Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-25
President Looking for Over
whelmlng Majority for Taft.
RETIREMENT OF DU POINT
Suggestion Sent to National Chair
man Hitchcock.
CABINET RESUMES SESSIONS
Prairie Oil Company Franchise in
Oklahoma Receives Con-
sideratiou.

President Roosevelt said today that TAFT
would carry more states in the November
election than he did himself four years
ago. He made the prediction in CONVEX
sation with Gen Aenus of Baltimore.
Gen. Agnus was a conveyor of good news
to the President from Maryland. II told
the President that Taft would have 25.eD
majority in Maryland" he said. land the
President was much pleased. He asserted
his belief that Taft would carry more
states than he himself had done in 1901.
The President is exceedingly sansuine
to the outcome. So far as Maryland IS
concerned the situation is simple. 1t Is
practically all one way. The strong men
of the state of both parties are opposed to
Bryan
There were other interesting develop
ments at the White House today. one
of these was the preparation Of a state
ment as to the charge of Gov. Haskell
of Oklahoma that the franchise to the
Prairie Oil Company, which he Is ac-
cused of having protected because ii WAS
a Standard Oil concern, granted by
Secretary Hitchcock then at the head
of the Interior Department. Another
was the frank admission that the White
House had been expecting the resigna-
ton Of 7. Coleman du Pont of Delaware,
the millionaire powder trust magnate.
| as director of the speakers bureau Of
the republican national committee.
Du Points Retirement Suggested.
The facts as to Mr. du Pont leaked
out in New York. and showed that the
President, while preparing his reply to
Mr.. Bryan Wednesday. wrote letter to
Chairman Hitchcock in New York sug-
costing that Mr.. du Points trust connec-
tions unsuited him for official relations
with the national committee 1t is the ex-
pectation at the White House that so
soon Chairman Hitchcock reaches
New York from Chicago he will an
nounce the resignation of the Della ware
magnate, who is a cousin of Senator du
Pont of that state.
Democratic leaders have been active in
charging the President with knowledge OF
the trust relations of Mr.. du Pont and OF
his connection with the national commit
tee. and John w. Kern. the democratic
vice presidential candidate. in a speech
at Baltimore Wednesday night criticised
the President severely for standing for
this. He likewise showered criticism upon
the PRESIDENT because of the appointment
of George p. Sheldon as treasurer of the
republican national committee.
There was no admission from the White
House today that the President desired
the resignation of Mr.. Sheldon who is
openly charged with being officially con-
nected with twenty of the big corpora
t1ons OF the country, notably the steel
trust 1t is the association of Mr. Shell
don with the steel trust that led Mr..
Bryan to the accusation that the steel
trust is contributing heavily to the cam
paign funds of the republicans
Company Being Sued.
The du Points are the controlling factors
Of the republican party in Delaware. They
aided in overthrowing Gas Addicks and
they then captured the machinery them
oil 90 i,ai-
Henry A. du Point to the Senate T Cole
man du Pont is the member of the repub-
lican national committee from Delaware.
Mr.. du Pont is the head of the company
now being sued in the courts at this time
by the Department of Justice. Mr. du
Pont had announced his intention to give
all his, time to the work of the national
committee headquarters. Allegations
have been flying thick and fast that the
Department of Justice would exempt the
du Points from appearing in the hearing
of the case which has been postponed
until October T.. Mr.. Bonaparte let il he
known today, after the cabinet meeting
at the White House, that the details OF
the witnesses in the suit were in the
hands of James Scarlet, the special rep
resentative of the government, who would
act as was considered best. He had not
talked with Mr.. Scarlet as TO the wit
nesses.
Prairie Oil Company Franchise.
The statement relative to the Prairie
Oil Company was given careful considera-
ton today at the cabinet meeting, the first
that has been held for over three months.
Every member was present except Secre-
tary Root Mr.. Hitchcock. who granted
the franchise to the company. has been
out of office several years, but the iActs
are thoroughly familiar to Secretary Gar
field. who has been at the head OF the
department several years
. The decision was reached to withhold
statement regarding the Prairie Oil Com
pany franchise pending Mr.. Bryans re-
ionder to the reply of the President. IL
Mr.. Bryan, after investigation, sustans
Haskell il is believed he will come back
at the President pretty vigorously. The
administration statement on the subject
will be reserved for further ammunition.
Although the friends and advisers of the
President fully satisfied with what
he has done they are not so certain that
Mr.. Bryan is disposed of and they would
not be surprised If he returned 10 the
controversy with some strong charges
against the Presidents administration in
the way. of granting franchises to corpo-
rations.
Postmaster Denham to Stay.
Postmaster General Meyer. before whom
the President has laid the remonstrance
of Representative Hubbard and other
West Vrgnians against Postmaster Dem
ham remaining in office at ClarksburG,
announced after todays session that he
had informed those making the objection
that he would not take up the case prior
to the election. Political affairs in West
Virginia were in such a heated condition,
he said that il would be almost imposs-
BILE to get at the facts concerning Mr..
Denham at this time.
Taft as a Stump Speaker.
A letter received by Secretary Loeb to-
day from one of those travelling with
Judge Taft in the west comments upon
the great improvement of the candidate
as a stump speaker. 1t Is asserted that
Taft is showing surprising improvement,
and that he is making great hit all along
the line. He is aggressive. frank, mag
netic and his audiences are increasing
right along.
Quentin Goes Away to School.
Quentin Roosevelt. who is eleven
years old and who has been attending
the Force public school since he was
seven years old, has been entered in the
Episcopal High School at Alexandria and
will remain there for a school year His
departure leaves only Miss Ethel Roose-
Welt with the parents. Theodore. jr.. has
gone to work after graduating from Har-
yard: Kermit is now entered in Harvard.
while Archie is being prepared for the