The San Francisco call., 1908-08-19
WEST AND SOUTH
ENCOURAGE TAFT
Candidate Hears Report of Con-
ference at Chicago West
ern Branch

HOT SPRINGS. Aug. 18.-Through
the visit here of r. " Oulahan, director
of the literature bureau of the repub-
lican national committee, Mr.. Taft was
enabled TO gain at first hand the results
of the recent conference at Chicago
which marked the opening of the west
ern branch of the committee headquar-
ters. Members of the committee from
the west and south Participated in this
conference and their report of political
conditions in the sections of country
represented by them was given to Mr..
Taft as decidedly encouraging
Oulehan indicted that there was a
real element of surprise in the op-
timism of southern members of the
committee This was based, he said, on
what was regarded as reliable informa-
tion to the effect that Mr.. Taft's per-
sonality was a decided and increasing
element of the strength to the ticket in
the south
oulahan said also that in the south
there seemed to be an outspoken senti-
ment that the present and continued
prosperity of that section depended on
the perpetuation of governmental poll
cies.
The visit of Oulahan was at the re-
quest of Mr.. Taft, who wished to
familiarize himself with the plans for
the literature Oh the CAM
paign. The essentiai feature of this
distribution is the entire freedom of
selection which is to be allowed chair
men of the state committees. Oulahan's s
bureau will provide an elaborate array
of campaign reading matter These
will be catalogued so as to show its
character. so that chairman of a local
committee may. knowing local condi-
tions, select such literature as will do
a II, it.
plan has been carried on with evident
satisfaction in Vermont and Maine,
where the elections come early next
month.
Many important problems are yet to
be solved by the literary bureau, ac-
cording to Oulahan's report to Mr.. Taft
today. One feature, which has prac-
tically been decided on, is the estab-
lishment of a local press bureau to fur
nish correspondents with news features
which may develop at the New York
headquarters.
Finding 1t impossible to attend the
Sherman notification ceremonies to-
day, Mr.. Taft contented himself with
addressing an open letter to his col
league on the ticket. He said:
II greatly regret that / am not able
to be present at the interesting cere-
monies to take place today when you
nomination for vice president. 1t must
be full of pleasure for you to receive
from your neighbors and friends who
have known you all your life long such
an expression of confidence in your
character and admiration for your
ability and public service. l have read
with great interest what you have had
to say with respect to campaign issues
and l doubt not that they would be in
accord with the highest ideals OF the
republican party
Mr.. Taft today finished the first draft
OF the speech he is to deliver Friday to
the Virginia republicans.
The local preparations for the rally
are being fast completed. Grandstands
and lunch counters are being erected
and provision is being made to make
comfortable crowd that may number
either 1900 or 10000.
The exercises are to begin at 2
o'clock and the delivery OF the Taft
speech will occupy about 40 minutes.
Short preliminary speeches will be
made by Congressman Slemp and
Colonel S. Brown Allen of Staunton.
Colonel Thomas Bullitt of Louisville.
KY. introduced to Mr. Taft today six
southern democratic businessmen, none
of whom. he said. would vote their
party ticket this year.