The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-02
Receives Callers and At-
 tends Conferences.
PHILIPPINE TINE
 D ah
Famous Party Indulges in Another
 Reunion.
The PresIdent-Elect Was In a Partic- uIarly Happy Mood and Talked
 In n Happy Vein To the Guests.

Washington, March IA rush of walk in the afternoon, and attendance tonight at the special dinner given In his honor by the Taft Philippine Elk pedition," brought President elect Taft to within two days of his inauguration with less serious demands on his time than he has experienced any day since his landing from Panama at New Or leans.
 MT. Tafts jovial remark is that his inaugural address is prepared, his cabinet selected the inaugural commit tee Is preparing all the details for the ceremony on Thursday, and why should he feel otherwise than comfort able.
 The day was begun with an extended conference between the President-e elect and Senator Knox, at which many i'm portant matters pertaining to the next administration were gone over. MT. Knox Is giving much attention to the prospective organization of the State Department, over which he Is to pre- side after March 4. Besides. he Is be- ing consulted freely by MT. Taft re- garding the affairs of other depart ments, MT. Taft having many times re- marked that he should give great weight to the judgment of his premier.
 Charles Nagel, of St. Louis with Mrs. Nagel, are here and paid their respects to MT. Taft. In the absence of the of flcial announcement of the personnel of the new cabinet. MT. Nagel Is some- what shy when addressed as MT. Sec retary" That the Missouri member of the Republican National Committee Is to be the new Secretary of Commerce and Labor, however. Is known to be q fact.
 Frank H. Hitchcock Is here from New York. He spent some time at the Capitol today and also saw MT. Taft regarding matters which will arise di- rectly after the inauguration.
 An informal tea. which is a feature at the Boardman afternoons, attract ed there today many members of washington's official and social life. and MT. and Mrs. Taft met all callers.
 The Philippine Dinner.
 The Philippine dinner tonight was arranged by Miss Mabel Boardman and Representative Mckinley, of Illinois, and was the most pretentious of the enjoyable occasions which this famous party indulge in every year. There were present seven United States Sem ators and twenty-four members of the House of Representatives. besides a number of otherwise distinguished per sonages who sailed to the Orient with MT Taft in 1905. The trip attained most of its fame because of the matri- monial accomplishments resulting.
 Representative Nicholas Longworth and Miss Alice Roosevelt be- came betrothed; Representative Bourke Cochran met Miss Ide, daughter of Judge Ide of the Philippine Commia- sion, who Is now Mrs. Cochran, and Representative Swager Sherley. or Kentucky, met Miss Critton. of Staten Island, to whom he became engaged.
 When MT. Tart rose to respond to the first toast of the evening. proposed by Senator Scott. he stood before a huge illuminated canvas on which a gorgeous tropical sunrise was painted the mountains and foliage and sea in myriad colors. Around him was a yer itable jungle and before him at the ta- ble the richly gowned members of the narty The President elect was in a. Darticularly happy mood as he recalled the various places of visit and the last ing memory which had been left. Ills conclusion was not only most cordial invitation that the members of tha party should always find a welcome at inc White House during his occupancy. but an expressed desire that the Phil ippine party might be to the incoming administration what the Rough Rid-