The Washington herald., 1907-12-23

Secretary Taft showed yesterday that
he took no stock in reports circulated
that there was breach between secre-
tary Cortelyou and his fei.o,.- members
Of the Roosevelt Cabinet, and particularly
with Mr.. Taft.
He called at the home Of Secretary
Cortelyou, who is suffering from a severe
attack Of the grip. wished him Merry
Christmas and a speedy return OF health,
/ thus demonstrating that there has been
no rupture in the pleasant personal re-
Iations existing between the Secretary
Of War and the Secretary Of the Treas
ury.
Secretary Taft's visit TO the CorteIyou
residence excited a good deal Of interest
in Washington, coming as it did right
upon the heels or the publication Of the
"Cortelyou conspiracy" story
! 1t was related that Mr. CorteIyou and
his friends were whooping il up for the
third term TO conceal a weu-lald pur-
| pose 20 land the Presidential nomination
for the Secretary OF the Treasury. The
conclusion was drawn from this state
ment Of alleged facts that Mr. Taft and
Mr. Cortelyou had reached the parting OF
the ways. and that one or the other
would Of necessity be compelled 10 quit
the Cabinet
COnfers with VOrys.
Just before his departure for Cincinnati.
where he went 10 visit the tomb Of his
mother. who died while he was on his
tour OF the world, and 20 qualify as ex-
ecutor of her estate. 8fr- Taft spent sew
eraI hours in conference with Arthur /
VOrys, director-in-chief Of the movement
having for its purpose the nomination Of
Mr.. Taft as the Republican Presidential
candidate
Mr.. Norys, recounted 10 Mr.. Taft the
political developments of the past four
menths bearing on the Taft candidacy,
and. according 10 what was said after
ward. reported that things were looking
up in a political way for the Secretary, OF
War.
Washington has been looking forward
with great interest 10 the first meeting
Of Mr.. Taft and Mr.. vorys. following EIr.
Taft's return 10 the United States.
II had been reported that friends Of
Secretary Taft were dissatisfied with the
management Of his boom. and that potter
tiai leaders of the administration would
insist that Mr. Vorys be displaced and
his Office filed by somebody who would
conduct more progressive and dignifed
campaign II is not known whether the
subject OF a change in the Taft manage
ment was discussed at the conference
yesterday.
Secretary Taft made no announcement
concerning the matter. and Mr. Yorys
naturally declined 10 discuss II.
Attributed to Outsiders.
Friends Of Mr.. Vorys declared that the
suggestions OF shake-up in the Taft
management were made by persons close
ly identified with the interests of other
candidates, and that they were put our
solely as trOUble-breederS. They place no
credence in a report circulated week
or more ago that President Roosevelt
had declared to a caller that Secretary
Tafts campaign should be placed in mora
competent hands.
Secretary Taft viii reach Cincinnati
this morning. He viii spend the day in
that city, leaving for Washington in time
10 reach here tomorrow. Il is the ex-
pectation here that upon his return plans
will be made for a conference of those
interested in his candidacy, and political
observers look for a QUickening OF ac-
tivitieS in his behalf
Mr. Taft has been away from the
United States more than three months.
II is supposed that he talked politics with
President Roosevelt when he called Al
the White H0Sse Friday and Saturday
nights.
He hasn't got his bearings on the po-
| litical outlook yet. and until he has there
, viii be little doing with the Taft boom.
VIII Map Out Plans.
p BY the latter part OF the week Secre-
| tary Taft in all probability will get
/. line on the situation. and then the we'll
wishers of his candidacy will get together
TO decide upon a course Of action 1t Will
be made known, probably. in the near
future whether new blood is 10 be IN
jected into enc Taft management.
Further than 10 say that he came here
TO confer with Secretary Taft. Mr.. Vorys
would not talk last night. He said he
would return to Columbus to-day, and
E1- diAoLllcl hAS4L ~ " aSAAilENon III
about week.
Mr.. Rooseveit's elimination as a Presi-
Dental candidate has opened up a fine
fielc for the operations Of the managers
of aspirants for the nomination There
was one section Of the country-the South
that was SOlidly for Roosevelt week
or so ago. All the influential men OF
politics down there had been rehearsed
for months. and as they viewer T. there
- hrrF
south Wants 10 Know.
The Southern leaders are now looking
FOX a candidate TO tie 10. They are going
to be careful in making a choice. as they
want TO be on the band wagon. Scores OF
them have been in Washington for n
week looking for information. At heart
they are opposed to Secretary Taft for
a number of reasons, notably because Of
q speech he delivered in Greensboro. y.
c. year ago. in which he declared that
the Republican party in the Southern
States would be better of, probably. II all
the Federal offices were filed by Dem
ocrats
The South viii have approximately 224
delegates in the Republican national con-
l Continued on Page 3, Column 8.