The Washington herald., 1907-06-23
TAFT MEN PLEASED
Secretary's Return a Signal
for Congratulations.
THINK SECRETARY IN LEAD
Point Ont that Losing Candidates
Are Never Victim of All Attacks. as
Ohio Man Is-Snub 10 La Toilette
n Myth, Says Cabinet ber-En-
tireIy Satisfied with Kentucky.

Secretary Taft returned from the West
yesterday. and Immediately plunged into
his official correspondence. He spent most
OF the time he was absent on railroad
train. and is somewhat fatigued. but his
general health is good. lie has complete
ly recovered from the mild case Of pto-
maine poisoning from which he suffered
while al Minneapolis.
His meetings were very successful, par
ticularly at the Iowa State University,
the Minnesota State University, and the
Ottawa (Kans) Chautauqua. He will
leave here tonight for New Haven
where he goes to attend the meeting OF
the Yale Corporation. He will be present
when Senator Knox delivers his speech
to the graduating class of the law school
and when the university confers The de
gree OF IL. D. on the Pennsylvania Sen
ator
Secretary Taft politely declined to dis
cuss politics. He has talked TO some OF his
friends here since his return and eX-
pressed the greatest satisfaction with the
trend Of political sentiment IN relation 10
the Republican nomination in 1903. lie cor
rected the statement that has gone out
quite generally 10 the country that at
Madison. Wis. he administered q snub 10
Senator La Toilette.
Did Not Snub La Toilette.
While It is true that Secretary Taft
complimented Senator Spooner and has
10 apologies TO offer for doing so, II is
also true That he did not ignore Senator
La Toilette. but congratulated the Wis
consin State University on having such a
friend as the senior Senator had shown
himself to be to that institution while he
was governor.
II is learned that the alleged rivalry, be-
tween the political factions in South Da-
kota and i'm Iowa has been magnifed. and
that in both States the Secretary was
shown the greatest consideration by all
classes Of Republicans and his trip was
one continuous ovation
The Secretary IS said 10 be very much
in the running, as will become more ap-
parent within the next few weeks. The
outcome in Kentucky was entirely 20 his
liking.
The friends Of the Secretary were kept
constantly advised, and the sentiment for
him in the convention was overwhelm-
ing.
Kentucky Republicans Hopeful.
They could have forced instructions
had they desired to do so. but the candi-
dates on the state ticket believed il in
advisable 10 instruct for Presidential
candidate. as they have some hope of
success and viii need all the votes in the
Republican party TO succeed.
The failure to instruct was entirely sat
isfactory TO the Secretary's friends in
Cincinnati. VINO were in close touch with
the situation in the Blue Grass State. and
approved the programme throughout.
The views of the general situation
herein outlined are those held by the
Secretary's closest friends here and are
supposed 20 reflect his own opinion Of the
situation. His friends point out that the
best evidence that Secretary Taft is in the
lead for the nomination is furnished by
the fact that he is just now the center
Of attack.
They point out that the candidate who
is running behind is never a matter OF
great concern 10 his opponents.