Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-03-21
President States Today Tha,
He Did Not Talk Politics
With Governor
Deneen
EXECUTIVE WANTED
TO NAME SUCCESSOR
Despite Presidents Denial
Leaders in Washington See
Taft Boom Resulting
From Conference

Washington, March Ex-Governor
Deneen and Attorney General Stead
did not come to see me on any politi-
cal matters at all. We did not talk
politics at all"
The above are substantially the
words the President used in his talk
with Senator Hansbrough today when
the latter asked him about the report
that Saturdays conference at the
White house with the Illinois officials
during which Secretary Taft and his
brother were called, was for the pur.
pose of launching boom for Taft
for the presidency.
Leaders Object to Dictation.
Washington, D. c., March 19.-Tae
publication Of the political purposes
behind the conference between tho
President and Governor Deneen Of I'LL.
nois has stirred up a sensation In
Washington. 1t has set the leaders by
the ears, and they are criticising the
plan OF the President to dictate his
successor by promoting the candidacy
Of Secretary OF War TAFT as imam
Gus II true"
TAFT to be Target.
1t is now the general opinion here
that Taft will now be the shining
mark for all the antagonistic elements
of the party, and that he will have a
hard contest on his hands to keep
from being landed high and dry be
fore the year and half has elapsed
between now and the next republi'
can national convention
Secretary Taft left for New York
today with his brother, Charles P
Taft, who is the financial end Of the
war secretary's boom, his wife hav-
ing fortune estimated at $25,OOO,OOO
One important point has at least
been cleared up by the Presidents
talk with Governor Deneen, and that
is That Secretary Taft is now an out
and out candidate. In a measure II
also disposes of much of the third
tenn" talk for President Roosevelt;
himself Still 1t is pointed out that
the plan ID organize Taft move
ment in many Of the states by trottiDe
cut "favorite SONS and selecting pro
gressive'' delegations would not
altogether put Mr.. Roosevelt
out of consideration. This
question is being asked: WhJ
J could not these same delegates be
; safely counteu on for Roosevelt If s
stampede should be started in the
: convention?"
Puts Cannon In Race.
| One of the most interesting fea
lures of the Taft movement in Hi
| nos is the effect it will have on tn
candidacy Of Speaker Cannon for tl'
. Presidency. He is now on the higl
seas on a trip to Panama and tn,
West Indies, and there is no one her
who can speak for him. One of hi
close friends, however, pointed GU
that the effort to make Governo
!. Deneen stalking horse for Secretar
, Taft in order to take the Illinois dele
; cation away from Uncle Joe" wa
! sure to make MIN an active candidate
So far he has positively refused to lie
ais name be seriously brought TO,
ward as candidate When he wa
touring the country during the las
congressional campaign he insiste
I wherever he was formally entertain
: ed dinners at clubs that, no efforts
e made to make these opportune time
- 10 UOCH ulu loi luS pIeSiocuCy.
!. the case of the dinner given him b
d the Hamilton club at Chicago he r
fused to attend the dinner unless thi
assurance was given him.
Much Importance is attached her
\. to the evidence that the President
J. straining every nerve to put things
!. the best POSSIBLE shape for Taft
, Ohio. He has courted as much y
. position as possible from Senate
: Foraker on the theory that 1t would l.
>. jure the senator WITH the public
OHIO to have him in the position {
going counter to the administration.