served
-Four years, sir, and most Of the time
in the Philippines
Was any question raised when you en-
listed the first and second times as TO
your not being sufficiently large about
the chest to I'll the required measure
mentsT
No. sir
Have you been in the hospital or
sickg
NO. sir
Then the Secretary showed the other
side o. hts character. He turned 20 the
officers on his staff and said very posi-
lively and steruly; Gentlemen. If this
young sergeant was sufficiently large
around the chest 20 be an enlisted soldier
and nOncOmmissi0ned officer. he is large
enough 20 be a commissioned officer. and,
by the eternal. ne shall have his c0mmfs-
sion as second lieutenant and the
young man received his commission and
is doing good service
Under the escort Of party OF United
States officers from the battle ship Ken
tuckv, a little group Of bronze-faced Bra
lillian naval officers arrived in the city
from jamestown yesterday and took
rooms ar the Raleigh and Shoreham.
Lieut.. Commander Cyro Camara. Of the
Brazilian battle ship Rachuelo. is the
ranking officer Of the party at the
Raleigh and being a lugUist Of no mean
ability, is able TO express his impress
si0ns Of the United States to almost any
f
English with less fIUency than any Of the
six other tongues in which he is at
home, but AZ the Raleigh last night he
paid a high tribute % the beauty Of
Washington while chatting with a group
Of North Americans.
Your Washington" said the dapper
little dignitary els one most beautiful
garden. Everywhere find il charming.
Even in the rainfaus Of to-day IL gave
Of its charm TO us. strangers from tho
tropical All the time while ! am here
IN your wonderful country l am asked
How ike you America? Always I reply
with the pride that like North America.
the United States but I do not see why
. should they ask Of me WHY I like Amer
ica. my own country. Are We not all
Americans-NorJh and South brothers,
Il is so that Brazil looks upon your great
nation, IL is So that we Of the Brazilian
navy look upon our brothers and dear
friends Of the United States navy"
With Commander Camara az the
Raleigh are Lieut. Caudidn Martins and
Sublieuts. Gastas Greenhalgh. C0ntuibo
Marques. Pi0 Ponibo Octavio Guerro
Antonio Cerqueira. Carlos Sem0ze. and
Arthur Cameiro. Lieut.. Hilary Williams,
Ensign Nightingale, Lieut. Barber II
the Marine CorrS, Midshipman Friebcu
and Midshipman Baker are acting as es-
cOrts and entertainment providers for the
Brazilian officers.
Bird s. Mcclure. delegate from Okla
homa is at the Raleigh. and was talking
over the political situation in Oklahoma
and Indian Territories last night The
subject Of the joint vote 90 be taken In
the Territories upon the ratification ~ the
proposed constitution was referred 90 N-
Mcclure. and that stanch Republican yx-
pressed himself grn,y OF the r,-ies --a-
the constitution VIII be- found wanting cy
a majority Of the people Of the proposed
twin State
They viii vote against the constitution
in its present form and beat it too.' sail
Mr.. Mcclure. II VIII then De necessary
TO hold the same convention again and
reframe the constitution % make 70 less
Objectionable Il is @ fact that Che in
strumsnt in rs preSsr, shape IS So wildly
radical and has SO many bad features.
that C. number OF the Democratic mrw-
bers Il the convention w-nt sign it
There will have - be another constjtu-
tion drawn up, as IL stands It will never
be ratified
Among the interesting subjects of his
imperial majesty the Emperor of Japan.
that have recently visited the Capital IS
Mr.. 5. Chuio one OF ToIyo's oIeveregt