Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-13
TAFT To VISIT CANAL ZONE
PreSident-elect Plans Trip to Isthmui
in January.
Dimes AT THE WHITE HOUSE
During AfternOon He COnfers with
Chairman Hitchcock, Secretary
Root. Governor lagoon and
Secretary Wright.

WASHINGTON, Dec. E-President-elect
Taft cuntsmpIates a visit TO Panama be-
fore his Inauguration. This visit is ap-
proved BY President Roosevelt and Secre-
tary Root While II has not been finally
determined upon. Mr.. Taft announced to-
night that Il was his inclination to go.
Should this be his final decision he viii
leave Charleston. s. c. probably the last
week In January for a trip which viii cover
approximately twenty days.
There are many reasons, N M. Tafts
view. why this trip 70 the Isthmus would
be OF decided TO the advance
ment Of the canal project President ROOse-
veITs visit proved a decided stimulus to
the work: the three visits which MI. Taft
has made as secretary OF war all were Of
advantage: there are constantly arising and
accommodating many minor tangiss Of adj
miuistration and conflic OF authority which
the presence Of the president or the pres
ident-elect might make possible Of enmina-
ton with little difficulty.
Value of the Trip.
Mr. Taft has not only keen interest in
the work. but an intimate knowledge OF
the details Of the situation and with the
uersonnel Of those conducti1g the opera
tons there. The visit would put him in
direct personal ontact with the situation
and give him a clear idea Of the method Of
procedure being employed N the work
The only objection to the expedition
which has been pointed out by careful stu
dents OF the laws and constitution Is that
penddnE the official declaration Of M.
Taft as p-resident-eiect by the action Of the
electoral college and his inauguration after
wards as p~resident-there Is no constttu-
ttonAI or legal provision for the substitu-
tiou of anyone else IN the event Of anything
happening to him in Panama. This objec-
ton Is not regarded as OF sufficient weight
70 detain Mr.. Taft from a journey which
is regarded As essential to the success OF
one big enterprise OF his administration
The news Of this trip followed a confer
enc- last night with President Roosevelt
and today again at the White House al
luncheon and later with Secretary Root
with whom Mr.. Taft passed most Of tbs
aftsrnoOn. Further details of the TAFT
Root conference were not made known be
I vond he statement by Nj. Taft that MS
( selection Of his cabinet was thoroughly dis
cussed.
Tariff BIn In senate.
Mr.. Taft said tonight the interview h
had yesterday and today with Senator
AIdrich ana Hale had led him 10 oeieV
that the attitude Of these two senate lead
su respecting tariff revision was decidedl
favorable to- the kind Of a tariff ne ma
hem advocating. A conference with Sna
tor Crane Of Massachusetts also confirms
this view.
Chairman Frank h Hitchcock VINO can
10 WASHINGTON today from New York, sa'
M Tafr tonight. The Cuban s1tuAtlo
was discussed thoroughly 81 a c0nterenS
with Governor MagOon and secrelaE
Wright about departmental and Philppin
matters
senators Bourne Of Oregon and HemsI
way OF Indiana were callers Bishop OGo
man Of Sioux Falls, 8 D, talked with "A
taft. Secretary Garfield had an Interview
as ala Representatives Lowdsn Of hin
Martin Of south Dakota and NeedhAn
Q California
M Taft planned TO leave Washington
midnight for New YORK following the dt
nsr OF the Gridiron club. He viii be 4
guest Of his brother. Charles ". Taft. I'M
THURSDAY, when he viii 90 70 August
Ca. for several weeks.