Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-07-01
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette. ]
Washington, July |.

affairs of the Wsr Department 10 Sec
rotary Luke Wright today, and gavt
himself over entirely to the work o
training for the presidential race. A
noon both the secretary aud the ex-sec
rotary were at the War Department
Secretary Wright already in touch with
the departmental affairs and the MAR
problems OF Panama and Cuba took BIZ
oath of Office and Got into the harness
An Informal reception followed, Mr..
Taft introducing officers of the army ant
Departmental chiefs who had not already
met the secretary. At the same time
Mr.. Taft babe farewell to them. When
he left the building he was smiling al
usual, shaking hands all the way down
the corridor with officers, clerks and
messengers to whom his big figure hsd
become familiar during his career
st the head of the War Department.
Mr.. Taft did not at once plunge into
politics. From his point of view the
most important task of the day was to
make ready for the departure to Hot
Springs. In this operation he was a
subordinate figure, full direction being
assumed by Mrs. Taft. The family will
leave Washington Friday ct four o'clock
on a special car. Secretary Wright will
have no vexing problems 70 dispose of
!cr several days at les One of his
int official acts will be .he announce
ment of chief Of tho euginet ring corps
OF the army to succeed General MscKen-
zie. This, in all probability, will be
Colonel Marshall. General Wright and
Secret ny Taft arrived at the Office about
the same time shortly before IL O'Clock.
They remained together until IL o'clock
discussing affairs of the department with
various bureau chiefs. Seer tlry Taft
did little business of imp rt,nce. Some
questions pertaining to the Philippines
and Cuba we're wound up before ne
tipped out of Office.
Mr.. Taft will have a conference this
evening at his residence with Arthur Il.
Vorys. Mr.. TAFT will not see Mr..
Hitchcock until tomorrow, when it is
probable that both Hitchcock and Vorys
will see him t)gtther. Mr.. TAFT ST ted
that bis last official fct was the signing
yesterday of the appointment of the four
Philippine Commissioners. General
Wrighfs fret act was to sign the sp.
poiUtnent OF John @. Sco6eld, as as
sistant and chief clerk OF the department.
With candidate Taft packing, Hitch
cock uncOmmunicstive and Postmaster
General Meyer smilingly non. committal,
the craftsmanship question Weat beg
ging today. The former secretary is
playing the waiting game, quietly pre-
pairing TO iron the wrinkles out of the
Ohio political map before making an
announcement. He has sat back and
smiled expansiyely while Representative
Burton hiss come out with the announce
ment that Vorys will be detailed to
look after the Ohio campaign. This
might have been ''feeler" to determine
such plan would be satisfac-
tory to the Ohoans who ara backing
him, and how FIR it would 90 towsrd
terrifying the republican stronghold,
or it might not. In any event the i'm
preston prevails thst VOrys will be
out of IT, If he is willing 10 accept
the Ohio post he will probably tell his
chief sometime today when he strives
in Washington. This leaves Hitch
cock and Meyer WITH the odds on the
former. His friends confidently expect
that when the subcommittee meets Mr..
Taft at Hot Springs on July s, every
hing will be arrsigned to this end. The
is that the "ironing" pro-
cess will have been complies and the
decision made before the exodus for Hot
Springs begins. This plan will be car
ried out unless some disturbing sugges-
ion comes from Oyster Bay. The i'm
preston prevails thst Hitchcock would |
be less acceptable to the president than
he postmaster general because OF the
comment sgainst the 'steam
.oller" methods he exercised in Chi
ago. Either one, however, will have
he stamp of official approval. Mr..
Taft appointments for today include
10 conferences, which means that the
public may expect no announcements.
Sylvanus E. johnson, editorial writer
nd right hand man tOtJohn r. Mclean
n ell his newspaper enterprises OF late
ears, died at the Providence Hospit Il
srly this morning OF ursemic poisoning.
lie was e. years old. He was born in
EFF, rsvn county, Ohio.
The action of the president on the llst
4 voluntary retirement of naval officers
which was forwarded to him last night,
vas awaited with keen anxiety today.
relief was manifested when
t became known that the pumber of
oluntsry rttirements was sufficiently
arge to preclude the necessity of any
ction on the part of the board Of ad.
lirsls in cOmpulsorily retiring any officer.
Word has been received st the Navy
department. of the death of Rear Admi-
al Charles II. Rockwell, at Ohatsm,
lass, today.
The first of the campaign books made
Is appearance today. Chairman Lloyd,
I the democratic congressional COM
lt,ee, issued volume one, of democratic
huuder, consisting of speeches called
rom the Cong rsssionsl Record.
The crop reporting bosri of the De.
srtment Of Agriculture estimstts that
n this date, condition of the cotton
rop of the country averages Sl.02 per
snt OF normal. LAST month the per-
entsge 69.7 on May 20; on June 20,
907, the estimate wss y The ten
ear average of condition of this period
( the year Is 81. s per cent OF the normal.
According to dispatches received at
he War Department today the threat.