Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-23
WILL CONSULT PRESIDENT
Numerous Difficult Problems to Be
Solved.
LABOR QUESTION PROMINENT
About Three Thousand Words to Be
Devoted to the Matter-Train
Here on Time.
Special From a Staff Correspondent Aboard the
Taft Train En- Route to Oyster Bay.

Special From Staff Correspondent Aboard the
Taft Train En- Route to Oyster Bay.
PHILADELPHIA. Pa, July 23.-When
Mr. Taft clambered into the compartment
car Virginia at Hot Springs last night
and Topped down into his seat he ut
tered a great big sigh of satisfaction.
The job was finished. or as good as COM
pleted. There was Private Secretary
Carpenter with the typewriter copy of
the speech of acceptance bulging in his
inside pocket. Brother Carpenter hung
onto that speech like farmer to his
wallet at county fair. and every once
in a while he would clutch at 1t to see if
II was still safe, just as you feel for
Your watch occasionally in a crowd
Then while Lopez. the intelligent Fill
pino valet of Mr.. Taft made up the berth
in the stateroom Mr. Taft sat out with
the plain people and talked with the
newspaper correspondents who were in
the party. Mr. Taft. looked jaded and
worn. He has had siege. working until
i or o'clock every morning on the pesky
speech. Everybody knows it has been an
exceedingly difficult undertaking.
Many Difficult Problems.
JUS consider for moment the en-
barrassing questions with which he has
had to deal the thin ice which he had to
glide over and the danger spots to be
avoided. No other candidate before him
in your or my recollection has had to
face such complex political situation.
presented not only by the country, but
by his own party.
The controversy with labor on the anti
Injunction question; the difficulty of pleas
ing the conservative faction of his party
and at the same time not alternating the
great radical wing In the west; the han
ding of the trust and corporation poll
cies, these three features alone were
enough to give him trouble.
/ understand that he will devote about
three thousand words to the labor ques-
tion. No one should attempt to forecast
his views in a brief sentence. 1t is not
expected that he will take any new tack
upon the trust question. but will go over
the ground trayersed heretofore. keeping
in view the differences between the rad
ical and conservative wings of the party
upon this question.
Republican Leaders Consulted.
In preparing his speech Mr.. Taft has
not hesitated to avail himself of advice
and suggestion from well-informed
sources on the different questions. Every
republican of prominence who has visited
him at Hot Springs has been consulted in
regard to some portion of the speech, If
that man was posted upon the particular
question under advisement. Mr.. Taft
started out to write about fifteen thou
sand words, and was then persuaded to
cut 1t down. Later he found he could not
do himself justice in brief space, and in
view of the paramount Importance OF
this. his first deliverance of his candi-
La
the chips fly a sthey might. There will
be a basketful of them, something like
twelve to fifteen thousand words.
He consulted President Roosevelt over
the phone from time to time. but found
that method unsatisfactory and hence his
decision TO go to Oyster Bay with the
copy. The plan of procedure is that as
we go across New York on the road to
Oyster Bay Private Secretary Carpenter
will drop off with one copy of the speech
and hustle around to the printers with it
while Mr.. Taft takes the copy to the
President. Tomorrow -he blue penciled
and revised copy will come back from
Oyster Bay and the changes Will be made
in the proof.
A Comfortable Ride.
Mr.. Taft turned in as soon as his room
was ready. and when Covington was
reached. where the car shifts to the main
line. he was resting. A group of merry
villagers awaited the train and set up a
shout for Mr.. Taft. The car was shunted
onto siding to await the east-bound ex-
press. and the crowd gathered around
the Pullman. calling for him to appear
But the only response was measured
and peaceful sound, coming at regular in
trevals from the darkened room, indicat-
ing that large person was sleeping
some.
II was a comfortable ride through the
mountains and Mr.. Taft slept until after
10 o'clock. coming out fresh as daisy
and ready for his tussle with the strenu-
Gus one. There are indications that while
Mr.. Taft may take kindly to reasonable
corrections In his copy, there isn't going
TO be any stunt :uch as the city editor
pulls off with the new reporter.
Train Leaves Here on Time.
The train pulled out of Washington or
time. but at the first block hard hearted
train dispatcher. set us in behind freight
or local. occasioning vexatious delay
Then out by the Eastern branch bridge q
beautiful mare with little colt had te
take her promenade down the railroad
track and refused to bulge for such a
thing as a train bearing a presidential
candidate. probably her first colt. anc
all know how proud mothers areD The
engineer, realizing that If he ran over the
colt he would get line of hot talk from
Mr.. Taft. slowed down. and the trair
hands escorted the fond but foolish moth
er to safety. with the little colt caperins
joyously beside her. y. .. NJ.