Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-02
TAFT NOW PRIVATE CITIZEN
Begins Routine Work by Signing Re-
sponses to Congratulations.
MESSAGES FROM ALL OVER WORLD
No Definite Choice of Campaign Man
Rger Has Been MRde-NOrys
to Have Subordinate
Place.

WASHINGTON, July l.-Secretary Of
War William H. Taft today relinquished to
other hands the reins of official position
and once more became a private citizen.
After having been the executive head of
the War department for four years and
five months he retires now to undertake
the duties and responsibilities of candi-
date for the presidency
Mr.. Taft's final duty at the War depart
ment was the presentation Of his successor,
Luke e. Wright. He said he regarded It
is not merely a duty, but a pleasure to in
duct Governor Wright into his new office
and to start him on the way he should
60"
AS a private citizen Mr. Taft is inclined
to the opinion" as he expressed it, that
he will have enough to do for a few months
to occupy the attention of any reasonable
man"
His routine campaign work began today.
1t was commonplace enough, in a way, as
It consisted of signing several thousand
letters which he had written in response
to congratulatory messages received by
mail and by telegraph. These came not
only from every part Of this country, but
substantially from every part Of the civil
lied world.
Friends in Many Chimes.
In most Of the important countries of the
world Mr.. Taft has warm personal friends
and who took delight in sending him felici-
tations and good wishes. 1t is doubtful
whether any man nominated for public
office in recent year received so many
| messages OF congratulation as has Mr.. Taft
They are contained in several large boxes
and constitute a veritable library.
Despite rumors and conjectures regarding
the selection of a chairman Of the repub-
lican national committee, assurance is given
that the choice Of Mr.. Taft has as yet
fallen on no man. Tentatively at least two
decisions have been reached since the sub
committee of the national committee con-
| ferred with Mr.. Taft in Cincinnati June
20, but in both instances the decision prac-
| tically had to be abandoned.
Mr.. Taft expects to have a conference
on the subject late this afternoon with
Arthur I. Vorys, the Ohio manager of his
preliminary campaign. 1t is reasonably GER
| tain that Mr.. Vorys himself will not be Sc
! lected, although he is likely to be ident-
fled with the campaign in an important
capacity.
General Wright Takes Oath.
At noon today General Wright took the
oath OF office as secretary of war. Escorted
! by the retiring secretary, William II. Taft,
| Governor Wright passed from the private
office Of >the secretary to the general re-
ception room. There, surrounded by prom
inent army officers and officials Of the
! War department, the oath was administered
to Secretary Wright by John B. Randolph,
the veteran assistant to Chief Clerk Scho-
| field Of the department.
| Mr.. Randolph had administered the oath
of office to four previous secretaries, in
cluding Mr.. Taft.
An Informal reception OF the bureau
chiefs, division chiefs and clerks of the
department and army officers stationed in
Washington was held in the secretary's
private office by Mr. Taft and Secretary
| Wright
Soon after the reception Mr.. Taft ac-
companied by Secretary Wright, went tc
the home Of General Clarence r. Ed.
wards, chief of the bureau OF insular az
fairs, for luncheon. Other guests at the
luncheon were: Mr.. Taft Miss Helen Taft
Master Charlie Taft and Mr.. and Mrs
Post Wheeler.
Another Denial of story.
Secretary Taft at 2;45 o'clock this after
noon, personally denied the statement
which is printed in many cities to the ef.
feet that Frank II. Hitchcock has beer
finally selected by him to be recommended
to the subcommittee of the national re-
publican committee for appointment as
chairman of that committee.