Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-11
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Preparing for a New Secretary
of the War Department.
TAFT CLOSES UP MATTERS
Col Symons, Mentioned for Chief
Of Engineers, Sees President.
PHILBIN DEPL0REs OUTLOOK
Declares That Bryan Will Be Nomi-
mated and Has No Chance
Of Winning.
TAFT CLOSES UP MATTERS
PH1LB1N DEPLoREs OUTLOOK

The resignation of Secretary Taft will
be placed in the hands Of the President
soon. and will be made of effect as soon
after his nomination as possible. His
successor has already been selected. He
is Gen. Luke Wright of Tennessee. and he
is ready to assume the duties of the Office
without delay
The Secretary. in antifipa ton of his
practically certain nomination at Chicago.
Is winding up as fast as possible a num-
Der of matters pending in his depart
ment. The position of chief of engineers
is one of these. and it is pretty certain
that an appointment will be made in a
short time. The Secretary desires to leave
his department to a successor In such
shape that there will he no harassing
propositions to be considered. No ques-
tions. therefore. are to be lodged. and
as far as possible the republican candi-
date for President will leave q clean slate
in his Office.
Col. r. w. Symons Of the Engineer
Corps of the army, who has been dis
cussed for chief of engineers. to fill the
vacancy made by the retirement Of Gen.
Mackenzie. talked for some time with
both the President and Secretary Taft.
He had nothing to say upon his departure
except that no selection had been made. so
far as he knew.
Democrat Deplores Outlook.
Eugene A. Philbin. former district at
torney of New York. preceding William
T. Jerome. and a personal friend of Mr..
Roosevelt, called on the President today.
You know I am a democrat" said Mr..
Philbin when he was asked political
oioh haf
Bryan is to be nominated at Denver.
There seems to be no possibility that he
will be defea ted in the convention. Gov.
Johnson is the man whom the democrats
should put up. He would make fine
candidate and an excellent President. Mr..
Bryan cannot be elected. He has no
chance in the world Of carrying New York
or any other large state. He will be
beaten badly. 1t is unfortunate that the
democrats of the country could not md
way of getting from under the influence
of this man.
Gov. Hughes has made a good gov
ernor, but he can be defeated by a demo-
crat. The democrats Of New York have
an excellent chance OF electing governor
this year and 1t is quite likely they may
do so, although losing the state on the
national ticket"
Commissioner Loomis Calls.
Francis B. LOOMS. chairman Of the gov
eminent commission to the Toxic exposi
ton, called on the President today to pre-
sent F. ]. V. Skiff of Chicago, another
member Of the commission. Mr.. LOOMS
said no secretary has been selected, al
though it is understood that ]. c.
O'Laughlin. a Washington newspaper cor
respondent will be named. He is now in
Chicago. Mr.. LOomis said that q member
of the commission will go to Japan this
summer to select a site on the exposition
grounds for the American building.
Representative Dalzell Of Pennsylvania
would leave in a few days for Chicago.
Father Doyle of the Apostolic mission
called on the President today to say good
bye. Father Doyle is going abroad for a
long trip on important business.
Guides in Trouble.
Two guides have been notified by the
White House police that they must keep
out of the White House grounds. 1t was
that Sergt. Harrison OF the
White House squad had given orders that
no more guides be allowed in the grounds.
but it turns out that the orders were con-
fined to the two men. According to the
White House officers these two men have
resorted to unusual means to secure en-
from visitors to the buildings
and grounds Upon holding up visitors
and offering their services. they became
it is charged. if the visitors
did not accept their services. In several
instances they were abusive and used
language that would have resulted in
their arrest IL what they said had been
overheard by the officers
1t is claimed in one instance strangers
were told that they could not go through
the grounds and buildings without guides.
The guides who are under the ban are
young men. but they have had consider
able experience. The police think that
guides should be licensed after examina-
ton and that licenses should be given only
to men of good character and record.
Most of the White House guides, all self
appointed in the business, are unobjec-
tionable to White House officers. For
years these men have been allowed to go
the grounds with visitors. but
they have not been allowed inside the
buildings. waiting outside the doors until
their visitors had come out.