Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-11
CAPITAL CHAT.
Continued from Page One.)

faction from being able to have per-
sonal interviews, rather than 70 write
letters TO Washington.
Politically there is no little interest
here in the tours which Republican
candidates fer the Presidency arc
starting upon. When the winter is as
cold as this one has been Washington
officials are usually avcrse to going
far into the Northern states, where
there IS a nip in the atmosphere which
takes hold severely to one who has
endured the milder climate If Wash
ington. However. Secretary Taft is al
ready on the wing for a long tour
through the West and Northwest. His
schedule includes speech at St
Louis. Feb. >, speech at Kansas CITY
Feb. 10: 4 speech at Chicago. Feb II;
a speech at Detroit. Feb. II and also
speech the same day at Grand Rap
ids
Senator Knox. of Pennsylvania. will
also he on the wing at about the Same
time. He makes a speech on railroad
questions at i<alanaZoO, Mis- H.. on
Feb. II and the following day makes IL
speech a; his home city Of
Pittsbu"G. Mr. Knox is very avrrse
t" public speaking. He always
has something very Interesting TO say
but is q man Of small -tattr. and
realizes that ne is not an orator. He
has had many invitations TO speak in
The West but ha; declined all except
the two mentioned But for the fact
thar II j. 4 preside t!hl a!,.ir;tnt, il is
dot III! whether il" would make the
tWn speeches il uI stion
Secretary Tart is happier i'll public
speaking. II" does not dislike it by
an. ratans and therefore generally
accepts invitations when it is possible
for him to do 50. And yet it is very
doubtful whether the Secretary would
g" on his forthcoming trip. were 1t
not that he hopes to stir up some en-
thusiasm among his admirers and
strengthen his chances for the nomi-
nation. Alter he goes west he will
make two or three trips to New Eng
land. having already promised to
>!tal, 1T Concord. y. IL. ut Fitch
lur2. Mass. AND at two on three other
places.
Gov. Hughes. too, is to be much on
the wing, as he has promised to make
4 cons siderable number of speeches dur
ing the next two or three months.
Most Of these viii lie in New York
but he Will also visit Massachusetts
and, perhaps, some other states. He
is less active iii touring other states
than sCme Of his rivals for the nominal
lion, but none the less undoubtedly
h1 his f,Y lG N IN l,.,.
may accrue in the way Of the nominal
ton
Secretary Cannon has made almost
no speeches calculated 20 advance hi,
candidacy and is not likely TO- The
reason is very plain, however. for it is
an unwrittcn law that the Speaker
must not leave Washington when Con-
greSS is in session. unless he can do it
without absertine himself from Sos
Si1ns 81 the House. II is very rare
that a Speaker is away from the Capt.
tol when the House convencs at noon.
When II has happened in recent years
1t has been on account of illness, in
which case some one, usually the son
ior Republican member Of the Rules
Committee. is designated to act in his
stead.
Vice President Fairbanks did a lot of
speaking during the summer and
autumn. He was on the wing most OF
the time and was credited with do
ing . few turns with an eye To anv
benefit that might result Tor mis- boom.
Probably some of his speeches helped
him out on that line. But as soon us
Congress assembled he declined all in
vitltionS. Not that it would have been
especially convenient Tor him to have
left Washington, but because lie has
made it q rule to attend the sessions
Of the Senate diligently and to be in
fact as we'll as in name, the presiding
officer Of the Senate. His industry in
that regard has been much commended
for Vic" Presidents in the times gone
by have loafed a great deal IN the job.
Senator LaFollctte. another PrcSi-
dental aSpirant. has also quit speak
ing for the session He is out a great
deal during the intervals between
Congressional sessions. but his speak
ing is largely on the lecture platform,
especially the Chautauqua.