The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-19
SECRETARY TAFT
HEARS THE NEWS
campaign for tha presidential nomina-
rare. son the nle..cnser.
tc,ontisued from Fourth Page.)

Taffs son the Messenger.
Mrs. Taft remained In the secretary.
private oiiice throughout the after
noon She was alfred IN becoming
suit of pure white, and wore big
picture hat of pea green straw, adore
ed with seal brown and pal. green
ostrich plumes. Accompanying her
was the young son of the secretary
and Mrs. Taft--little Cbarlie--whose
special function 1t was to carry the
bulletins received from the convcn-
ton from the telegraph operator to
the gecrctarS's desk. Ha was the
busiest person In the War Department.
While awaiting the coming OF the
bulletins. he stood at the desk Of the
telegraph operator listening anxiously
o I the fateful ticking OF the !nstru-
Jient.
lie wore u suit OF khaki knlcker-
bockers, with a blue and white striped
waist. As each bulletin came from the
operators Typewriter he scanned II
quickly and rushed with 1t into his
fathers office. 1t vas TO Mrs. TAFT
ordinarily that he presented tile bulle-
tins rather than to Secretary TAFT, and
he listened while his mImmu read the
bulletins to the secretary's assembled
guests.
Miss Helen Present.
Ghortly after 1 o'clock---bsforc the
nominating speeches OfNthe presidential
candidates had been conciuded-Mi
Helen Heron Taft the secretary's
daughter, joined the group In Mr. Taft's
private office. The secretary laugh
insIy explained that she probably
would have been there sooner IL she
had not been too nervous to withstand
: the strain. Miss Tai, was inclined to
resent this comment. but 1t was appa-
rent that she was infected with
nerves" as were all others in the
Office.
One OF the bulletins received from
the convention indicated that speak
er, while nominating candidate, had
been greeted with jeers. When secrc-
.tary Taft read 1t he frowned
II am compassionate" said he. look
ing out OF a window OF his office, to
ward any one who goes through
nominating experience in conyen-
ton
The remark of the secretary was n
side light on the man. He knew what
&: meant TO pass through so grueling
ar experience as campaign for II
presidential nomination.
Situation Tense.
Secretary Taft had arranged to visit
the war college with Secretary Root at
naturally concluded to await the re-
suit of the ballot which was about to
he taken In Chicago. BY this time the
situation in the seorctary's office had
become tense. The door between the
secretary's private office and Secre-
tnry Carpenters office was thrown
wide. In the former stood Secretary
Taft surrounded by members OF his
family and personal political friends.
In the outer room with Secretary
Carpenter We're twenty-five or thirty
Washington correspondent each hang
ing on every word that came from the
telegraph instrument.
The Final Announcement.
AS the balioting IN the convention
commenced, the atmosphere of the two
excitement. Scarcely word was
spoken. Men who ordinarily are not
affected by nerves" hung over the
tsteisraph instrument as If their; lives
depended upon the words which the
stoiid telegraphe. was ticking out on
his typewriter. Something went wrong
with the official dispatches. The first
announcement was that Massachusetts
cast th!rty-two votes for TAFT. Then
the announcement from Michigan was
made with its one vote for Cannon. AT
This moment Secretary Carpenters
telephone jingled and William Panncll
Secretary Taft's personal messenger
received flash from the Associated
Press that Taft had been nominated.
Family Delighted.
Mrs. Taft rose from her seat at the
sccretary's desk and turned to her
husband, who was standing at her
right 1t was an eloquent handc!asr
they gave each other. Mrs. Taft was
bubbling over with happiness. All evil
dence of the nervous strain which had
been in her face during the entire
afternoon had disappeared. The Sec
rotary himself, laughed with the Joy
OF boy. Around both the Secretary
and Mrs. Taft their friends crowded
to offer their congratulations. II was
happy scene-the realization OF
months of labor and tribnlation.
Cabinet Congratulations.
Secretary Root was the first Cabinet
officer to extend to Secretary and Mrs
Taft his congratulations on the nomi-
nation. He remarked facetiously tc
Secretary Taft when the latter was
shaking hands with some OF his news.
paper friends. that he probably would
find 1t difficult to shake" the men
either during his campaign or after
his election. Secretary Taft responded
that he had no idea OF shaking then
a. any time.
Turning. to Secretary Root, after the
informal reception, Secretary Taft In.
CURED: Shall we go now to the War
College?"
Yes" replied Secretary Root. Lets
go immediately
Secretary Taft was already In his
riding clothes. and he and General Ed
wards made the trip to the War Col
lego on HORSEBACK, while Secretary Root
and General Bell, chief of staff, went
In an automobile. AS he was leaving
his office, the secretary leaned over the
desk OF the telegraph operators and
inquired tentatively; II guess it's GER
tain enough?"
Certain enough" said General Oliver
who was standing near. you want II
unanimous" and moment later a
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