Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-25

speech HldhiiiS tlipS u Wtth tHuS.
The accompanying tabulated statement
is believed To be a fairly accurate ac-
count of Mr.. Taft's travels and alb
sences from Washington during 1907
and up to the present date of this
year.
1.-The table so alluded TO by the Post
includes absences on official duty and
vacations. as we'll as campaigning trips,
as follows:
1907:
March 10-New York.
March 1S-New Haven.
March 30-April 30-West Indies.
May dayton, Ohio.
May jamestown exposition.
May 25-.June st Louis.
June S-21-SOuth Dakota and Kansas.
July 4-Aug. lG-Murray Bay. Canada.
Aug. 1S-Dec. 21-Around the world.
Dec 24TCincinnati.
Dec. 30-Boston.
1908:
Jan 10-New York.
Jan. 4-Philadelpha.
Feb. 21-BuffalO.
Feb. 26-New England.
March 14-New England and New
Jersey.
March 31-April 13-Nebraska and
Ohio
April 18--New York.
Such downright republican news
paper and thick-and-thin administra-
ton supporter as the Philadelphia
Press. in a leading editorial last week,
called on Secretary Taft to resign be-
cause of these absences from his Of
flee on experimenting trips, and to
conduct his campaign for the presi-
Idency as a private citizen. Recently
in the senate Senator Hale made a
yelled criticism of Mr. Taft on the
same score.
Comments on the secretary's alb
|sences from Washington are by no
means confEed to newspapers and
public men unfriendly to his candi-
dacy The secretary, it is believed. ap-
preciates the force of this criticism
land has become sensitive to it. 1t is
said that he is now filing engage
ments made some time ago, and max
| ing no new engagements that will
| take him away from his post in the
war department.
The Washington Herald recently in
a leading article sets forth at length
Mr.. Taft's travels, and contrasts his
outOf-town activity with the course
pursued by some of the other candi
dates What follows is drawn from
this article.
| Vice President Fairbanks, Speaker
Cannon and Senator Knox, while Sec
Iretary Taft has been promoting his
political interests over the country
have steadfastly kept at their posts
at Washington. The vice president
since congress assembled, has made il
his practice TO decline all invitations
from outside the city, and Speaker
Cannon and Senator Knox have fol
lowed this rule with but few excep
lions. Secretary Taft, however, in the
last four months, has devoted more
than half his time, perhaps three
lfourths. to his personal and politica
interests. The assertion is made thai
no other cabinet officer of any admin
listration ever equaled Mr.. Taft's rec
Iord as an absentee.
For about year and a half the sec
lretary certainly has been on the go
Perhaps he has been at his desk fou,
months during that period The presi
ldent first ordered him off on inspec
ton trips to Panama, Porto Rico. and
Cuba, and to the Philippines, by 4
Hong and devious route. These trims
were taken while the country. and
even the world, looked on in admira
ton. The people began clamoring fol
a chance to see him. Often their de
sires were voiced in the presence OF
the president, in which instances the
press dispatches generally announced
that the secretary accepted their inyi.
tations before the visiting delegations
departed from the White house.. And
on top of this comes still later advices
that the secretary is now about ia
make o trip to Panama.
Under such circumstances Secretary
Taft, of course, could not be confirm.
lously at the war department. He has
always FASTENED back here between