The National tribune., 1908-07-09
WILLIAM II. TAFT.
Retirement to Hot Springs-PopuIarity
in Washington for the CAM
paign.

Private Citizen and Republican Presi-
Dental Nominee William II. Taft has
shaken the dust of Washington from his
feet. Putting down his official bur-
dens, he has hied away to Hot Springs,
Va, in the heart of the mountains. 1t
may be that Washington will see no
more of him till after the election. Or
he may come thither on some political
business, especially if he travels at any
time to New York.
Before his departure there was great
political hubbub for a number of days.
The politicians kept coming and going.
The Secretary tried to divide his time
between politics and cleaning up his
War Department desk. The divided eff
fort nearly tuckered him out. He was
glad indeed to get away from the heat
of Washington and glad indeed to be
able TO give his time and his thought
exclusively to his campaign matters.
Popularity In Washington.
No member of the Cabinet has retired
in recent times with the good wishes of
as many people as Mr.. Taft has. He
enjoyed great popularity in Washing
ton, because of his frank and demo-
cratic ways. His Office was as accessi-
BILE as any other Cabinet members,
more accessible, by far, than most of
them. Democrats and Republicans
generally, who enjoy the Secretary's ac-
quaintance, have deep regard for him.
If he is elected President he will enter
upon his office enjoying great populari-
ty in the District of Columbia, somc-
thing that is very rare for an incom-
ing President.
Nominally, Mr.. Taft has gone to Vir-
ginia Hot Springs to build muscle, train
off embointpoint and get into fine
shape for his campaign. He will do
all these things by playing golf, in
which he finds much enjoyment, but
actually he will do vast amount of
work and see large number of per-
sons on political campaign business.
Mr.. Taft is going to take nothing for
granted in the campaign. He is going
to fortify himself at every possible
point. He has a lot of material that
can be brought out to his benefit. He
needs time to think things over, to
prepare some speeches on the various
issues, to write his letter of acceptance
ana to consult with advisers about the
campaign work ahead. All these
things will receive attention. A presi-
Dental candidate also has a very large
correspondence. This will occupy much
of Mr.. Tafts working days For
Presidential candidate cannot afford to
ignore the people who write him let
tiers.
AS soon as he gets his National Chair
man, Mr.. Taft is going to place HIM
self absolutely in that mans hands.
He will follow his chairman's advice
about his course. Mr.. Charles P. Taft,
his brother, will also be consulted. OF.
late there has been disposition on
President Roosevelt's part to elimina tie
himself somewhat, but it Is doubted
whether he will hold to this policy very
long. The President became uneasy
regarding the character of stories which
were getting into print AS an eN-
ample, an article has been going the
rounds to the effect that Mr.. Taft was
going to rent a house at Oyster Bay
and spend the Summer there, so that
he could be near the President. Neither
the President nor Mr.. Taft ever had
any idea of being together during the
Summer. The story was circulated, of
course, to emphasize Mr.. Tafts de-
pendence upon President Roosevelt for
his election, as well as his nomination.
VIII Take the Stump.
The nominee will make several
speeches during the Summer and Au-
tumn, but he does not know yet wheth-
err he will make stumping tour. He
advisers about that, he said before he
left Washington. He wants to get on
the stump and would especially like to
invade Bryan's home State of Nebras-
ka. Mr.. Taft has declared that he ex-
poets to go to Lincoln to attend the
Nebraska State Fair. That probably
will become the excuse for Western
stumping tour during the early Au
tumn. While Mr.. Taft has spoken
many times in nearly every one of the
Middle Western States, and also the
States of the Mississippi and the Mis-
souri, Valleys, it is quite probable that
he will do considerable campaigning in
that same section before the time for
voting is at hand.
Altho having a Chairman who is to
step aside the moment the nominee
dcsignates another, the National Com
mittee is already doing considerable
preparatory work. Much of this Is I'M
der the direction of Secretary Elmer
Dover, who is trying to have things In
ship shape. Some preliminary work
has been done toward securing head
cago and toward securing a competent
force with which to man those head
quarters. The text book is as good
as completed and every department of
the Government that has any material
for helping keep a Republican Presi-
dent in office was notified some time
ago to "get busy"
Why Johnston Surrendered.
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