The sun., 1908-06-19
HOW ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ms son CHARLEY FIRST TO
TELL HIM ABOUT IT.


Ington People Took the Matter quietly.
WASHINGTON. June ls.--washington re-
ceived easily tho announcement Of the
nomination Of william Howard Taft as the
Republican candidate for President. Of
ficlal and unofficial circles. being equally
prepared FOR the news. accepted IL without
emotion, as foregone conclusions are usually
accepted.
People In the street gave no sign Of con-
sciousness that anything was happening
when megaphone men at the local news
paper Offices beloved out bulletins from
Chicago As the crucial moment drew
nigh when ammo uncement of party's
choice for President of the United States
was getting In close order there was no
change in the lackadaisical manner OF
street strollers. The newspaper bulletin
boards and the demagogue's megaphone
man received no mcre attention than when
the Washington baseball team is playing,
as usual a losing game.
One OF the megaphone men struggled like
brave ballyhoo to get rise out Of his list
less audience and made little headway.
Unabashed at the lack Of opinion Of his
stentorian iourishes, the megaphone spieler
bided his time for the final word:
Taft is nominated on the first ballot, !"
he cried, and he could be heard for block.
To that he got no response. Yet they all
thought we'll Of the Secretary big Bill"
had no enemies among them. They like
him in Washington. Absence of enthusiasm
over his nomination, the summer quiet and
lack Of curiosity in the hotel corridors con-
corning the outcome at Chicago was to be
aynapfad whan ha h..
pened.
More life and human interest was mani
fest around the big War and Navy Build
ing. where the matter was more acutely
personal All the secretaries and under
secretaries suspended business to receive
bulletins. Secretary Of State Root received
flashes from the convention hall from
start to finish. Assistant Secretary of the
Navy Newberry kept his secretary on the
jump between the telephone and his desk.
Bureau chiefs and close friends of the War
Secretary fingered in his Office with him
and his family while a direct wire to the
convention hall kept ticking or the pro-
ceedngs.
Something like real feeling began to stir
at night when the city caught glimpses of
the heroulean form OF the Presidential
candidate. Whenever he fitted by he was
recognized, and there was a warmth of
greeting for him here, there and every
where. At the University Club, of which
he was president, he was received as con-
queror and a hero. 1t had been arranged
that he should be there to receive greetings.
Across the road from the club. where his
house is located, he made a little speech
from the lawn to an impromptu gathering
Of people. Everything he said went like
a rocket
When the news was received at the White
House President Roosevelt was playing
tennis with his old college mate. Robert
Bacon, First Assistant Secretary of State.
One of the Presidents secretaries impaired
the information to him on the tennis court
in the rear Of the White House Office build
ing. The President beamed and dropped
one word In exclamation, something like
good" or "f1ne.' pnd then the game of
tennis went on without interruption.
Mr.. Roosevelt had already prepared an
expression Of his views of the Taft nomina-
ton. 1t was written out early in the after
noon before the convention had reaci ed
nominations. and then Mr. Roosevelt wuti,
out for a drive with Mrs. Roosevelt, with
the time Of the tennis game fixed for the
UOTntUI Ol IllS TtluTD. ne fTESlJ DllI
secretary, Mr.. Loeb, handed out the Presi-
dents typewriter statement when bull
letin came over a private wire 10 the White
House announcing Taft's nomination. This
is Mr.. Roosevelt's statement:
feel that the country is indeed TO be con-
graduated upon the nomination Of Mr.. Taft.
have known him intimately for many years,
and have peculiar feeling for him because
throughout ;ha. time we have worked for the
ideals. do not believe there could be found
in all the country man so well fitted 10 be
President. He Is not only absolutely fearless.
absolutely disintercsted aud upright. but he
has the widest acquaintance with the nation 3
needs without and within and the broadest
sympathies with all our citizens. lie would
be as emphatically President of n plain
people as Lincoln himself. yet not Lincoln
himself would be freer from the least taint OF
demagogy, the least tendency TO arouse or
appeal to class hatred of any kind. He has
peculiar and intimate knowledge of and SYM
patty with the needs of all our people OF the
farmer of the wage worker, of the business
man. Of the property owner. No matter what
u mans occupation or social position. no mat
ter what his creed, hSs color or tic section OF
the country from which he comes IL he il an
honest. hard working man who tries to do his
duty toward his neighbor and toward che
country, he can rest assured that he will have
in Mr.. Taft the most upright of representa-
Hves and the most fearless Of champions. MIR.
Taft stands against all privilege and he
stands prominently for the broad principles
OF American citizenship which lie at the
foundation Of our national well being
President Roosevelt received telephone
bulletins constantly from the convention
hall in Chicago until he was satisfied that
things were going according TO schedule.
He had a long conference with Secretary
Taft in the morning. Telephone connection
with the convention hall was not estab-
lished from the White House at any time
during the day. although the presence of
curious instruments in front of the speakers
stand in the Coliseum had led to the report
that the President was hearing the speeches. |
The inventor of a strange device proposed
some time last winter to install il in the
Capitol and the White House. so that the
President might listen to the proceedings
of the Senate and House. but MIR. Roosevelt
did not avail himself of the service then,
and he did not recognize the need Of it
to-day.
Surrounded by his wife, his family and
personal friends. Secretary Taft received
the news of his nomination as the Republi-
can Presidential candidate in the Office at
the War Department. 1t was a glad day
among the attaches OF the Secretary q office.
The big chief himself displayed no concern.
attending to his duties as usual making