The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-06-22
Roosevelt and Taft Will Meet
At Oyster Bay and This Is
Said to Be the Chief
Reason.
SEC'Y LOEB SAID TO BE
UNDER CONSIDERATION.
Loeb, However, Says He
Knows Nothing About Ru-
NOR Concerning HIMSELF
The Presidents Sunday.

New York. June 22.-Among the po-
litical wiseacres who have gathered In
oyster Bay, l. l., since president
Roosevelt has transferred the scene of
his activities from Washington to his
summer home on Sycamore Hill, the
idea is gathering force that the visit
of Secretary Taft to the president at
the end of this week will be for a con-
ference of much importance and not
merely that retiring member of the
cabinet may pay his formal respects. in
turning over his portfolio, to the head
of the administration.
Who is TO be chairman OF the nation
al republican committee is a question
which will be discussed, 1t Is believed.
by the president and Secretary Taft,
and there is no doubt that the presi.
dents desires will carry much weight.
All that has,been done so far is TAX
en- as confirming this-iSea-the decision
OF Frank II. Hitchcock not to have his
name considered for the chairmanship;
the announcement-.from Washington
that William Loeb, Jr., secretary to the
president, may be.asked to become the
chairman of the national committee:
the inability of the committee at its
meeting in Cincinnati on Saturday TO
select chairman, and its appointment
of committee of eight, with power TO
act in the matter. and the decision of
the committee TO meet again in Wash
ington on July 1.
AS President Roosevelt is anxious to
see Secretary Taft elected as his sue
cessor, his interest in the conduct of
the campaign is paramount, and 1t fol-
lows that his suggestion as to the
Craftsmanship of the national commit
tee will receive more than passing
consideration.
Accepted as a Command.
Indeed, should he name a man for
the position, 1t would be accepted,
more than likely as a command. So IL
is that Secretary Taft, meeting the
president before July /, when the ma
tional committee reassembles, will be
IL d position to inform the members of
that body If the president has any
choice for the position.
Secretary Taft will be accompanied
on his visit to the president by General
Luke E. Wright. of Memphis, Tenn,
who is TO be secretary of war after Sec
retary Taft retires at the end of this
month.
The president and Mr.. Wright, of
course. will discuss~th future conduct
of the office of secretary>ef war.
IL any members of the national COM
mittee intend to participate In the dis
cussion by the president and Secretary
Taft as TO the Craftsmanship OF that
committee, they have not yet communi-
Gated their intention to Secretary Loeb,
he says. Nor does he know definitely
on what day Secretary Taft would
reach Sycamore Hill, merely guessing
it would be on Thursday or Friday.
| When Secretary Loeb saw the WASH
ington dispatch announcing that he
would be asked to accept the chairman
ship, he seemed much interested. He
smiled as he read it carefully, and then
remarked, slowly:
| They seem to be fixing all this up
in Washington. don't theyT'
No explanation was forthcoming
from him as to whether or not the sig
nificance of his question was that some
one much nearer to Oyster Bay than is
| Washington, would have the deciding
voice on the naming of chairman of
the national committee. He said, how
ever, that he knew nothing about his
being asked TO accept the chairman
1 ship.
Declines to Answer.
4 DO you think President Roosevelt
will settle the matter by suggesting a
chairman was asked of Secretary
Loeb. He said he could not answer,
and then said:
/ You don't think he would appoint
me. do you!''
President Roosevelt Sunday attended
morning services in Christ Episcopal
church in Oyster Bay. of which Mrs.
Roosevelt Is a member. Only his
wife was with him as he was driven up
to the pretty church by Joseph Wash
/ ington. his negro coachman. The pres
ident wore a suit of white duck, tan
| shoes and Panama hat
Roosevelt Will Reply.
/ President Roosevelt today will make
| public statement regarding the report
/ that he had sent Japan the sharpest
correspondence ever sent to any ma