The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-04-24
TAFT TALKS TO
= THE REPORTERS
Bound to Go to the Philippines
No Matter What Happens
in Buckeye State.
THREE SPEECHES IN OHIO
POLITICAL coNFA5 WITH THE
PRESIDENT.

= Washington. April 2S.-Secretary Taft
today resumed his routine duties at the
war department. The fact that it was
cabinet day made it necessary for him
to cut short the time allowed to callers
and 20 postpone until more convenient
moment the consultations he desired to
have with General Bell. chief of staff,
and the other officials.
1t is doubtful if in his Washington ex-
perience the secretary has had TO deal
with more newspaper men than he saw
today. They were mainly DESTROYS to learn
just what the secretary intended to do in
answer to the challenge which Senator
Foraker had issued in regard TO the con-
test In Ohio. Mr.. Taft frankly told his
newspaper callers that he was under the
disadvantage of considerable absence
from the country, with only scanty news
of the important political events that
had occurred. He did not feel, under
The circumstances. that it was proper for
him 10 make any kind of statement as to
his political opinions and plans.
Going to the Philippines.
One point developed in the course of the
alk-with the newspaper men that might
be regarded as significant, in view of
mat ne intends to cancel his proposed
Philippine trip in order to go on the
stump in Ohio.
Replying to a direct inquiry the sec
rotary stated his intention to sail for the
Philippines about September ] next. The
statement was made. too, after the sec
rotary had spent nearly two hours in
close conference with the president. Sec
retary Taft was invited by the president
TO remain for luncheon and that time was
spent very profitably in free discussion
not only of the secretary's observations in
his southern trip, but also of the politi-
cal developments here in his absence and
of-the policies to be pursued in the future.
viii Make Three Speeches.
What the plans are was not disclosed,
but after the luncheon the secretary re-
iterated his statement of last night that
he intended TO go to Ohio next Friday
and would make three speeches while
away. from Washington. one long one at
cincinnati OF the occasion of the meeting
Of. the western federation of the Yale
clubs. one at Dayton ct the cornerstone
laying of the Young Mems Christian as
sOciatiOn. and another at Cincinnati be-
tore the Business Mems club. But the
secretary added, with a smile. that none
OF these speeches. would be in any sense
political
Later in the summer he expects to go
10 Iowa and to Minnesota. TO address
the state universities in each case. but
the secretary did not say that these ad-
dresses would be non-pOlitical He was
wanted in Oklahoma, and he said he
would go if he could He had been told
that bitter political fight was to be
waged there, and II he went into the
new state he would have to enter that
fight He was also requested to go to
South Dakota on a purely political tour
and possibly he would make one speech
~ Fort Meade. 49,
Willing to Talk on Canal.
Nothing. however, would prevent him
from going TO the Philippines in Septem-
her. The secretary was willing to talk
freely on the isthmus. but most of his
statements had been included in the re-
sumo Of his trip given the newspapers
last night. One new point of interest was
that chief engineer Goethal had suggested
that the concrete work on the canal con-
struction should be done by contract. al
though that method was not feasible lust
now for the excavation.