The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1909-01-05

been employed in the Office Of tho
auditor and recorder, was succeeded in
that department by J. T. Dunn. It is
understood that ex-County Clerk Hill
has been appointed deputy clerk.
thought to be an obstacle to his pres
ldential chances.
When he arrived in Washington he
Immediately plunged into the prepara-
tion OF his report on Philippine COZ
ditions.
Drop that and get out and make
some speeches, SO the people can see
you, advised his political friends.
Not until l have fulfilled my duty
as secretary of war. The people are
more concerned in my doing that than
in hearing any speeches from me,''
replied Mr.. Taft.
Disregarding the pleadings Of his
friends, Mr.. Taft stuck to the tasx
of completing his Philippine report,
document that was probably unread
save by few persons in the govern
ment whose duty SO required them.
lie labored many night at his desk
IN the war department long after ev-
eryone except himself and his secre-
tary had gone, and he didn't venture
into the campaign fight Until the 70
port was edited, revised and in tha
hands of the printer.
When Mr.. Taft departs for the
isthmus on January 2s he will be
undertaking journey that is not With
out its hazards for him. In fact, IL
was the possibility of illness or injury
that, when the trip was first proposed,
prompted many Of his friends to at
tempt to dissuade him from taking it
at this time. In the first place Mr..
Taft is a large man, he is subject to
those ailments that frequently overtake
men of his bulk and great activity, ana
while having the appearance of enjoy
ing robust health, he has not fully re-
covered from the effects of his recent
strenuous campaign.
This explains why the Navy Depart
ment win provide for the journey .
vessel of the size of the North Carroll
ma. On battleship of the type of this
one, with the weather ordinarily mild,
he viii be able to make the voyage
quickly and with far more comfort than
were the vessel smaller and less sea-
worthy. The North Carolina can steam
the distance between Norfolk, the prob
able port of departure, and the Isthmus
in six days, making twelve days for the
set trip and allowing Mr.. Taft two or
three days for his inspection of the ca
nal work. Meantime the President
elect will remain in Augusta, Ca, pre-
pairing himself for the strenuous days
ahead.
Another argument against Mr.. Taft
taking his proposed Panama trip il that
in the event of his death there il NO
provision for a successor to the Presl.
dency. 1t is true the country at large
regards Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Sherman a.
respectively president-elect and vice
president elect. They are not YET
strictly president and vice president
elect, but they will be before the date
of Mr.. Taft's departure.
The point is that there seems . very
broad legal distinction between q Pres
ident elect and President in fact. The
Constitution and Congressional enact
ment provide for the succession in case
OF the death of the Presiden, but the
best legal minds can find no constitu-
tional method for filling the Office in
case the President-elect should die be-
Tore taking the oath of office. Secretary
of State Root, the legal light of the ad.
ministration, has been asked to wrestle
with the problem, but he has not yet
announced solution.
As to Mr.. Taft, he is the least con-
cerned of anyone, apparently, over this
question. When it's reasonableness was
suggested to him not long ago, he near
ly smiled and said it was a problem he
would leave for others to solve. ANY
way, he diden't propose it should spoil
the pleasure of his trip. This is char
acteristic of the man. He will go to
Panama, and he will bring back vol
umes of interesting information about
~
this costly project that will be valu.
able to Congress and to the American