The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-13
MAY VISIT PANAMA
TAFT ANNOUNCES INCLINATION TO
 MAKE TRIP.
This Visit Is Approved by President Roosevelt and Secretary Root --Presidenf-eIeet Holds
 Mnny COnferencea,

Washington, Dec 12.-wiIliam H.
 Taft, President-elect. contemplates a
 visit. to Panama before his inaugura- tion.
 Thfs visit is approved by President
 Roosevelt and Secretary Root. While 1t has not been definitely determined
 upon, Mir. Taft announced tonight that it was his inclination to go. Should
 this be his final decision. he will leave the port of Charleston, S.. C.. probably
 the last week in January for a trip
 which will cover approximately twen- ty days.
 There are many reasons. in Mir.
 Taft's view, why the trip of the Pres.
 ident-elect to the Isthmus would be of decided advantage to the advancement of the canal project and consequently to the United States. President Roose. velt's visit proved a decided stimulus to the work; the three visits which MT. Taft made as Secretary of War all were of advantage; there are constant ly arising and accommodating many mi- nor tangles of administration and con- 1ict of authority. which the. presence of the President or the President-elect
 might make possible of elimination with little difficulty.
 MT. Taft feels that this is practical ly his only opportunity to visit the
  as President.
 The journey, if made, would un- doubtedly be made on one of the navy's best ships, and Mrs. Taft. who made the first visit to Panama with Mir. Taft four years ago, would without doubt accompany him this time.
 The only objection to the expedition which has been pointed out by careful students of the laws and constitution is that pending the official declaration of Mir. Taft as President-elect by the action of the electoral college and his inauguration as President; there is no constitutional provision or legal pro- vision for the substitution for any one else in the event of anything happen ing to him in Panama. This objection is not regarded as of sufficient weight tnr detain MT. Taft from a journey which Is regarded as essential to the success of one of the big enterprises Of his administration.
 The news of this trip followed a con- ference last night with President Roosevelt and today again at the White House at luncheon and later with Secretary Root. Further details Of the Roosevelt-Root conference Were1 made known beyond the statement by Mir. Taft that the selection of his Cab inet was thoroughly discussed: Mfr: Taft said tonight that interYiews he had had yesterday and today with Senators Aldrich and Haie had led him 1 to believe that the attitude of these two Senate leaders respecting the tariff revision was decidedly favorable to the kind of tariff that he has been A conference with Sena- tor Crane of Massachusetts also con- drmed this view.
 Chairman Hitchcock. who came to today from New York. saw Mir. Taft tonight with James Thomas Williams. IT,, who was connected with the national organization. The Cuban situation was discussed at conference with Governor Magoon. Secretary of War Wright and General Clarence R. | of the Insular Bureau, talked l with Mir. Taft about departmental and | Philippine matters.
 MT. Taft left Washington at mid night for New York. following the dim ner at the Gridiron Club. Mrs. Taft | preceded the President-eiect to New | York. taking an afternoon train. He win there be the guest of his brother, l