Middletown transcript., 1907-12-28
WASHINGTON LETTER


i cECRETARY TAFT returned to this
= country III just time to find re-
markable improvement in the conditions
attending bis presidential boom, most of
which, has occurred during his trip across
the Atlantic. Tie Secretary comes back
] filed with 4nthusiasm fer the progre s
which is bA z made in the Philippines,
the incrsase of the conservative spirit
among the people, their greater amena-
/ billy TO governmental control, their in-
creased interest in governmental affairs,
and their augmented prosperity. Begin
ming with bis arrival in New York, Mr..
Taft has received a continuous ovation
and friends and strangers, statesmen and
private citizens have extended the heart.
lest congratulations on the great work be
has done promoting harmony betweenthe
United States and Japan in increasing
the friendly regard for this country if'
China and in exsrting restraining ind
sanitary influence on the Filipincs Mr..
Taft is looking in the best Of health and
says he has neither gained no lost in flesh
during lis trip. His first evening il
Washington lie spent with The President
who had laid aside a great number Of
matters on which to consult his Secretary
Of War
Almost the first news which Secretary
TAFT heard OH landing IN New York was
that the New York County Republican
COMMITTEES had refused to endorse Gov.
ernor Hughes for the Presidency. He
would not. however, comment on the oc.
curehcs. Gosemor Hughes friends in
Washington are distressed over the re-
fusal Of the New York Committee and
they perceive that a grave mistake has
been made both by the Governor and by
his friends in opposing the national poll
cies Of President Roosevelt and casting
thinly seiled filings at the Presidents
methods. Theb now realize the fact that
the vast majority Of the Republican stand
for tile policies 9f Theodore Roosevelt and
that they viii nbt support candidate for
the presidency who eneers at them, even
| in seiled manner An earnest effort is
to be made to induce the Governor to re-
tract hissneers and to make some public
utterance 10 which be will endorse all OF
the Roosevelt policies tits violating no
confidence, however, TO say that it is too
late for Mr.. Hughes to make his peace
With the President MIR. Hughes has cast
his lot in with the New York City Repub-
licahs, the men who hate Roosevelt be-
cause he has uncovered rascality and
made Wall Street gambling, at least for
the time unproEst He has won the sup
port Of the Morgan newspaper and of the
element which dominates sentiment in
the Empire City, but unless there shall
be great "reactionary" movement in
the Republican, party, Governor Hughes
has lost the confidence and support ofthe
rank and file Of the party. AT least that
Is the general sentiment in Washington.
~ ftsSs
The President aud Secretary Root,
Postmaster General Meyer and Secretary
Garfield are all deeply gratified at the
withdrawal Of Secretary .Cortelyou from
the Presidential race. His statement is
taken to amount to such withdrawal
and it is believed that his course greatly
s:mplifi q Il g situat on. While the Presi-
dent has never taken the Cortelyou boom
seriously and while even many OF the
Secretary's own friends have appreciated
that he would inevitably be regarded as
the bankers candidate, some his less dis
Greet friends have sought to promulgate
the entirely erroneous idea that lie was
the President second choice The Presi-
dent. however, has clearly indicated TO
his friends, that he has no second choice
but Is for Taft. first last and all.the time,
and it was doubtless this action of the
President which led Mr.. Cortelyon to
Withdraw from the race.
rs
Speaker Cannon has taken an action in |
his appointment of the House Committees
which is certain to commend itself to all |
business men. He has again reorganized
the Committee on Bankingand Currency,
so that the power of Chairman Fowler. /