Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-01
Citizen NOW
Taft Begins Work on His Pres
idential Campaign.
RELATIONSHIPS WAR OFFICE
Signs Replies to Thousand Of Con-
gratulatory Letters.
CONFERS WITH COL Mccoy
Discusses the Situation So Far as
the Republican National Chair
manship Is Concerned.
RELATIONSHIPS WAR OFFICE
C0NFERS WITH COL. Mccoy

| William ii. Iatt today relinquished to
other hands the reins of official position
and once more became private citizen.
After having been the executive head Of
the War Department for four years and
| five months he retires now to undertake
the duties and responsibilities of q candi-
date of a great political party for the
presidency.
Mr.. Taft's final duty at the War De-
partment was the presentation to the Of
fcials of the department of his successor,
Gov. Luke e. Wright. He said he re-
garded it as not merely a duty but
pleasure to induct Gov Wright into his
new office and to start him on the way
he should CO.
MI; Taft arrived at the War Department
at 10 o'clock. He was In excellent spirits
and looked better than he has looked for
several days despite the excessive heat.
Gov. Wright was awaiting him In his pri
vate office and together they began at
once the consideration Of War Depart
ment business.
Il am private citizen now" said Mr..
Taft. My official connection with the
government service ended at midnight.
rotary of War: Gov. Wright will take
the oath Of office in a couple Of hours;
but, in the meantime, Gen. Oliver is acting
secretary. l am here simply to dispose
|
the incoming Secretary to the people of
| the department."
AS a private citizen Mr. Taft Is "in-
clined to the opinion" as he expressed it,
| that he will have enough to do for q few
months to occupy the attention of any
reasonable man."
Begins Campaign Work.
His routine campaign work began to-
day. 1t was commonplace enough, in a
Uy0 tAA t.
thousands of letters in response to con-
gratulatory messages received by him
both by mail and by telegraph These
messages came, not only from every part
OF this country. but substantially from
every part Of the civilized world In the
| course Of his official life Mr. Taft visited
many Of the important countries of the
| world, and In each one of them he had
warm personal friends. who took delight
In sending him cordial fluctuations and
good wishes for his future success. It Is
oouotful whether any man nominated for
many messages Of congratulation as has
Mr.. Taft. They are contained in several
large boxes. and constitute veritable
library In themselves. An autograph COL
lector would revel in them, as hundreds
OF them bear names which would be val
liable in any collection of the signatures
OF eminent men and notable women.
The National Chairmanship.
| The knottiest problem which Mr. Taft
has to solve. before the campaign itself
may be fairly started. is the selection Of a
| chairman Of the republican national COM
| mttee. Despite rumors and conjectures
| which have been afloat for several days,
| assurance Is given that the choice of Mr.
Taft as yet has fallen definitely upon no
man. Tentatively. at least. two decisions
have been reached since the subcommittee
III,
Mr.. Taft in Cincinnati the 10th Of June:
but In both instances the decision prac-
tically had to be abandoned. The entire
question Is "in the air." While a deter.
mination OF 1t may be reached before the
conference between Mr.. Taft and the SUBJ
committee at Hot Springs the Sth instant.
1t is quite certain that no Official an
nouncement of the decision will be made
until after that conference.
Mr.. Taft expects to have a conference
late this afternoon with Arthur l. Vorys.
| the Ohio manager Of his preliminary cam
paign. That interview will relate to the
national Craftsmanship. 1t is reasonably
certain that Mr.. Forys himself will not be
| selected. although he is likely to be iden-
| titled with the campaign in an important
capacity. Mr.. Vorys desires to do nothing
that might embarrass Mr.. TAFT. and
doubtless will acquiesce readily in the
selection Of another man as national
chairman.
Confers With Col. Mccoy.
Even before he went to the War De-
partment Mr. Taft had had a confer
ence with Col. Frank r. Mccoy. who is
a member of the republican national COM
mittee Of the Philippine Islands Col.
Mccoy is collector of customs Of the
Philippines. The interview related par
ticularly to the selection of republican
national chairman. 1t is known that Col.
Mccoy is strongly in favor of the ap-
pOintment OF Mr.. Frank H. Hitchcock |
and while no details of the conference
were disclosed. it Is understood that the
entire situation as to the national chair
manship was considered