The Washington herald., 1908-05-14

aR
with the Presidency.
1t is not possible 10 walk half a block
in the busy streets Of Washington with
out meeting at least two OF three goveF-
nors. Next to governors, numerically,
are the Presidential candidates, who are
also attending the White House confer
enee on the conservation of natural re-
sources. In fact, one Of the greatest re-
sources is the supply Of candidates.
Within the space OF a quarter Of an
hour FIVE candidates for the Presidency
entered the east door Of the White
House yesterday morning. Mr.. Fair
banks. Of Indiana. came Arst. and soon
afterwaFd arrived Gov. John Johnson. OF
Minnesota. Within a minute Mr.. Bryan
entered. and he and the Minnesotan met
face 10 face. Among the governors and
delegates there was an average OF only
a little less than one froek coat and one
silk hat for each individual. but Gov.
johnson. although the day was one OF the
warmest OF the season, looked cool in a
business suit Of light green.
CoIor OF His CraVat.
His cravat was a darker shade OF the
same color. Mr.. Bryan wore a frock
coat. black waistooat. and dark trousers,
Gov. Johnson extended his hand to Mr.
Bryan, saying:
How 90 you do?' with great cordial
iiy, AMI received a hearty handsheke
and Good morning, sir"
A moment after this meeting Of Demo-
cratic candidates. Joseph ". Folk, OF
Missouri, put in an appearance. walking
unattended, and was soon engaged in
conversation with a group Of delegates
and Democratic statesmen from the West.
About this time Gov. Hughes, OF New
York, arrived, accompanied By the three
delegates from the Empire State, and
he was kept busy shaking hands with
a large number OF persons. The hand
shaking was interrupted by a pho-
tographer. who asked the governor and
the New York delegates 20 stand in the
doorway. while he made a snapshot OF
the group Mr.. Hughes appeared to be
in high spirits, and he shook hands right
and left for quarter OF an hour before
passing out OF the entrance lobby on
the way 70 the East Room, where the
conference was TO be held.
President Not Visible.
President Roosevelt was not visible un-
I'll all the governors and conferees had
found their seats. but after the mornings
exercises were concluded. he mingled with
the members OF the conference. talking
with everybody, and calling nearly every
body by name. This rough-and-ready fire
OF greeting and conversation. however.
was preceded by a more formal reception
70 the governors and delegates who pass
ed in line before him and Ms. Roose-
velt in the Blue Room. Mrs. Roosevelt
had occupied a seat in the Green Psrlor
during the mornings exercises, the door
leading 70 the East Room. being slightly
aiar, so that she might hear the Presi-
dents speech.
While the handshaking was in progress
Mr.. Bryan paused a moment or two be-
fore the President 10 congratulate Mr..
Roosevelt on the auspicious beginning of
the conference, declaring he was In
hearty sympathy with the purposes OF
the conference. and thanking the Presi-
dent for causing the meeting TO be held.
All" said Mr.. Roosevelt, that is praise
from Sir Hubert; that is praise, indeed.
Thank you"
The handshaking ceremony occupied
about three-quarters Of an hour, and at
its conclusion the President and all the
governors, delegates. and other distin-
guished members OF the conference passed
- 49, rs-
House 70 have a photograph taken.
The Last to Emerge.
Il took some little time TO assemble the
whole company, and Gov, Johnson was
one Of the last TO emerge from the house
TO the portieo. Mr. Bryan was more for
tunate, and he found a place in the front
rank, near the camera.
Mr.. Johnson, far in the rear, squeezed
his rather slender figure between two
Western delegates, and remarked, so that
everybody heard:
We'll, I'm sorry for Bryan. There he
is, between plutocrats-James j. Hill and
Andrew Carnegie"
The photographer had to wait for the
laughter to subside after this sally from
the Minnesota governor.
Gov J. Frank Hanly. OF Indiana. at
tracted little attention as he stood among
the rest Of the governors in the lobby
OF the Willard Hotel Anyway. Gov.
Hanly is too serious-minded man 70
care much for TIE fashions, and he wears
the silk hat as If it were a concession.
the sack suit belongs.
The greatest meeting that will be held
in our generation" said the Indiana gov
ernor, speaking Of the gathering of the
governors. 1T was a brilliant and un-
precedented idea, this OF President
Roosevelt, and though Il is the first meet
ing Of the kind I expect that so much
good viii result from it, in positive and
definite ways, that some such gathering
Will become a feature Of future Presi-
Dental terms.
The Bearing on Roosevelt.
Asked what he thought as to the effect
this meeting of the chief executives of
all the States would have on the political
fortunes Of President Roosevelt, Gov.
Hanly said:
Meme that I can see. Undoubtedly the
thought Of this meeting was a most hap
py idea, and IN a striking way will en-
phasize to the country at large the clear
sightedness and sanity OF Mr.. Roosevelt.
1t will increase his popularity also, but
cannot see that it will affect him
politically. I am one Of those men who
believe in taking the President al his
word. and when he says. as he has said,
that he is not a candidate for the Presi-
dental nomination again, I judge that
he means II y