Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-22
VIEWS ON TAFT'S TRIP
Differing Opinions Regarding
Oyster Bay Conference.
ITS POLITICAL BEARING
Demonstrates Entire Accord With
the President.
WILL BE EFFECTIVE IN WEST
Nominee Will Be Much Missed at
Hot Springs, Where He Has Be-
come Great Favorite.
WILL BE EFFECTIVE IN WEST
Special From STAFF Correspondent.

Special From Staf Correspondent.
HOT SPRINGS. Va. July o..-There
was great excitement and much argufyine
among the little groups of Mr.. Taft's
friends. well-wishers and friendly politf-
clans when he announced late yesterday
afternoon that he would go to Oyster Bay
to consult the President about his speech
Of acceptance. Some favored the move
and others deprecated it. Some were sure
they discerned political advantage in it
and others feared it would turn out detri-
mentally.
One faction held that it savored Of too
much dependence upon President Roose-
welt. Of yielding to his judgment upon a
speech to whose effect upon the people
Mr.. Taft and not President Roosevelt is
to be either the beneficiary or the victim.
The other side contended that in the
present temper of the people Of the mid
die west, where the battle is to be fought,
Mr.. Taft will make ten friends to one
lost in the east, by letting the country
understand at every turn that he Is IN
thorough sympathy with President Roose-
Welt and his policies; that the Presioent
approves of his utterances ana tnat tneIe
rs not the slightest breaking away from
President Roosevelt, but. on the contrary,
political doctrines. .s
commended Taft for going openly 10
Oyster Bay to show his manuscIlp' 70
the President and demonstrate to the
country his intimate reliance upon tne
Presidents Judgment. These men pointeo
out that already there are demands LOT
President Roosevelts presence IN the com
ing campaign, to hold the raoicaI
publicans into line and they went on to
saw that II there is such a conditlon In
the party there is every reason to snow
to the country now the intimate sym
pathy between the President ana MT.
Taft.
Taft's Own Idea.
Mr.. Taft himself was very frank about
the case. In little informal talk with
the newspaper men he said be desired
to consult the President about the speech.
He had great admiration for the Presi-
dents political judgment, and the Presi-
dent had been kind enough to interest
himself in Mr.. Taft's behalf. He there
fore concluded to take the manuscript
In person and go over 1t with the Presi-
dent. He said, in reply to question, tnat
he did not know whether any one else
would be present at the conference or
not, but that If Secretary Root should be
in the neighborhood he would be glad to
have him read 1t also. -,
Mr.. Taft's plans indicate that he Will
not be averse to making some changes IN
the speech If considered desirable. He
printer in New York while he goes to
oyster Bay with another. and alterations,
If any. can be made in the proof
In the course of this talk Mr.. Taft also
made it known that he had abandoned
the idea of delivering a short speech He
said he would have to draw it out at some
length to discuss in detail and more care
fully some features of Importance. On
leaving New York he will go directly to
Cincinnati to his brothers home
And 1 hope when 1 get there Satur-
day." he added with a jolly laugh. there
will be a base ball game In town. II there
is / surely will attend:
There was considerable speculation as to
the source Of the suggestion which led to
Mr. Taft's determination to take up his
speech with the President. In answer to
a question Mr.. Taft said the suggestion
came from himself. There was mucn
curiosity to know whether Chairman
Hitchcock, who is now in the west feeling
the radical pulse, advised for or against
the move The proposition has been
under consideration for several days. and
was decided yesterday. Mr.. Taft INTENDED
to keep 1t quiet until today, so as to avoid
being besieged en- route, but the news
came out at Oyster Bay.
Taft Will Be Missed.
The visitors colony here Is heart
broken at his departure. He has been
the life Of the place and, although the
expression may seem a misf1t, consider
ing avoirdupois. the pet of the whole
company. He ambles through the spa
cious parlors, receiving constant ova-
ton. He radiates geniality and good
nature. and his smile is infectious. He
smiles a great deal. and three minutes
after he appears in a group everybody
Is In a grin. He dances. and plays golf,
and has a good time, but he Is worker.
too. He has an office with system
atized office force. and everything goes
like clockwork. Through breakfast be-
fore $50, he drives for the office. pausing
to chat awhile with the early-bird news
paper men as he goes through. He ham
dies his mail and receives visitors who
come weighty with information, advice
and encouragement, more or less I'M
portan-.
Mysterious Visitors.
Some of these visitors are funny ind Of
folk. They are so mysterious. they blow
in with portentous manner, talk guard
edly and leave much to be inferred. There
was Senator Jonathan Bourne. the Roose-
welt second. elective term boomer, who
had the boys all keyed up with anxiety as
to some deep. dark political mission.
came in to have a game of golf with Mr..
Taft. That was a very interesting game.
and all turned out to see the start of.
Frank B. Kellogg. the trust butter, led of
with a bully drive far up toward the
first hole; then Mr.. James II. Hoyt Of
Cleveland came next, not quite so good;
then Senator Bourne, lean and wiry.
grasped the driver and smote the ball.
which followed Mr.. KeIlogg's closely.
Mr. Taft on the tee-he has first to
set the ball on its little pinch OF sand.
which requires STOPPING and balancing.
That's the best exercise 1 GET says he,
as he straightens up. Everybody is quiet
as he measures his stroke. Crack he
hits 1t, and it describes a beautiful high
curve and rolls way up the links. Just
then, as if in applause. a big crash Of
thunder over the hill sends the ladies
scampering from the lawn, and indicates
a coming shower. But the golfers kept
on. and sure enough got theirs before
they finished the round They came
back drenched but good natured.
N. o. NJ
New Internal RAvenue Collector