New-York tribune., 1908-01-12
TAFT HAS A BUSY DAY.
WOODRUFF ONE CALLER.
Secretary Expresses Pleasure Al
Cooper Union Question "Gane.

Secretary Taft busy yesterday after his
.Rarne" of answering questions at Cooper Union
the night before In the morning he had
conference at the Office of his brother, Henry
W. Taft. regarding Philippine railroads. In the
afternoon many friends, personal or otherwise,
visited him at his brothers home. No. SO West
4Sth street Among these were Timothy l..
woodruff. Frank B. Kellogg. General and Mrs.
Frederick d. Grant and Charles F. Brooker, the
national committeeman from Connecticut.
The Secretary did not talk with Mr. Woodruff
alone. two other men being with him at the
time the state chairman called. Henry w. Taft
said he could not tell Ito what extent politics
had been talked at the meeting, but he knew
no pins had been set up Earlier in the day.
when asked if he had any political conferences
scheduled, the Secretary had replied:
well, at the present time. you know, it is
pretty hard for me to talk with anybody With
out the conversation drifting to politics. At
the same time hardly think my conversations
to-day will be Of such confidential nature that
the general public will be interested in their
tenor"
The Secretary reached his brothers law office
at No 40 Wall street about II O'Clock, and was
greeted by several reporters
Whats this-a convention? he asked,
they hailed him.
He seemed to feel as if he had the time of
his life answering questions the night before at
Cooper Union.
That game all right" he said, with
laugh IT'S a good thing for a person who.
like a clergyman has been in the habit of get
ting up on platform and saying things without
contradiction, to have the audience talk to him
for change, I enjoyed it first rate. hope
L passed the examination"
At this moment Mr.. Taft was greeted by a
visitor with Good morning, Mr.. President"
Good morning, good morning." said the Sec
retary, with a hearty laugh, and his brother.
who was present, smiled in appreciation of the
compliment.
Mr.. Secretary" said his interrogation. it is
reported from Washington that President
Roosevelt has stated that you would receive
the nomination for President on the first ballot"
Well you know President Roosevelt has said
that nothing should be believed coming FROM
him unless his signature is appended 10 IT. If
President Roosevelt says a thing 1t is so. but
if he does not say thing it is not So. re-
sponded Mr. Taft. You know in the army we
have way of issuing orders and then say 'ac-
cording to orders appended hereto. So with re-
gard to announcements from Washington you
should see that the authorization is appended
Mr. Taft was asked whether he was going 10
see Mr. Woodruff and answered:
II would be very glad to see Tim if he should
call on me. We are old friends We were just
one class apart at college. 1t is quite possible
however that we may meet and have talh
without discussing politics.
The Secretary said that he did not believe he
would return TO New York for some time, and
intimated that he would not talk at any dinners
in this city soon
"a dinner is a very good thing he solilo-
quized, 'but have a great deal to do in Wash
tngton and that will take up much time.
by the way" he continued, I'm writing in
Washington a sort of Bible Of the Philippines
If any gentlemen hereabout have time for deep
and conscientious reading would commend 1t
for their careful and helpful consideration"
Mr.. Tafts conference in the morning was with
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Charles NJ. Swift, of De-
troit president of the Visayan Railroad Com
pany of the Philippine Islands; William Solo
man. of William Soloman & Co, and j. G.
White, Of J. G. White & Co, both contracting
firms When asked afterward what the confer
ence was about he said:
"Oh, it was simply to round out some details
of the Visayan Railroad I'm interested in.
tinkered with it some while I out in the
islands, but they issuing new lot of per
cent bonds The company has completed be-
tween so and so miles of the road and has re-
ceived from the government s500,00O in the
bonds"
Ex-Governor Herrick of Ohio dropped in to
shake hands with the Secretary. Mr.. Taft said