Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-01
President Confidently Predicts
Taft'S Nomination.
ASSERTION TO A CALLER
Proposed Commission of Department
Experts.
INVITED TO ENCAMPMENT
VIM. r. Wheeler Named Assistant
Secretary Of Commerce-1ercy
Asked for Capt. Van Schaick.

Secretary Taft will he nominated. SO
far as sufficient votes go. long before the
convention" is what William s. Edwards
of West Virginia says the President told
him today.
Mr.. Edwards is delegate to the nation
al convention from the third West Vir-
ginia district. Il am an old friend OF
the President" said Mr.. Edwards. and
called to tell him that West Virginia
was solid for Taft. At the same time.
though. / told him that underneath il all
was a desire of the people that he should
be the nominee. He told me that Secre-
tary Taft was as good as nominated and
would be named on the first ballot with
large number of votes to spare
The President has made a similar dec
laration to several OF his callers recently.
1t liz a prediction he made two months
sion facts that convince him that ii is
more certain now than al any time in the
past. These facts are not based so much
upon the number of conventions electing
Taft delegates, but upon inside informa-
tion that the opposition is preparing to
get on the Taft wagon so as to head off
a possible denomination of the Presi-
dent.
Aldrich and Hale for Taft.
According to a well-vouched-for story.
Senators Hale and Aldrich are working
upon Senator Crane and others. who are
supposed to be standing out stiffiy against
Taft, urging them to join the Taft process
sion. This triumvirate of big men of the
Senate works together on many important
propositions, and Is supposed TO have
started out with harmonious designs in
the presidential fight. That two at least
have joined the Taft ranks is declared
to be known. and the third is being
worked upon by the others. with the prob
ability. ii is claimed. that he will yield to
their arguments. The same two are re-
ported to be doing similar work with other
statesmen. 1t is pointed out today as
significant that the Maine state conven-
ton yesterday adopted Taft preference
resolutions and elected Taft men as dele
gates. There was no opposition from Sem
ator Hale. who is said to have intimated
that this action would be agreeable to
him.
1t, is claimed that certain influences
are working upon Speaker Cannon with
the object OF having him withdraw so
that the vote of his state may go to Taft
Certain influences are also at work upon
Gov. Hughes. Representative Parsons
the Roosevelt representative in New York
called on the President today, having re-
turned from. a conference in New York
Hughes leader i'm that state. made a
statement that Gov. Hughes would not
retire from the presidential race and
would be In 1t to the finish. Mr.. Parsons
his inQuirers to the statement of Gen
WoodfOrd.
A Statistical Committee.
1t was decided at the cabinet meeting
today that the President should appoint
statistical committee of one representa-
tive or expert from each department and
independent government establishment
that Is to have wide range of useful
ness in the administrative affairs of the
government. Such a committee was rec
commended recently by a committee APP
pointed by Secretary Straus to inquire
into the statistical work OF his depart
ment.
This committee advised against the con-
solidation of the bureau OF census and
the bureau of statistics. but did recon-
mend merging Of the bureau Of manufac-
lures and the bureau of statistics into
one bureau, to be known as the bureau
of foreign and domestic commerce The
cabinet members will hand to the Pres-
dent at the next meeting of the cabinet
the names of persons to represent their
respective departments. The duties of
the committee will be to prevent duplica-
ton OF work and establish uniform meth
DDS OF preparing statistics. 1t is stated that
there is much duplication of work in the
present statistical operations in the ex-
ecutive departments. One important aim
is to secure utilixat ton of statistical ma
terial In one branch of the government
with reference to the needs or aims of
other branches. Uniform methods and
uniform definitions are much desired. as
well as closer cooperation on the part
Of the various branches of the govern
ment.
Rayner to Get Reward.
Frank B. Rayner. the former life-saving
service man who saved a number of ives
from the schooner Benjamin Cromwell.
near Bellport. l.. l., February q 1904
was introduced to the President today by
Representative Cocks of Long Island
Rayner's heroic work brought on an ILL
ness that threatened his life. He went
west to recuperate, and some time ago
returned to the east. He wrote Secretary
CortelyOu from Newburg N Y. asking
for position In the government service
Mr.. CortelyOu had nothing ne could give
the life saver. but brought the matter to
the attention of the Pres dent who at
once wrote to Rayner. praising his brav-
cry and telling him he could have any
position in the government service he
could fill. Rayner has come on f0 the
place and one is being hunted up for him.
The President will exempt him from the
requirements Of the civil service so soon
as q place is found
Invited to q. A.. r. Encampment.
committee from the Grand Army has
invited the President to attend the annual
encampment at Toledo August ~ but he
will not he able to go. The committee
consisted of Senator Warner Gen. John
c. Black John r. King and James r.
Tanner.
The President had a number of visitors
before the cabinet meeting today. Rep
resehtative Samuel w. Smith introduced
MIR. and Mrs. Charles Akin and Mr. and
Mrs. Arthur Pound Of Pontiac. Senator
Smith called upon the President with
Philip Mcmillan of Detroit. a son Of for
mer Senator Mcmillan. Representatives
Andrus of New York, Madison of Kansas
and French of Idaho introduced friends. |
Senator Piles and Representative Jones
of Washington. Senator Long Of Kansas
and Representative Murdoch OF Kansas |
talked with the President. |
Presidential Nominations.
The President sent to the Senate today |
the following nominations: To be United
States attorney fOr--the- district of Mon |
tana, James w. Freeman of Montana.
To be assistant secretary of commerce |
u of N IL /