New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-26
MR.. TAFT A CANDIDATE.
IN THE RACE TO STAY.
But VIII Not AbandOn Philippine
Trip, and VIII Not Stump Ohio.
IFron The Tribune Rureau. !

Washington. April 25.-Secretary Taft will
leave Washington tomorrow for Cincinnati
without breaking his silence on the political sit
uation I'm Ohio or his own Presidential boom.
Nevertheless it may be asserted without quail
icatlon that Mr. Taft is a Presidential can
ddate and that he is in the race to stay. He
will not, however, stump Ohio. Neither Will
he abandon his trip to the Philippines. where
he viii be present at the convening Of the first
Philippine Assembly. which he will doubtless
address. The report that the President has
urged Mr. Taft 10 abandon his Philippine trip
is without foundation, in fact is the other
report that Mr. Roosevelt has urged the secre-
tary Of War to stump" Ohio
II is the conviction Of Mr.. Taft's friends that
he will make two or threA political speeches be-
tween now and his departure for Manila, but
he has assured them that he will not for mo-
ment neglect his responsibilities as a Cabinet
officer in order to further his political fortunes
and those who know the Secretary appreciate
that having determined on this course Moth
ing can shake him. Meanwhile. the probabili-
ties that the Secretary will carry Ohio I'm any
form Of contest which may occur between him
self and Senator Foraker are, in the opinion
Of many of his friends. rapidly increasing. Not
only are the reports received from Ohio de-
cidedly favorable 10 him. but the number OF
ing into the TAFT band wagon" or trying to. is
daily increasing.
Senator Scott. of West Virginia, who recently
took occasion to express his allegiance to the
President in the strongest possible terms. is
tenng his friends in Washington that he has
found a remarkably developed Taft sentiment
in Nest Virginia. v'htre he has recently done
some extensive "crcuiting." and to-day Senator
Kittredge announced that the Secretary of War
The other faction in that state Is controlled by
Senator Gamble and has always been strong
for the President so that It also may be counted
on to support Mr.. Taft as soon as It is salts
fed that nothing will induce the President to
accept another nomination Other politicians
from various sections Of the country are writ
ing to Mr.. Taft that they are for him, to the
President that they for him first and for Mr.
Taft second.
From Ohio there come reports to the effect
that some of tho ablest politicians in the state
are opposed to the Foraker-Dick machine and
will welcome an opportunity to align themselves
with candidate who has the unqualified ap-
proval Of the President and who IS known not
only to support but TO sympathize with Mr.
Roosevelt's policies. Mr.. Taft's strength In the
New England states is reported by men we'll
able to judge of the situation in that section to
be second only to that Of the President, and in
dications of a similar situation are coming to
Washington from all parts OF the country.
There seems to be little doubt that the Presi-
dent stands first In all sections. but the same
sentiment which makes for the Presidents
strength makes almost equally for Mr.. Taft's
Some Of the Secretary's friends regret his de-
termination to go to the Philippines. for which
he will sail about September l, arguing that he
should remain in his state az critical a
time. but they cannot swerve the Secretary from
his purpose He regards himself peculiarly
responsible for the Filipinos. He It Who
urged that that measure of self government be
given to them which they will receive with the
conveninG Of thei- Assembly. and he will go 10
Manila 10 impress the FiIpnos the respon-
sibility which they incur and to warn them that
they will be expected so to administer the trust
conferred on them to demonstrate that they
are entitled the faith he has reposed in
them.
Mr.. Taft also hopes to obtain short rest at
Murray Bay I'm July although he is not likely,
even If he goes there. 10 find any surcease from
cares which beset him in Washington He
spent Il month at Murray Bay last year but
I'm that time he devoted more than eight hours a
day to reading his mail, debating replies and in
other ways attending to his regular duties.