The Washington herald., 1908-06-19
Taft Family Hears News in
Secretary'S Office.
ROOT GETS FIRST HANDCLASP
Secretary of state Is Also Slapped
on the Back When, He COngratu-
Iates Secretary of war-"CharIie"
Eats Green Apples in Midst OF the
Excitement-JOy I'm the,Sanctum.

because it isn't etiquette TO cali the
well. to call a man in a very high Office
by such a name as that.
But Secretary OF War Taft, who has
been nominated for the Presidency on
the Republican ticket. made good in two
ways yesterday. one OF which proved
that he has become something Of poll
tician. and the other that he is. after all.
big BIZ" Taft
The proving Of the first wasn't neces-
sary at all. because every one had we'll
grounded suspicious that he would be
named az Chicago ox the first ballot. But
perhaps a great many people expected
Mr.. Taft 10 cry, or fal in ft. or re-
sign from the War Department, or do
other strange things when the flash came
from the convention telling him that the
hard work OF the past months had not
been in vain.
He just smiled-smiled just like Big
BIZ Taft used to do when he was out
in the Philippines. conciliating natives
with one hand and directing policies with
the other. or when he was in Russia, with
but one pair Of torn trousers and an ap-
pointment with the Gar.
II was just 5:5S when the news came
into the Secre.ary's private office that he
had received The nomination. With him
were Mrs. Taft. Miss Taft Charlie Taft,
and few intimate friends. The other
son was on the platform az Chicago.
srt
Mr. Taft was smiling all day; in fact,
he seemed to be the least worried man
about the War Department. Brig. Gen.
Clarence Edwards. chief Of the Bureau OF
Insular Affairs. seemed just n bit wor-
ried: Assistant Secretary Of the Navy
Newberry was anxious for news. and
Gen. J. Franklin Bell looked over tele-
grams with avidity. But the Secretary
Just smiled. and greeted the big crowd OF
newspaper men with a laugh.
Mrs. Taft came down TO the War De-
partment early. and Immediately entered
the Secretarys private Office. where she
manipulated the telephone 10 Chicago
Miss Helen Taft arrived rather late. She
had been afraid to come where She might
hear the news, but her smaller brother
Charlie was on hand bright and early.
Charlie was the real democrat of the
assembly. He alone travelled about il
his shirt sleeves. decorated with a blue
necktie and set of by pair Of KHAKI
trousers He acted all afternoon as &
Mercury. rushing messages received by &
telegraph operator in the outer office int
the inner sanctum.
Charlie seemed TO like the fob OF 'havinl
Il
and only relaxed his vigilance TO eat (
rather green-loOking apple.
When the news reached the inner room
that II was all over but the campaign
fund, the crowd without, consisting o.
employees of the Bureau of Insular AT
fairs and a score of newspaper men
marched In 10 see how this information
was to be received.
JOY in the Sanctum.
In the Secretary's Office at the time, II
addition 20 his family and Gen. Edwards
who acted as master OF ceremonies. wor,
Mr.. Newberry. Gen. Bell and Mrs. Bell
Gen. Ernest A. Darlington. and Mrs. Gar
lngton, and Gen. Arthur Murray.
AS has been stated once or twice, tn
Secretary was smiling. Mrs. Taft looket
more than pleased. while Miss Taft wa.
evidently very much delighted Charlie,
had disappeared. probably with anothe
apple.
Words do not frame themselves for m
now" said the Secretary. addressing
those around him. II Will not deny, how
ever. that I am very happy over the re
suit"
Just about this time Secretary Of Stat
m
Smiling broadly. and grasping Mr.. Taft
hand, Mr Root said:
You know how happy I feel over this
Mr.. Secretary" 1t was the first officia
congratulation.
Il do. Mr.. Secretary. and thank yo'
very much" replied Tart.
Bangs Root on Back.
Then something happened that ha
never before been witnessed IN public 4
Washington. Mr.. Root got resoundin
whack on the back. delivered by the pow
erful arm Of the Secretary Of War.
After shaking hands with everybody
messengers as well as generals, Mr.. Tai
received the employees In the Insular Blu
reau. This greeting over, Gen. Edward
turned to tho nominee. saying: Now
you'll have to shake with the newspa
per men"
Glad TO DO so.'' said Mr.. Taft TT wi
be long time he said, as an after
thought, before you will really be abl
20 shake them; don't forget that"
Secretary Taft did not tarry long afte
the news OF his nomination had been re
ceived. Earlier in the day he had mad
an engagement to visit the War Colleg
with Secretary Root. Gen. Edwards. an
Gen. Bell.
Root First COngratuIates Him.
Secretary Of State Root was the frs
member of the Cabinet to congratulat
Secretary Taft upon his nomination.
spite Of the fact that It was one Of III
regular diplomatic days. and there wer
many official callers. Mr.. Root found tim
20 keep in touch with the convention pro
ceedings by many bulletins which wer
received over the State Department wire
Shortly after Mr. Taft received III
fash notifying him OF his nomination NJ
Root came over from the state Depar
ment 20 keep the War College appoin
ment Accompanied by Brig. Gen. ClaI
ence r. Edwards, chief OF the Bureau
Insular Affairs. Secretary Taft rode Q
horseback 70 the War College. while Sc
retary Root and Mai. Gen. ]. Frankli
Bell. Chief Of Staff. rode to the college
an automobile. Mr.. Taft did not wait uI
III he had received the final vote. bl
was satisfied with the announcement
his nomination.
Mr.. Root and Mr. Taft both declined
comment on the anti-injunction plank
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