New-York tribune., 1908-12-14
TAFT ON PANAMA TRIP
NAY START IN JANUAhl
Canal Stories, He Says, Increase
Desire to Go ard Explode Them

I flP2lTR 10 STU Uf<O A%'N
! 80, 1,.ft talked freely about his cohlelii
/ ro+a6 trim to Panama early last eVehihe oe
/ bon,e Of Henry W. Taft. his brothei' o. - IN
IUest 4Sth street where he Is staS'ls -
L., Mr. Taft errived here from "ashilis 8,
| .lie -. : o,clock Yesterday morning and VIII
/ he here until Thursday morning or
when he will start for Augusta $3.50 7,,
! .1s~it true that you are going to Panama
| ono of the newspaper men asked
.It is true that am considering ee -,
-,;aa nfr Taft II hope to start the last "eeN
I in January and return the middle OIL
beins away about twenty-one days -,
.r-his will be my fifth trip to the lsthihu
added Mr.. Taft In reply to another question:
..5 .bo ofHce of Secretary of War about
/ f- ,aars ago and have been down there resu-
larlv once & year Things change pretty iiI0"
down there in years time, you know
,.1Ied vo,, considered going before the recent
stories regarding the canal?' some one askeo'
"Ob yes" replied Mr.. Taft. "They only
/ strengthened my desire to go When reHu
such tales it makes me want 10 go iisii' ~
there and explode them.
Laughing heartily at the absurdlty OF 'he sus
! eestion that the canal might be a failure MT
Taft said that one might expect such stories
from time to time. You know. he sald' Iha'
at such time in every Presidential campaign
usually about October 1--we expect story
from the Democrats that the Repubhcahs are
/ preparing TO buy up the electorate. NOW 1t Is
just that way about the canal. You must look
for some such absurd story at regular intervals"
Mr. Taft said he thought these periodical trips
were good things. 1T is good thing, ne
added sometimes to have the old Man come
around It stifTens Up those who might be in
clined to be slack. 1t encourages those VINO
think they are working a long way from home,
! and under a bushel. to speak. Then 1t Is a
! good thing for the old Man.
THAT reminds me OF a story told this after
! noon by my brother Horace. Some one asked
Henry Ward Beecher what he did when the
/ congregation went TO sleep. Why, l send
around the sexton to wake up the minister
was the reply"
When you become President l suppose YOU
will not think it possible to take these trips" II
was suggested, but 1 suppose you will have
some one else go for you about every year
| We'll. the President went was the quick
reply of Mr., Taft. IF he could, probably I
.can. I shall go If possible. but. If not, the
| Secretary of War will go"
Mr. Taft said that in previous trips he had
always taken with him independent engineers.
and expected to do the same this time 1T is
! good thing" ne added. Ito get the opinion
| Of an outsider other than layman.
Judge Taft said ne would have no announce
ments to make regarding his Cabinet While in
/ this city He does not intend to be hurried in
the choice OF his official family. He had moth
/ ing further to say regarding his talk with Sena-
tor Burton, OF Ohio, on Saturday. He told the
/ Senator that his attitude the Ohio Senator
ship would be as it had been-one Of non-inter
ference Mr. Burton probably will him
! again regarding the offer of a place in the
Cabinet which # is understood has been made
TO the Ohio Congressman.
Mr. Taft expects to have quiet day to-day.
He is expecting a number of callers including
/ Congressman c. \. Fowler of New Jersey;
! Leslie Al Shaw, former Secretary Of the Treas
gry. and Frank B. Kellogg.
The Deputy Attorney General?" asked some
one. as Mr. Kellogg's name mentioned.
The next Attorney General?' said one Of the
/ newspaper men in tone Of query.
Did you get that down. said Mr.. Taft, turn
/ ing to another member of the group. and laugh
/ ing at the attempt to draw him out on the sub
! ject of his Cabinet.
/ Mr. Taft does not expect to be able to attend
any OF the meetings of the National Civic Fed
/ Grafton to-day tomorrow, but will speak at
the dinner tomorrow night That Mrs. Taft
was to speak at any of the sessions of the con-
ference was mistake. Mr.. Taft said. On
Wednesday night Mr.. Taft will speak at the
dinner Of the Ohio Society.
Yesterday morning Judge Taft attended the
services in the Metropolitan Temple In the
/ afternoon he several friends and before din
ner took walk up Fifth avenue to 10th street
and back with his brothers. Henry and Horace
D. Taft, of Watertown, Conn, who had come
down to see him.
From here Mr. Taft will go direct to Territt
/ Cottage, Augusta, which has been leased by
/ him, arriving there Friday next From
that time until he starts for Panama he
probably will make a number of speeches in
Southern cities. He has already promised to
make in Atlanta. It is known that he is
anxious TO become more acquainted with the
Southern people. but ne Will have to decline
many invitations If he is to get the rest he is
( looking for He has a speaking engagement for
Cincinnati February 10, in Philadelphia
on February 90 and one in this city the 23d or
oath. After that he will probably go to Wash
/ ington, and expects to remain there of
the time until his Inauguration.
/ While in this city Mr.. Taft will be guarded
/ not only by the Secret Service men, who travel
with him. but also by two detectives from the
/ Central Office. Two patrolmen in uniform
/ have been assigned to watch the home Of Henry
/ ". Taft. while his brother is in the city
FRENCH PREDICT CANALS FAuuPr