The Washington herald., 1908-06-28
CONFERENCE FAILS
TO PICK CHAIRMAN
Continued from Page One.

heard of his coming and all Of the flags
and bunting used when President Roose-
welt came to town last Saturday were
displayed for the Secretary's benefit.
Crowd Eager 10 See Taft.
The crowd at the railroad station was
not quite as large as the one that greet
ed the President. but it was just as
eager 20 shake hands Mr. Taft makes
a great hit with women. All of oyster
Bays loveliness was there on the station
platform, little shy at first because Mr..
Taft is not quite so well known here as
Neighbor Roosevelt. but when II was seen
that Mr.. Taft smiled. the handshal1ing
began and only ended when he climbed
into the waiting automobile.
He is such a nice man." said one
maiden who had basked for a moment in
the smile. and not half as fat as the
pictures" she added
Gen. Wright was quite overlooked in
the rush to see Mr.. Taft, but he looked
happy. too, as he climbed into the auto
mobile to wait patiently while Mr.. Taft
had his picture taken Before starting for
Sycamore Hill, Secretary Taft promised
the newspaper men that ne would not
run away without waiting TO be interview
ed as he did once last year. He was as
good as his word
Cen Wright and myself talked over
War Department matters with President
! Roosevelt" he said. when questioned
about the conference. There was not
time enough 10 go thoroughly into the
business, so Gen. Wright is TO come down
20 Washington on Monday 20 finish the
! talk He will go over the work IN all Of
its details then. and l will clear up the
work Of my office"
Question Brings Smile.
A question about the Craftsmanship OF
the Republican National Committee
: brought out the smile again. 1t does
! seem TO me that I heard an echo Of that
matter" remarked Mr.. Taft. and then
/ turning to Mr. Ward. ne asked. Didn't
/ YOU hear the report too?" But Mr.. Ward
/ only gazed up at the blue sky and an
swered nothing.
Frank b. kellogg, trust buster in chief
/ to the administration. and Ward arrived
in oyster Bay about two hours after Sec
| retary Taft and Gen Wright. A Secret
! Service auto was waiting 10 carry them
1 10 Sagamore Hill. but Mr. Ward was SO
much afraid that Mr.. Kellogg might di-
vulge something that he rushed him into
a hack and was of before the White
House messenger could announce. The
carriage waits"
Lincoln Stenens. the magazine writer
and one time muck raker. and Robert
Bridges OF Scribner's. who mad been in
vited as luncheon guests, occupied the
auto. They passed the two national com
mitteemen before they were out Of the
village. but did not offer them a lift
Wright Visits Gen. Ide.
After Secretary Taft and Mr. Ward
had left in the government auto shortly
after o'clock Gen. Wright started fol
Port Washington. where he IS 20 spend
the week end with Bourke Cochran and
Gen. Ide whom Gen. Wright knew in tht
Philippines. Cen Wright had nothing "a
add to Secretary Tafts statement, and
| could not remember that he had heard
| anything about the national committee
chairmanship. Mr.. kellogg was the ias'
| OF the guests 10 leave. He was accom-
panied 10 the railroad station by Miss
! Ethel and Kermit Roosevelt. and TOOK
the 4 o'clock train for New YORK ht
would say nothing about what happened
| at the conference after Secretary Loci
refused the chairmanship.
The matter. he declared, would not b'
settled until the meeting in Washington
Taft Gives Autographs.
Secretary Taft made "a fast automobile
ride in from Oyster Bay to-day beating
the train. The Secretary left the ma
chine at the West Twenty street
4 ferry. on the way over 10 the Pennsyl
vania station in Jersey City. many pas
sengers handed cards TO the Secretary
with requests for his autograph. H'
smillngly compiled with all.
Mr.. Secretary" said one woman point
ing at her husband who has just got Mr.
Taft to write his name in a note book
''he is a Democrat. but-he wont vote the
Democratic ticket next election"
Now YOU won't; you know you won {
John" she added. addressing her hus
band.
NO. I won't said John, and Mr.. Tar
smiled from ear to ear.