New-York tribune., 1907-12-22
MR.. TAFT HAS BUSY DAY
RECEITES MANY CALLERS.
Not Talking Politics, but May Make
q Statement Later.

Washington. Dec. 21.-Secretary Taft's first
day at his desk since he returned 10 the United
States was a busy one from beginning to end.
He had great number of callers. most of them
officials of the War Department. but there were
also many persons whose business coud not
reasonably be connected with that department
Such. for instance. was Joseph l. Bristow. of
Kansas. at time Fourth Assistant Postmas-
ter General, but now active in Kansas politics
Then there Representative Pearre. OF
Maryland; ex-senator Marion Butler. of NORTH
Carolina. and Justices Harlan and Day. of the
Supreme Court of the United States. Senators
Fulton. of Oregon: McCreary. of Kentucky. and
Long. of Kansas. and Representatives Scott. OF
Kansas. and Douglas. of Ohio also the Sec
retary. If they talked politics. however. and
some of them said that they did. notably Mr..
Brstow, the Secretary himself was not to be
led into any discussion of that subject with the
newspaper men who wished to talk to him about
it later In fact. he said to them plainly thai
the theme was forbidden one at this moment
but that if proper occasion arose in the future
he would be glad to make full statement
the subject. That answer covered all ques-
tions as TO his plans for the immediate future
such as the probability Of his going to Ohio to
take part In the contest over the early primaries
He said, however. that he had authorized his
private secretary to accept an invitation to at
tend the dinner of the Home Market Club, Of
Boston, and address that body on the night Of
December 90 The topic is to be the Philippine
tariff, and might in sense be regarded
political in its relation to the American tariff
though Secretary Taft will endeavor to have
the projected removal of duties on Philippine
products imported into America considered or
non-partisan grounds
A conference lasting about two hours wal
LoId q he ifo 10 pfphf hef
dent Roosevelt and Secretary Taft. at the close
of which the Secretary said his visit fo1
the purpose of continuing the discussions he
had with the President last night and to-day
He also said he was seeking from the President
all the information possible regarding what
had happened in his absence. Mr.. Taft an
nounced that after his conference here to-nor.
with his campaign manager, Arthur I
Vorys, OF Ohio, at which the political situation
generally will be discussed, he will go to Gin
cinnati on business connected with the settls-
ment of his mothers estate
Colonel GoethaIs, chief engineer OF the Pan
ANA Canal: ex-senator j. C. S. Blackburn.
member of the Canal Commission, in charge OF
the civil administration Of the zone. and R. r
Rogers. the law officer Of the commission. talked
with Mr.. Taft about affairs the isthmus
The Secretary has yet to submit to Congress
his annual report. one Of the most important
chapters OF which Will deal with canal con-
struction He desires to make visit to the
isthmus TO get the information he needs at first
hand. Indeed. he was urged to make this visit
especially by Commissioner Blackburn. but
owing TO the accumulation of business he could
not promise to make the trip before next sum
mer. Meanwhile he received such Information
as he desired relative 10 canal work from the
three officials connected with the project who
called on him to-day
Secretary Taft went 70 the White House and
had brief conference with the President about
the situation In Ioldfeld, New, the result of
his visit being the issue of an order to the
commander of the Department of California
providing for the formal execution of the deci-
sion of the President announced in his telegram
to Governor Sparks yesterday. to withdraw the
regular troops from Goldfeld on Monday