Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-07-09
" Il. TAFT TAI IS NOW NOV
PRIVATE CITIZEN
Gen. Wright Takes Oath Of Office
and Assumes Duties of Sec
rotary of War.
CHAIRMAN NOT YET PICKED
Kellogg Not in Race for the Job-Taft
Says No Selection Has Yet
Been Made.

Washington, July 8. = After con
ference with Arthur l. Vorys Of Ohio
lasting two hours and half yester-
day afternoon, Secretary Taft said ::
You can say definitely that the chair
manship Of the Republican national
committee has not yet been settled.
You can say also that no announce
ment OF decision as to- the chairman
ship will be made until after | have
conferred at Hot Springs, Va, next
Wednesday with the subcommittee OF
the national committee. l hope this
is sufficiently definite and that my
statement will be accepted"
vorys Will Not Get It,
Mr.. Vorys, the Ohio manager of Mr.,
Taft's preliminary campaign for the
presidential nomination, arrived here
yesterday to confer with him respect
ing the national craftsmanship.
While 1t is known that Mr. Taft en-
tertains for Mr.. Vorys high regard
and is keenly appreciative of the part
which his Ohio manager played in
the preliminary campaign, 1t is under
stood definitely that Mr.. Vorys is not
to be named as national chairman.
That he will participate in the cam
Eraign in an important capacity there
is little doubt
This was Mr.. Taft's first day as a
private citizen in many years.
Wright Takes Taft's Place.
Mr.. Taft appeared at the war de,
partment promptly at 10 O'Clock yes
terday morning and prior to the form
al induction into Office of Gov. Luke
e. Wright had long consultation
with him and with officials of the war
department about departmental af-
fairs.
Gov. Wright took the oath as secre
tary of war in the secretary's recep-
ton room just at noon, in the pres
ence of many distinguished officials
of the war department and personal
friends. The incoming and retiring
secretaries then held brief reception
of the employees of the department.
Kellogg Not in Race.
After day Of gossip concerning the
Craftsmanship of the Republican ma
tional committee it was learned def
nitely last night that Frank B. KEEL
logg OF Minnesota is out of the race.
in which he has never voluntarily
taken part
There were rumors throughout the
day that Mr.. Kellogg had been decid-
ed upon, and the fact that he took
luncheon with President Roosevelt at
Sycamore Hill was construed as
Strengthening this report. When seen
at his hotel last night Mr.. kellogg
had nothing to say regarding the re-
port, but 1t was learned that
During the Conference
at Oyster Bay yesterday afternoon, in
which the president, Mr.. kellogg and
National Committeeman William
Ward of New York participated, and
that again last night, when Mr.. KEEL
logg and Mr.. Ward met Elmer Dover.
secretary of the national committee
at the Waldorf-Astoria, Mr.. Kellogs's
name was tentatively convidered. Mr.
Kellogg, however, succeeded in i'm
pressing upon his political friends
that his name must not be further
considered for the Craftsmanship.
Mr.. Kellogg's position as counsel
for the government in the Standard
OH and other prosecutions is in itself
heid by him to be sufficient to pre-
clude his selection as the manager Of
Mr.. Taft's campaign. 1t was said that
this was the strongest argument pre-
scented against Mr.. Kellogg's choice
by himself.