The Topeka state journal., 1908-06-27

AT SAcmORE HILL
TAFT Visits President in Com
pany With Gen. Wright.
The Villagers at Oyster Bay
Were Disappointed.
HE CANE In EARLIER
Greeted Several Women and
Spoke kindly to Child.
Conference to Familiarize New
Secretary With Duti.s.
HE CANE In EARLIER

Oyster Bay, N j., June 27.-Secre-
tary Taft disappointed the people of
Oyster Bay today. 1t was expected
that ne would arrive here at noon and
arrangements hac been made to give
nim rousing reception, but as he ar
rived much earlier comparatively few
people were at the station. As the
secretary. accompanied by General
Luke E. Wright stepped from the
train ne was surrounded by persons
who desired to greet him. He chat
ted genially with those about him,
shaking hands with all within reach.
bear" for him to look at. He patted
the child on the head and remarked:
You are pretty child and your
Teddy bear is just fine
Secretary Taft and General Wright
were conducted to an automobile in
away to Sycamore Hill.
The war secretary left Oyster Bay
this afternoon at 2:40 o'clock. He
Will arrive at Long Island City at
o'clock and will hurry across the riv-
er and through New York city in an
Washington at West Twenty-third
street. He remarked this morning
that it would be a race against time.
President Roosevelt arranged todays
conference at Sycamore Hill with the
outgoing and incoming secretary of
war in order that general under
standing of questions now pending be-
fore the war department might be ac-
qufred by General Wright.
Among the matters to be discussed
is the situation in Panama No serious
event of that situation is likely in the
opinion of Secretary Taft and General
Taft. The placing of 1900 marines
on the American zone of the isthmus
is likely to prevent trouble at the ap-
preaching election.
Matters concerning the Philippines
and Cuba also were to be considered
General Clarence r. Edwards, chief
of the bureau of insular affairs,
brought from Washington last night
the latest information concerning de-
velopments in all American insular
possessions. General Edwards did not
accompany the secretary and Cover
nor Wright to Oyster Bay but will
join the secretary in New York and
return with him to Washington.
Secretary Taft laughingly remarked
on the way to Oyster Bay that he fan
cied politics might be referred to in
cidentally at today's conference. but
he declined to give any intimation of
the nature of the discussion. He said
frankly that no determination of the
national Craftsmanship would be
reached today.
THAT matter" said he. will go ov
er until the eighth of July. when the
subcommittee of the Republican ma
tional committee will confer with me
and I hope with Representative Sher-
man in Washington"
Republican National Committee
man Frank B. Kellogg of Minnesota,
and William L. Ward of New York,
also are guests of the president today.
Other guests Of the president today
a,- 70 he niSfrf~f Attorney and Mrs
Henry l.. Stimson, Robert Bridges and
Lincoln Steffens.
Taft at Lincoln September s.
Lincoln, Neb., June 21.-Secretary
Mellor of the state board of agricul-
ture announced today that Secretary
of War Taft will visit Lincoln, Sep
tember 8, to attend the state fair.
Secretary Taft promised Governor
Sheldon that he would come. w. ].
Bryan has been invited to speak.