The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-02
His Criticism Of Gen. Grant
as Drinking Man Brings
Storm of Protests.
WHO is PAYING BIG
CAMPAIGN EXPENSES?
Secretary Of War Wishes to Como
Out Strong for Roosevelt Poll,
cies-Is for Tariff Revision
and Amending Antitrust
Laws-Party Leaders
Hold Conferences.
Times-D Dispatch Bureau.
Washington. D. c., June

Times Dispatch Bureau.
Munsey Building.
\ Washington. D. c., June !.
HE Decoration Day speech Of
Secretary Taft in New York
Saturday. in the course of
which he spoke of General
Grants being addicted to the
whiskey habit. is subject Of the most
! general comment In Washington. That
General Grant did drink too much, at
least while in the army. Is fact gem 4
orally known: but SO far as known, q
Secretary Taft is the first man to dis
cuss General Grants weakness in pay
ling tribute to the memory Of the great
soldier.
Secretary Taft's speech appears to
| have set the G. a. r. by the ears. and
the Northern press is teeming with
communications from soldiers who
served under General Grant. some OF
/ them denying the truth of what Sec
rotary Taft said, while others simply
deprecate his saying 1t, admitting that
| it was all true.
AS for Secretary Taft. he has con-
tented himself with statement to the
effect that the life of great man IS
the property of his country: that IN
calling attention to General Grants
weakness for intoxicating Liquors ha
simply wished to show General Grants
strength of character In resisting suc-
cessfully his overpowering appetite.
Probably the most interesting, and
decidedly the most readable. statement
which could be issued on the subject
OF Secretary Taft's speech would be-
| one from his campaign managers, ie
| they would but express their thoughts
concerning the wisdom of its delivery.
| The speech goes to demonstrate the
wisdom of the Taft managers in keeps
| ing their candidate out of the country
as much as possible.
Who Is Putting Upe
A great deal OF natural curiosity is
being manifested concerning the source
bof the very liberal contribution which.
somebody is making to the Taft cam
! paign fund.
The most expensive publicity bureau
| ever established in Washington has
been maintained by the Taft people
for some months. and although it ia
claimed at the bureau that his nomi-
nation is now q thing of certainty,
there has been no reduction of the pay
roll. which is long one and which
must total a large sum every week. "A
number of high priced men have been
working for the Taft people for sew
eral months furnishing the public
|
| literature
There are also Taft headquarters in
New York and Chicago, and a very ex.a
| pensive bureau is maintained at Co.
| lumbus. o. Secretary Taft has very
wealthy brother, but it can hardly ma
supposed that even nlilliohaira
brother with most generous Instincts,
would put up all of the money which
has been spent thus far in bringing
| fh.N nN N,,,tv ttN,, -
Taft.
The. question Of the sources Of the
contributions is pressing, but has not
been publicly answered.
Since 1t has become known that the
managers of Secretary Taft had
brought about peace between him anu
Wall Street there has been prevalent
belief that there would be no lack of
money with which to run his pre-
liminary campaign and the campaign
following his nomination.
Conference Over Republican Platform.
Several Republicans OF national
prominence We're In conference with
Secretary Taft at the lattar's office
to-day trying to agree upon an OUT
line of the platform to be adopted at
the Chicago convention, on which 1t
Is presumed the secretary will have to
stand as the Republican candidate for
the presidency. Senator Hopkins, OF &
Illinois, who is slated for the position
| of the convention committee on reso-s
lutions, which will draft the platform,
came early to the conference. and
stayed as long as any. Others wha
participated We're Representative Bur-
| ton, of Ohio; Representative Serene p
Payne, of New York; Secretary Gar
field, Senator Burrows, who will be 4
L n tr, Of ba
|Representatlve Longworth, prominent
lin politics as son-in-law of the Presl-
dent, and Representative Campbeli,8ot q
| Kansas.
Ir Is understood there are to be other
| conferences of this character at tho
| War Department and the White House
! this week..
It is understood. also. that there is :
liconsiderable diversity or opinion among
Republican leaders as TO Whether .he
platform shall make a specific decia-
ration concerning the policy which
| should be pursued In dealing with
trusts and combinations OF wealth. II
is presumed that the strong Roosevelt
Senators and Representatives VIII
| stand for q flat-footed declaration Oh
| the subject, while the Taft adherenss,
| in view OF the understanding which
| has been reached with Wall street VIII
| urge the use OF tle soil 5tcuol. tsls83S
strong Roosevelt Endorsements.
There will be no luke-warm lndorse-
ment Of President Roosevelt and hia
policies in the Republican national
! platform II the wishes Of Secretary
ETaft and his friends have potency In
the framing OF that document. This
much was made known to-day after
the first of a series or conferences -
be held with the Secretary of WAR Il
the subject OF the platform.
Should the Chicago convention adapt
this sort of platform, and nom!nata
Secretary Taft, 1t 10 predicted IN aus
thoritative quarters that his letter or
speech of acceptance Will contain +.
pledge t0, carry out the Roosevelt noi-
llcles already inaugprated and earnesils