The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-19
That the Secretary of War Can
Be Elected.
SOT MAKING FIGHT.
personally He Is Friendly to
ALI the Candidates
But Thinks Taft Too Much Like
Roosevelt to Win.

Kansas City. Feb. 19.-Leslie M.
ShaW. former secretary Of the treas
ury. was the principal speaker at the
twentieth annual banquet of the Kan
sas city Bar association held last uiehs
at the Midland hotel.
Mr Shaw arrived In Kansas City
yesterday morning and went to the
Baltimore hotel. There he denied that
ne IS nghting Roosevelt, but the for
mer secretary said he does not believe
Iaft can be elected because of his con-
nectton wit hthe president, and the
general belief that the election of Taft
Will mean but a continuance of the
Roosevelt administration
Il am not seeking to defeat any
mans nomination for the presidency
There Is not man whose name is
mentioned who Is not my personal
friend, and for whom I would not
cross the continent to bestow q kind
ness. That I prefer some does not Inn
ply that I would lift. my hand against
others.
"I am intensely interested in busi-
ness conditions. The number of men
out of employment and the number
soon to be dismissed. is to me. alarm
ing. The interest of these men far
transcends any candidates ambition.
II wish that factionalism within the
party to which I belong might cease,
and that a convention OF broadmind-
ed, patriotic. unselfish and unambi-
tious men, uninstructed and unpledg-
ed, might gather in Chicago on the
18th of June next, and in the light of
conditions as they then exist, select q
man who is believed to be most like
ly to lead the party to victory. and
whose election will best conserve the
moral and Industrial interests of the
country. The nominee of such con-
vention, IL such q convention can be
held, will be elected, whoever he may
be, for the party then will be united
| II there are then as many men out of
employment as there were in June
| 1896 the party will probably take cog
n1zance of the fact and govern itself
| accordingly. unless instructions have
rendered such course impossible.
/ at an proud beyond measure OF tho
/ record of the party In which belong.
| and of the work of the administration
| with which, for five years. was con-
nected. allow no man unrebuked to
speak derogative IN my presence of
/ either. No man within my knowledge
has said more In commentator of that
] administration than have I. The fact,
| however that believe the special work
| which our unceaSfng evolution has
| brought to the hands of the present ad-
ministretion has been wonderfully well
| performed, and that in my judgment
emphasis should be placed upon the
restoration of business and industrial
activity. This has led some to discount
my repeated utterances In laudation OF
! the work of the president, SO fearlessly
accomplished. That business confidence
at home and abroad is now at ebb tide.
all who know something of the subject
must admit It will require something
besides espionage OF business men,
something besides drastic business re-
straining legislation. something besides
criminal prosecuting to again set our
Industrial wheels in motion.
MY visit to Kansas City and Denver.
In both of which cities l am to speak
during the week. is not Influenced by
political consideration. / am simply
business man and q lawyer, in public
questions; I could not IL I would, and
1 certainly would not cease to be IN
terested in them now that I am again
| in private life."