Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-19
Tells Reporters That He
Expects toBe Elected.
Has Conference With President
Regarding the Campaign.
will Resume Campaigning Today,
Accompanied by Mr.. Hitchcock.

washington, OCT. 1S.-'l expect 10 De
elected to the Presidency" said Judge
Taft standing in the East room of the
White House this evening. facing 80 or
40 newspaper men VINO had congregated
to meet him after he had spent the
day as President Roosevelt's guest The
answer was in response to a question
after a brief discussion of Mr.. Tafts
recent tour through the Southern states
of which he Rad spoken as a pie asng
experience. With reference to that tour
he would only say he thought it would
open the way for improved Republican
conditions III future campaigns. Judge
Taft expressed a dclicacy in revealing
the issues which he and the President
had discussed and when pressed for a
statement as to the Presidents view
of the situation he would only say that
"the President is not a pessimjst"
Nor am l." he added.
While not specially arranged for that
purpose. the secretary found in his
stop here convenient opportunity to
consult with the President, his especial
champion and chief adviser. That both
were pleased with the arrangement
and made the most of it was made ev-
ident by the fact that they spent prac-
tically the entire day together. While
brit little information concerning the
tenor of their converse ton was given
out, it is known that they discussed
although in purely informal way.
most of the subjects that have come
to the front since the campaigned
opened. and that the President offered
some suggestions on minor points
which the secretary will probably
adopt.
It was the evident intention of the
President to- take advantage of the oc-
casioh to emphasize to the country his
interest. personally and politically. in
MIR Taft. and he utilized all the time
at his disposal to this end. Not only
was the secretary invited to breakfast
luncheon and dinner. but he was taken
into the White House as if it We're his
home, and ir addition Mr. Roosevelt
remained away from his own church in
order to accompany Mr.. Taft to his
church. He also took him for a stroll
after the services and then crowned
the day by asking in "a number of po-
liticai and personal friends to meet the
secretary and go over the situation.
Mr.. Taft's special train arrived at
the Union station at 210 o'clock this
morning. his rest not being disturbed
for five hours afterward.
There was comparatively few people
at the station when the Presidential
candidate emerged from his sleeper.
but those who We're there saluted him
with cordiality and he responded with
a bow ard a smile.
AT breakfast with the President and
Mrs. Taft were the other members Of
the Presidents family now in WASH
irgton. For almost two hours after
breakfast Mr.. Taft and the President
We're able to confer. They discussed
campaign matters thoroughly. each ex-
pressing his views unreservedly.
President Roosevelt had invited to
take luncheon with himself and Mr.
Taft a number of former members of
the cabinet among them Senator Knox
OF Pennsylvania, formerly attorney
general. and Associate Justice William
Fl. Moody, formerly attorney general.
Secretary of State Root also was pres
emit
During the afternoon a number of
callers visited Mr.. Taft after the lunch
con guests had departed. John Hays
Hammond. president of the National
League of Republican Clubs. and
Frederick n. Judson of st. Louis were
the first to present themselves.
About 3 o'clock the President and
Mrs. Roosevelt took leave of their dis
tinguished guest and went for a horse
bck ride. leaving Mr.. Taft in full pos
Sc ssion of the White House for the
afternoon.
At $50 o'clock by appointment Mr..
Taft met the newspaper correspondents
of Washington in the East room at tho
White House. With most of them he
was personally acquainted. and many
of them he greeted by their first names.
Boys" he said. II haven't much to
t. II you. You see ! am here. | have
had two meals at the White House
and I expect to have another
rs that all?" someone asked
This question broke the ice. and from
this time forth there was a quite free
of questions and answers.
The conversation covered a wide range.
hut Mr.. Taft declined to go into details
CONTINUED on PAGE Ten.)