The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-22
TAFT RECEIVES
 MANY CALLERS If Politics Was Discussed Mo-
 body Found It Out CANAL MAT TIERS COMING UP Secretary Gives Order To Confirm Re. novsl of Troops From GoIddeld
 and Now Awaits Confer
 enee With Mr. vorys.
CANAL MATTERS COMING UP

Washington December 21.-Secretary Taft's first day at his desk since his return to the United States was a busy one from beginning to end. He had great number of callers, most of them officials connected with the war depart ment, but beside these there were number of persons whose business could not reasonably be connected with that department. Such for instance was J. L. Bristow of Kansas at one time fourth assistant postmaster general, but now a very active political influence in Kansas Then there was Representative Pearre of Maryland. Ex-senator Marion Butler of North Carolina and Justices Har- Ian and Day of the supreme court of the United States Senators Fulton of Ore gon, and McCreary of Kentucky. Repre- sentatives Long of Kansas and Scott of Kansas and Douglass of Ohio, also had access to the seoretary's private ear for time.
 If they talked politics, however and some of them admitted that they did, mo- tably General Bristow, the Secretary him self was not to be led into any discus sion of that subject with the newspaper men who wished him to talk about it later. In fact he said to them very plain l ly that the theme was a forbidden one at this moment. He admitted however, that he had authorized his private secre- tary to accept an invitation to attend the banquet of the Home Market club of Boston and address that body on the l night of the 18th instant. The topic is to be the Philippine tariff and must in one sense be regarded as political in it's relation to the American tariff, though Secretary Taft will endeavor to have the projected removal of duties on Philip pine products imported into America con- sidered on a non-partisan basis. The Secretary stated that it might be necessary for him to make a visit to Cin- cinnati In the near future. But that vis- 1t. he said, would be connected with the settlement of the estate of his recently deceased mother and would be totally disconnected with politics.
 Colonel Goethals, chief engineer of the Panama canal commission, x-Senator J. c. s. Blackburn. a member of the Pana- ma canal commission of the zone, and R. civil administration of the zone. and R. R. Rogers the law officer of the com
 
 about affairs on the Isthmus. The Sec retary has yet to submit to Congress his annual report, one of the most important chapters of which will deal with the canal construction He very much desires to make a personal visit to the Isthmus to get the information he needs at first hand but owing to the Tast accumulation of business awaiting his disposition he could not promise to make the trip before next summer Meanwhile he was supplied with such information he desired relative to canal work by the three officials con- nected with the project, who called upon him today.
 The Secretary found time during the day to repair to the White House and confer with the President briefly about the situation in Goldheld, New, the re- suit of his visit being the issue of an order to the commander of the depart ment of California providing for the l formal execution Of the decision of the | President announced in his telegram to l Governor Sparks yesterday, to withdraw l the regular troops from Goldfeld on the 1 Both instant.
 Arthur Vorys the political manager for l Secretary Taft is expected in Washing
 ton tomorrow and the Secretary will have 1 an opportunity to confer with him respecting the political situation.