Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-09
TAFT CONFERS WITH KNOX
President-elect and Future Secretary
of State Discuss Cabinet Timber.
FURTHER CONFERENCES TODAY
Partial Report for Publication May
BE Made ThI Evening-RalI-
road Employees Endorse
Herrick.

AUGUSTA, Ca, Jan. S.-President-elect
Taft yesterday conferred with Philander c.
Knox, his secretary of state, on the sub
ject of cabinet appointments, Mr.. Taft had
announced that the judgment of Senator
Knox would have great weight with him
In making up his cabinet. With this In
mind It may be stated that the preliminary
and formative periods of this important
work have merged into that of making
definite decisions and of offers and ac-
ceptances of places.
Mr.. Taft would not discuss for publica-
ton or otherwise what he said was the
long and most satisfactory talk he had
this afternoon with Mr.. Knox. They will
be together practically all of tomorrow, as
the result of which the presldent-elect in
dictated that it might be possible to make
a partial report for publication. Mr.. Knox
said that with his chief accessible 1t would
obviously be undesirable for him to give
the public information. Besides, he added,
the final decision on matters talked over
rested with Mr.. Taft and these decisions
may not have beer made. 1t is understood
tina Mr.. Knox is being asked to give his
judgment regarding men whom Mr.. Taft
has tentatively selected,
Mr.. Taft said recently that no cabinet
offers were outstanding unaccepted, from
which it readily may be seen that the
conferences with Mr.. Knox should bring
the questions to a finality in the mind
of the president-elect. He a~fterward will
have to negotiate the offers, etc, with the
men he has in mind. This will take time
and leaves to speculation the selection OF
the Taft cabinet.
Mr.. Knox Arrives at Noon
Mr.. Knox arrived at noon, and after
lunch went to the Taft cottage. After a
lengthy conference there with Mr.. Taft the
two took an automobile ride. The Pennsyl-
Yania senator is an enthusiastic golfer and
will begin the day with a game with the
president-elect tomorrow. While express
ing the willingness TO pass as much time
here as Mr.. Taft desires, Mr.. Knox said he
hopes TO leave for Washington on Sunday,
Mr.. Knox is chairman of the inaugural
committee OF the senate and house and
said tonight he had told Mr.. Taft that he
intended to see him properly inaugurated
and his own appointment as secretary OF
state made and confirmed before he ceased
to be senator from Pennsylvania. This in
dicates that Mr.. Knox will not retire until
after the 4th Of March.
Senator Jonathan Bourne, IT,, Of Oregon
came with Mr.. Knox and expects to remain
some days.
That the organizations Of railroad en-
ployes favored the selection Of Myron T.
Herrick Of Ohio for a cabinet place was
indicated to Mr.. Taft by Warren S. Stone,
grand chief Of the Brotherhood Of Locomo-
tive Engineers.
Mr.. Taft will partake OF a barbecue Sat
urday as the guest Of the Beach Island
Farmers association.
Acting upon Mr.. Taft today
wrote a letter 10 Asa G.. Chandler. chair
man of the Atlanta Chamber Of Commerce,
withdrawing his engagement to address the
negroes OF that city on his forthcoming
visit. A lively row is on among the negroes
of Atlanta. Il is understood, as to where
the speech should be made. This informa-
ton and the advice is believed TO come
from prominent negroes.