The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-10
secretary's Arrival Home
Will be Signal for Show
Down on His Boom.
HIS FRIENDS ARE SUSPICIOUS
Are Angered by Presidents Friend
ship for Cortelyou-Worked In
dustriously in Own Behalf.

Washington. u. O.. Dec 10-The POI
litical atmosphere Of Washington has
been electrified by the stories Of the
things that are brewing in the republic
an presidential situation and the re-
turn of Secretary Taft may explode
bomb that will startle the president as
well as his party.
It is believed by several Of the close
friends of the secretary Of war that he
will be moved to action when he finds
to what small proportions his boom has
shrunk during his trip around the
world.
Unable to discovered whether or not
President Roosevelt has really with
drawn from the presidential field. and
finding out that Secretary Cortelyou,
fellow member Of the cabinet has been
permitted by the president TO work up
his boom in the absence Of the man
who had been considered the admins
tration candidate. Secretary Taft may
come to the conclusion that quick ac-
ton is needed to save the situation.
Taft's Friends Suspicious.
1t may be said without a violation Of
confidence that some of Tafts friends
now suspect the president loyalty.
Eut now that Secretary will come back
to a realization that not only IS the
attitude Of the president as great
mystery as ever, but that Mr.. Cortelyou
has been permitted to work up small
cyclone sentiment in his own favor.
Gossip among men who ought to I'M
derstand the situation leads to the be-
lief that Taft will find it necessary to
resign from the cabinet if he is still to
remain in the field. Having entered
the race on the assurance of the sup
port of the president-which, of course
was understood to include the whole
power of the administration-they say
he will find that Cortelyou has been
working secretly but industriously.
Hitchcock Aids Cortelyou.
Assistant Postmaster General Hitch
cock has for months been all through
the south in Cortelyou's interest. How
we'll he succeeded in his missionary
work was shown In the decision of the
national committee to send the conven-
ton to Chicago.
James q. Blaine was forced from a
cabinet by a situation that was in some
respects similar. When, in 1892. Ben
tamin Harrison was a candidate for
denomination, Blaine at the last min
ute left the cabinet to make his con-
great power of the office holding adj
mfnistration
1t is considered here that Secretary
Taft will find himself so piled on his
return that the president must give
him an unequivocal statement or lose
him as a cabinet officer The cam
paign has gone SO far that Judge Taft
will not be able to carry it on if his
friends have the barest suspicion that
the president himself is a candidate
Must Disavow CorteIyou.
Furthermore, the assurance will have
to include the promise that Secretary
Cortelyou is not the candidate of the
administration. Since Judge Taft Went
out for the place under the implied
agreement that the whole power Of the
administration would be used for him. il
would likely be considered a mark Of
disloyalty by his friends were the pres
ident to permit Cortelyou to go or
with his campaign.
Just at this moment, before the ar
rival of the secretary, some of the poll
ticians here figure out the situation Ii
this manner:
Judge Taft must demand an IN
equivocal statement from the president
as to his own attitude.
He must demand that Cortelyou be
called off.
He must have the understanding &C
forth TO the party that the president i.
behind him.
Failing to get these assurances. he
must resign his place in the cabinet.
Or. remaining in the cabinet. he mus
give up hope Of the nomination.
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