Omaha daily bee., 1907-12-04
TAFT VISITS DUMA
Secretary Of War Sees Russian Legis-
lative Body at Work.
CALLS ON CABINET MINISTERS
Party is Met at Station by Governor
General and Other Officials.
WILL SEE THE EMPEROR " Y
Banquet Given by Foreign Mini 2
Be Followed by Reception. :
VISIT ARoUsEs LIVELY NTERE
WILL SEE THE EMPEROR .
vIsIT ARoUsEs LIVELY INTERl
Russian Papers Give Voice to Friendly
sentimeRts--PartY VIII Reach
Berlin Friday Evening and
Remain Until Midnight.

ST. PETERSBURG. Dec. s.-socretary
Taft and party arrived today from MOS
COW. They were met by deputation OF
officers representing the minister Of war,
the military governor and other officials Of
st. Petersburg. Among those at the sta
ton were Count Konitz. who has been ap-
pointed imperial aid 70 Secretary Taft dur
ing his stay in St. Petersburg. The party
took up their quarters in the hotel De
EEurOpe.
Immediately after his airival at the hotel
the secretary accompanied by Brigadler
General Clarence r. Edwards, Montgomery
Schuyler, jr., the American charge daft
faires. and Captain s. L. II. slocum. the
American military attache at st. Peters
burg, started on a tour OF official calls.
He went first TO see Foreign Minister Is
wolslSy and General Rudiger. the minister
OF war and then called upon the grand
dukes who are at present living here.
These include Nicholas Nieholaievitch.
Alexander Micheaiovitoh, and half dozen
others.
The carriages OF the American embassy,
with their lIverIed servants in which the
secretary drove while paying his calls,
were recognized everywhere. Crowds gath
cred in spite OF the threatening weather
and General Taft" as the secretary has
come to be called here was oheered again
and again.
Party Visits Duma.
Secretary Taft and the members of hts
suite visited the duma at a late hour today.
Baron ostensachen met the party at the
portioo OF the palace and conducted them
to one Of the imperial boxes directly oppo-
site the speaker. Premier Stolypln. Minis
ter OF War Rudiser and other members of
the cabinet were In their places. Several
diplomats who formerly had been stationed
IN Washington. entered the box to pay
their respects to the secretary.
Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace. the au-
thor. who opportunely was present In the
palace Joined Secretary Taft's party and
acted as interpreter OF the speeches. He
pointed out also tho leading members, OF
the duma. Secretary Taft was impressed
with the spaciousness and magnihcence OF
the chamber, which was brilliantly illurnin-
ated. During Mr.. Taft's stay NJ shubin-
sky, an octoberiEt; NJ Tymsha, a Pole. and
an Armenian social democrat. took turns in
speaking. The session was not marked
by any special incident.
The news OF the presence OF Secretary
Taft in the chamber spread quickly until
finally the attention OF practically every
try, senator's. diplomatsts, newspaper cor
respondents and deputies was centered on
the imperial box.
The secretary and his party stayed for
half an hour and then took their departure.
Visit Gives Rise 20 Rumors.
Owing to the extraordinary rumors in cir
culation here regarding the nature OF his
mission the visit OF Mr.. Taft has aroused
the liveliest interest and curiosity. The
Rossia, the official organ of the govern
ment, however. makes an effort to correct
these wrong Impressions. In leading ar
tlcle extending TO Secretary Taft an open
door Russian welcome" the paper says:
1.-THE high position and personal merits
Of Secretary Taft explain the heartiness
encs OF the emperor; but it is a mistake TO
suppose that Mr.. Taft's visit is in any way
connected with change In the intarna-
tional policy OF Russia. There is not a word
OF truth In the rumors that we are to give
base for an American feet at YlRdiyostok
Secretary Taft win renew and strengthen
the old bonds OF sympathy between Russia
and America
All the other newspapers devote space
70 welcoming Secretary Taft, and the tone
OF each and every one Is OF unmixed friend
nnsss. MIR. TAFT Is expected 70 allude to
the rumOrs IN speech he will make at
the banquet TO be given him by the mem
berB of the American colony OF this city,
and he viii then give the American denial.
The empress OF Russia is indisposed and
she probably win not be able 70 recsive
Mr. Taft tomorrow, consequently the sec
retary viii go to rsarskoe Seio alone.
Tomorrow evening the secretary viii at.
tend q banquet at Foreign aGinister Iswol-
skys residence. which win be followed by
a big reception OF the diplomatic corps
ana Russian official society.
Secretary Tart probably win be forced
70 SO to Boulogne to catch the stos ner
President Grant, on which he returns 70
tho United States. The President Grant
leaves Hamburg December and Boulogne
December s.
Mrs. Tart, accompanied by Mrs. George
Post Wheeler wife OF the second secre-
tary OF the American embassy at Toxic.
Will 80 from here 90 Vienna and Paris.
She will return 70 the United States sew
eroi weeks after her husband.
When questioned regarding the prssi-
Dental situation IN the United states
Secretary Taft requested to be excused
from expressing any opinion. He said ne
hsd announced a year ago his readiness
20 aecept the nomination IN case It was
given 70 him and that his attitude had
not changed since,
Brief Stop in BerIin.
BERLIN. Dee. S.-Ambassador Power has
arranged Through the foreign office that a
special car be placed at the disposition OF
Secretary Taft and his party when they
reach the station on the frontier between
Russia and Germany. Aeoordins to the
present plan, which. however, may be
changed the train which win bring the
TAFT car from the frontier win arrive al
Pertin Al 7Is Friday evening n IN -