Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-03
CONFER At LENGTH
National Craftsmanship Dis
cussed With Taft.
MATTER NOT YET SETTLED
Kellogg Declares He Couldn't Un-
dertake the Job.
RETICENT AS TO MIR. MEYER
Presidential Nominee
Preparing to Leave for Hot
Springs, Va, This
Afternoon.
MATTER NOT YET SETTLED
AS TO MIR. MEYER

Renewed interest in the matter of the
selection of a republican national chair
man was aroused today by the presence
in Washington Of w. l.. Ward of New
York and Frank B. kellogg Of Minnesota
They are the members of the republican
national committee from their respective
states and both are members of the sub
committee appointed to confer with Judge
Taft on the question of the national chair
man.
Judge Taft did not reach his X street
house until 1920 o'clock this morning and
again plunged into his accumulated cor
respondence with the determination to dis
pose of the last of 1t before he left Wash
ington this afternoon for the Virginia Hot
Springs. He had arranged to meet Mr.
Ward and Mr.. Kellogg during the day
but so far has made no appointment to
see Mr.. Hitchcock Mr.. Ward takes the
ground that the subcommittee after all
might as we'll dispose of the question OF
the selection of a chairman for the ma
tiOnal committee at the present moment
indicating that they are willing to accept
at once any person named by Judge Taft
and avoid special trip to Hot Springs.
Long Conference.
Postmaster General Meyer and Messrs
Ward and Kellogg had a conference for
an hour and three-quarters with Judge
Taft. Later Mr.. Ward admitted they
were discussing the national chairman
ship.
Mr.. Kellogg was asked If the selection
of chairman pointed toward him.
"Oh. that is utterly ridiculous" said he
q k,. n q n
circumstances
How about Mr. Meyer he was asked
Well. l can't say anything on the sub
ject at ALL he replied.
Then Mr.. Ward interjected this re-
mark: You might better be careful
what you say about Gen. Meyer"
The comment of Mr.. Ward is sHscepti-
BILE of two constructions. and he did not
indicate which one was to be placed upon
it.
Matter Not Yet Settled.
While tentative determination of the
matter may have been reached in the
course of the numerous conferences
which Judge Taft has held with friends
since he returned to Washington. it is
quite certain that no hard and fast
agreement has been evolved from the
conferences. 1t is known that Mr.. kel-
logg. who has been in New York and in
Judge Taft personally. has been In long
distance telephone communication with
Judge Taft respecting the craftsmanship
Reiteration is made today of the state
ment that no intimation of an official ma
ture Will be permitted to become public
concerning the selection of a chairman
until after the meeting Of the subcom-
mittee with Judge Taft at Hot Springs
next Wednesday.
Mr. Ward left today for New York, but
tyci nf Sv,ri,
Kellogg may go to Hot Springs tonight
or tomorrow.
Senator Dick of Ohio called on Judge
Taft and renewed his assurances. given in
his telegram of congratulation on his
nomination. that he would do anything in
his power to promote his election next
November.
Judge Taft took luncheon today with
Gen. Charles r. Edwards at the latter S
home, where he met Gen. Franklin
Bell, and had a talk with him concerning
some War Department matters.
Judge Taft's Departure.
At o'clock this afternoon Judge Taft
and his family will leave Washington by
way OF the Chesapeake and Ohio railway
for Hot Springs. Va. He does not expect
to be in Washington again for many
months.
For two days he has been laboring as
for his sojourn at Hot Springs. There he
expects to rest and recuperate. so far as
may be possible. Naturally he will re-
ceiVe many people from time to time, but
he will obtain all possible leisure lmme-
diately after the democratic national con-
ventiOn he will prepare his address In re-
Spouse to his formal notification of nomi-
nation for the presidency.
Conference With Cortelyou.
Judge Taft went to the Treasury De-
par,ment Yesterday afternoon and had
an hours talk with Secretary Cortelyou
The interview covered wide range OF
political topics. Primarily it was Judge
Taft's idea to talk with MIR. Cortelyou
about the work of the national commit
tee of which Mr. Cortelyou was chair
man in the last presidential campaign
much valuable information concerning the
practical workings of the committee. In
cidentally. although the subject of the
national craftsmanship was not considered
at great length. Secretary Cortelyou took
occasion to urge the selection of Frank
II. Hitchcock He regarded him as emf
nently equipped to undertake the respon-
sibilities and discharge the duties of chair.
man of the national committee. lie said
he had been personally and of1icially as
ISOLATED with Mr.. Hitchcock for many
years and held him in the highest regard
Beyond this there were no develop
ments in the matter Of the national chair
manship. Judge Taft has made it clear
not oniy that no conclusion will be
rea ched until the meeting which he is tt
have at Hot Springs. Va. on the Sth in
slant, with the subcommittee of the ma
tional committee, but that he would re-
gard it as extremely discOurteOus to the
subcommittee for him to discuss the ques
ton in any Of its phases.
Late yesterday afternoon Mr.. Taft re
ceived cablegram conveying to hin
sad news. 1t was the announcement o.
the death in London OF William 4. Gil
bert of Brooklyn. n. Y, a member o.
Judge Taft's class of rs at Yale. Judge
TAT. Immediately cabled to Consul Gen
| eral Robert j. Wynne. at London. to ex
hend to Mr. Gilbert's sister such courte
sizes as might lie in his power.
Reception at Fort Myer.
| About 6 o'clock last evening Judge an(
| Mrs Taft went in an automobile to TIL.
residence of Gen. and Mrs. J. Franklin
| Bell, at Fort Myer, Va. where an in
formal dinner was given in their honor
| After the dinner a reception was rendered
| to the c-my officers stationed in Washing
tton and vicinity and their wives at thu
residence of Gen. Bell.
Downtown Temperature.
The temperature registered today by
| Af1eck's standard thermometer was a.
| follows: . am, 81; Il noon, 50; = pm.