The Washington herald., 1909-03-12
CONFERENCE HELD
OYER STATEHOOD
Conditions in Arizona Gone
Over with President.
IS ON THE JOB
Postmaster General Is to Look
After ApDointments-Exe De-
at Work on HIS Message-Is Now
FuIl-fIedged optimSst.


thoroughly yesterday al a meeting be-
tween the President. Postmaster General
Hitchcock. Hoval A. Smith. chairman OF
the Arizona Republican central commit
tee. and Ralph H Cameron. the Rep1b-
lican Delegate-elect from the Territory.
In fact it was conference on the
Statehood plan. and the President and the
Postmaster General wanted 10 know how
conditions would be after the admission
Of Arizona into the Union. The President
has favored the admission OF both New
Mexico and Arizona into the Union. and
he intlmated yesterday 10 his callers that
he hoped the Sixty-first Congress would
pass the bill adding two more stars 20
the national flag
FnvOrs Admission.
President Taft is known 10 have Ia
vored the admission OF the Territories 70
the Union, and 1t was a source OF regret
TO him that the bin passed by the House
toward the close Of the last session OF
the Slxtieth Congress did not receive the
concurrence Of the Senate. However. he
believes pressure can be brought 10 bear
during the next regular session.
bo.h assured the President the people OF
Arizona wanted Statehood: that the time
was now ripe for its admission as a
State, and AIDED. much 70 the gratifca-
tion OF the Chief Executive. that the
Commonwealth would continue IN the
ranks OF the Republican party.
Postmaster General Hitchcock Is going
TO look after some important appoint
ments in Arizona, and he was in confer
enee several hours yesterday with the
Westerners about the various applicants
who are seeking recognition for their
work during the last campaign.
Preparing Message.
The President wss engaged a good part
OF the afternoon preparing his message 10
be sent 20 the extra session Of the Sixty
/ first Congress on its opening day. The
message viii relate almost exclusively
10 the tariff and will be ready TO go TO
the printer this afternoon or tonight. In
order 20 expedite this work. the Presi-
dent stopped hand-shaking shortly after
noon yesterday. and all callers were told
they would have TO defer their confer
ences until another time.
Despite the strong pressure that has
/ been brought 10 bear upon the President.
/ any legislation besides that 10 revise the
tarin schedules. However. Congress will
I be free to undertake any other business
/ IL sees fit. and IL is not at all unlikely
\ that the postal savings banks bin and
| the parcels post bill viii be thrashed out
Some say that the Senate leaders who
favor the admission Of the Territories
I will try 20 pass the bin recently passed
/ by the House, while others assert there
VIII be no time for this
The inheritance tax bill viii be recon-
mended by the President for passage al
the extra session. This Is IN charge OF
/ the Ways and Means Committee. and is
/ supplementary 10 some Of the expected
cuts in some OF the tarin schedules
Is Now OptImist.
The President is now e full-hedged op-
timist, and yesterday expressed delight
when W. J. Robinson. or New York, the
founder OF that body OF smile creators.
called at the executive Offices and notified
him Of his election to the Optimist Club
Of America. AS Mr.. Robinson was leav-
4 ing the private Office Of the President An
drew Carnegie, the president OF the club.
entered ito express his good wishes" he
/ said. but some say he talked "a little
about tariff, too. Mr.. Robinson pinned
I tlic u AAlt Dpl4Lll4Hl buttons on the steel
4 king. and as he left the White House for
the State Department 70 pay his respects
/ 10 Secretary Knox he wore even a
/ broader smile than when he entered.
Mr. Carnegie denied there was any
thing significant about his visit. He said
he was just passing through Washington
Z from the South, and that he simply called
10 shake the hand OF the President
The delegation OF Birmingham lawyers
! again called at the White House and
added another pile OF protests against
! the appointment OF Oscar R. Hundley as
judge OF the Northern Alabama district
They were steered by Oscar Underwood.
the Alabama Representative in Congress,
who had arranged the conference. and
when they left declared they were more
satisfied than ever that they would event
usily defeat Mr. Hundley. However. their
only success yesterday was in getting the
I President 10 defer action on the matter
until the Birmingham Bar Association
could send another list OF complaints 10
Washington TO aid IN the fight
Appoints Collector.
The President yesterday appointed r.
/ B. Creager collector Of the port OF
Brownsville, Tex. Mr.. Creager had the
support of Cecil Lyon. the Republican
] HdltOIdl committeeman lIoiu l6Adk. ana
/ was also recommended by a long list OF
citizens OF Brownsville.
For the first time IN seven years peace
/ Teigns between the man in the White
I House" and Admiral Schley. and yester-
| day the hero Of Manila Bay held a long
/ conference with the President He was
/ accompanied by Senator Rayner. Of Mary
/ land. Following the conference the ad-
miral said that he was much pleased in
] the change of administration. yet he de-
clined 10 be interviewed about anything
pertaining 10 the former President Ad-
miral Schley has not been inside the
White House since Col. Roosevelt took
sides with the late Admiral Sampson in
1 that far-famed controversy.
/ Senator Elkins talked a little while
with the President yesterday. He spoke
mostly OF conditions in West Virginia
but also went over in a general way the
work TO be done on the tariff question
! at the extra session Of Congress. In
speaking of the tariff matter. Senator
I Elkins said the government owes a lot
! Of money, and necessarily must raise
some 20 meet its obligations.
Wen probably have to swallow some
I OF our sentiment and do a lot OF things