Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-15
Senator DoIIiver' Taft's Choice
for Vice President.
REASON FOR PREFERENCE
Iowan Is Administration Supporter
and a Campaigner.
DISCUSS A LOCAL MATTER
Mr.. Mcfarland and John Joy Edison
Confer With Executive as to
Prison Commission.

William H. Taft! Ohio. President.
Jonathan P. Dolliver, Iowa, Vice Pres.
ident.
Frank H. Hitchcock. District of Co.
lumbia, chairman of the republican ma
tional committee.
The foregoing was Indicated from an
inside source near the White House TO-
day as the probable outcome Of the Chi
cago convention.
AS to first place on the ticket. that Is
conceded throughout the country. AS to
second place, it now becomes known that
Secretary Taft prefers Senator Dolliver
over all others mentioned for the place
and. while he will not endeavOr to infu-
ence the convention. he is not averse to
! his choice being known.
His preference for Senator Dolliver Is
based on the fact that the Iowa senator
has been an ardent, earnest supporter OF
the administration in its reform policies,
best sort. Whatever speeches the head OF
the ticket will make will be from his
home in Cincinnati or wherever he de-
termines to make his summer quarters. A
good travelling speaker on the ticket Will
not come in amiss. Secretary Taft also
~
the Iowa statesman.
As to Mr.. Hitchcock. 1t Is now virtually
determined that he will be asked to take
charge Of the campaign as chairman of
the national committee Secretary Taft
and the President are Of the opinion that
he has demonstrated good political gener-
alship and that he can be trusted to han
die the campaign without fear as to Sc
rious breaks. The President and Mr.. Taft
believe that man Of the type of Mr..
ff-I. 4 - -
campaign than an aggressive general.
Conditions throughout the country are
considered such that the man who can sit
in the saddle and direct his forces in a
quiet way. without becoming so aggres-
sive as to open himself to serious mis-
takes will be better than a man Of a
fighting disposition.
According to this view, II the democrats
were likely to put up a campaign that
threatened the supremacy of the repub-
essary, and Mr.. Hitchcock Is not exactly
that kind of a man. He can and does
fight. but his best work has always been
without noise. In poker game he would
probably be the victim Of blum, accord
ing to some views. but the other fellows
would never be able to tell what his hand
was by reading his face. He might lay
down in the face of bluff. but he would
keep coming back In conservative man.
ner, and, in the end. would probably have
his share Of the chips.
Cortelyou Not the Choice.
The fact that Secretary Taft prefers
Senator Dolliver Is construed as settling
the question Of Mr.. Cortelyou's avaiia-
bility The plain truth is that the Presi-
dent and Secretary Taft would not raise
a hand against Mr.. Cortelyou to fight him.
but they do not believe it would be wise
to nominate two cabinet Officers on the
ticket. They think 1t would be used to
advantage by the democrats Personally.
on the ticket. but this one disadvantage
is considered to outweigh the numerous
good points of a favorable nature.
Mr. Cortelyou. therefore. may be con-
sidered as good as eliminated from the
field He has never been a candidate.
and has simply watched developments
with the placid interest he shows In po-
ltical affairs relating to himself or others.
Kicks on the Platform.
kicks on the probable platform. as pub
lished in some of the papers. He is being
urged to make some changes. 1t is said
on good authority today that portions of
the platform have been allowed to leak
out so as to sound public opinion. The
White House today declined to make pub
lie the sources of any Of the kicks. but
a visit to the President by several promi-
nent railroad men caused speculation as
to whether they had not been the agencies
of opposition to some OF the features OF
the platform William r. Wheeler, as
sistant secretary Of commerce and labor,
introduced George w. Luce or the Soutn-
ern Pacific road; Edward Chambers OF
the Sante Fee. c. G. Burnham OF the Bur
iineton. w. p Kenny of the Great North
ern. and r. H. Bountiss. connected with
an International freight traffic bureau.
All except Mr. Countiss are In the traf-
fic field of the railroads. They are mere
on business connected with the interstate
possible that they received requests from
high railroad officials to lay before the
President a remonstrance against the
plank of the platform dealing with the
railroads. This plank, 1t Is understood.
indorses the laws enacted under this ad-
ministra:ion dealing with the roads. but
commends the clan of an inspection of
railroad accounts. also recommending
some amendments to existing laws:
The visitors would not talk about their
conference, declaring that they had called
to pay their respects.
Will Be in Direct Touch.
Secretary Loeb will have direct wires
working between the White House and
convention hall. in Chicago. The Presi-
dent will be in position to communicate
quickly with friends on the floor Of the
convention. Secretary Taft will also have
q direct wire. The press associations have
also made arrangements to furnish the
President and Secretary Taft with bull
letin service and news slics so that both
will be posted as quickly as anybody in
Wa shington.
Secretary Taft was in conference with
the President this morning.
Finds Mr.. Meyers Watch.
Sergt. McDermott. who has for years
been the Presidents orderly. found the
handsome gold watch of Postmaster Gen.
eral Meyer yesterday afternoon and re-
turned it to the President today to be
handed to the Postmaster General. Mr..
Meyer was one Of the party that went
riding with the President yesterday
afternoon. Sergt. McDermott followed at
a respectful distance. Away out on a by
road of the Conduit road he saw a beau
tiful watch in the road. He picked II up.
He had no idea 1t belonged to anybody