The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-02
DEADLY DULLNESS
MARKS TAFT'S DAY
AND HIS VISITORS
Leaders In Political World
Drop In and Then
as, Drop Out.
NOTHING is DOING,
SAY ALL CALLERS
Believed, However, That Ohio
Politics and Western Trip
Were Discussed.
By JAMES HAY, Jr.

y
PreSident-elect Taft is spending
a day of innocuouS calm, dreary
contemplation and concentrated
gloom.
He had many callers, but they
didn't talk about a thing. High
lights of officialdom, they had an
epidemic. All were seized with
the inexplicable impulse to drop
around and whisper inane moth
ings into the ear of William Howard
Taft. None of them had any buSi-
ness there, and none of them wanted
anything at all.
The Boring Game.
Taking their statements at their face
value as is always the rule in dealing
~ith statesmen, they pulled of a highly
successful performance of the game %
boring Taft to death. After the calls
were all over, a motion was made to in
corporate the Want-Nothing Club. with
a goose egg as the sacred emblem. This,
however mas not YET Deen Qone-
Among the callers were Gen. Luke F.
Wright, the Secretary Of War. VINO will
return to private life March 5: MyrOn
T. Herrick, who lost the race for the
Treasury portfolio by a fraction OF a
nose; John Callan O'Laughlin, Assist
ant Secretary OF State, who has de-
cIiued the offer of the post OF Minister
10 the Argentine Republic: Representa-
tive Duncan McKinlay Of California,
and John +. Vivian, chairman OF the
Republican State committee OF Colo
rado
After Mr. Taft had received this line
OF visitors who had notheIng TO say.
he announced that he would run out TO
Chevy Chase in his automobile this
afternoon and play a game of golf.
First to Emerge.
Myron r. Herrick was the first gentle
man TO emerge from the presence of the
President-elect.
He looked around lazily, smiled
weary-sad, and said:
Nothing at all in my visit ] merely
cropped in 10 pay my respects"
The next was Secretary Wright.
Merely social call" he explained
languidly, and made his departure with
slow and solemn steps
They all had the same thrilling,
dramatic story. They had no reason for
being there. They had had no reason
for coming. In fact, they had no rea-
son for going. They were merely drift
ing around for no reason at all-rudder-
less, you understand-and they felt
rather surprised that they had seen Mr..
Accustomed as ne is to hearing the
eloquence Of the South, the pleading
arguments Of Wall Street, the requests
for place and power and the labOred ex-
plantations OF plans 10 save the repub-
lie and uplift the people, Mr.. Taft had
tame day, a very tame dav indeed
There was nothing 10 ii at all, just a
little conversation and d lot Of wet
weather.
Another Impression.
There is. however, a general impression
that Myron T. Herrick was there to dis
cuss Ohio politics. which are not at
present as sweetly calm as might be
the case. Representative McKinlay MAJ
have wanted something in the way OF
legislation for his own State-such a
thing Is not impossible
Chairman Vivian. OF the Colorado
State committee. IL is thought, had a
few well chosen remarks 10 make about
the trip which Mr. Taft hopes TO make
10 Alaska next summer, stopping off q
Denver, and other Western points
This Is not the only urging Mr.. Taft
VIII receive 10 carry out his desire 70
take the trip. This evening he will ~
70 the dinner given by Thomas +.
Walsh Many OF the guests will be
Ws6terners. Mr.. Walsh is the man
VINO, last summer, headed the com
mittee which invited Mr.. Taft 70 at
tend the Mississippi Congress at
Denver next summer, and II is highly
probable that something may be said
about It this evening.
Afternoons Free
For the information Of the gentlemen
vino drop around about nothing at ali
and say less than that 10 the President
elect, It might be well 20 point out that
Mr.. Taft is trying to keep his after
moons free from engagements. He feels
that he must reserve some time for ev-
ercise, and he wants a more strenuous
physical exertion than that entailed by
shaking a friendly hand or inclining an
attentive ear These labOTs are at times
quite irksome, but they do not stir up
The circulation.