The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-24
TAFT DONS
GUM SHOES
He VIII Not Discuss
Politics.
IS BESEIGED BY REPORTERS
Declares He VIII Not Cancel Trip
to Philippines.
w Make Three speeehe Ohio, nut
Does Not Intend To Even Touch
On the Foraker
Challenge.

washington. April 23-Returning to
washington after a months absence,
Secretary Taft today resumed his duties
at the War Department.
The feet that 1t was cabinet day made
It necessary for him to cut short the
time allowed to callers and to postpone
until more convenient moment the
consultations he desired to have with
General Bell. chief of stair and the
other officials OF the department. 1t Is
doubtful II in his Washington expert
ence the Secretary has had to do with
more newspaper men that he saw today.
VI course, they were interested In his
southern journey, but they were main
~ desf- US to learn Just what the Sec
rotary intended to do In answer to the
chaiienge which Senator Foraker had
issued In regard to the contest In Ohio.
The Secretary, however, frankly told his
newspaper callers that he was under
the disadvantage of a considerable alb
sence from the country with only scam
CURED.
He did not feel, under the ciroum.
stances, II was proper for him to make
any Kind OF statement as to his polit-
ical opinions and plans. One point de-
veioped in the course or the talk with
the newspaper men that light be re-
garded as significant In view of the fact
that 1t has been reported he had intend-
ed 20 cancel his proposed Philippine trip
In rcder to go on the stump in Ohio.
VIII Visit Philippines.
IN replying to q direct inquiry the
Secretary stated his intention to sail
Tor the Philippines about September 4.
next. This statement was made, too.
aIter the secretary had spent nearly
Two hours In close conference with
the President. For, after attending his
hrst cabinet meeting In M, Nv weeks.
secretary Taft was invited by the Pres
ident to remain at the White House for
luncheon and that time was spent very
prontably In affree discussion. NOT only
OF the Secretary's observations in his
southern trip. but also OF the political
Correspondents here In his absence and
ture.
What the plans are was not dis
closed. but, after the luncheon the sec
rotary reiterated his statement of last
night that he intended to 20 to Ohio
next Friday and would make three
speeches while away from Washington
one long one at Cincinnati on the oc-
CASTOR of the meeting OF the Western
Federation of the Yale Club; one at
Dayton at the corner stone laying of
the r.. M. G. Al and another at Gin
cinnati before the Business Mems Club.
But the secretary added with a smile
that none of these speeches would be
tn any sense political.
Later in the summer he expects TO go
to Iowa and to Minnesota In each case
to address the state universities. hut
he did not say that these addresses
would be non-politicaI. He was want
cd in Oklahoma and said he would GO
II he could. He had been told that a
bitter political fight was to be wagefi
there aud II he went itno the new state
he would have to enter the fight. He
also was requested to go to South Da-
kota on purely political business and
possibly he would make one speech at
Fort Meade.
Nothing. however. would probably
prevent him from going TO the Philip
pines in September. The secretary
was willing. to talk freely about con-
ditions on the isthmus, but most of
his statement had been included in the
resume of his trip given to the news
papers last year. One new point of
interest was that Chief Engineer Got
that's had suggested that the concrete
on the canal construction should be
done by contract. although that meth
cd was not feasible just now for the
excavation.