Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-03
MESSAGE IS IN TYPE
Taft's First One Is Off His
Mind at Last.
ONLY $1,000 WORDS. IN 1T
Half as Long as Roosevelt's Last
Similar Effort.
CABINET CUTS IT LITTLE
President to Address National Civic
Federation-Democ Wants
Chicago Judicial Vacancy.

The government printing Office delivered
to the White House at o'clock this
morning about 5000 copies of the first
annual message of President Taft to Con-
gress.
Over 1,5OO Of these copies went to the
press associations for distribution to
newspapers of the country. What are
left will be held for delivery to Con-
gress Tuesday next and for demands
from other sources.
All last night the government printing
office worked to get the documents ready
The revised proof sheets We're not deliv-
cred to the printing office until II o'clock
last night. Then began the hustle to
make all corrections and put the copies
through the presses.
The President and his cabinet put in
four and a half hours yesterday after
noon going over the revised proofs. The
cabinet assembled at } O'Clock and the
members did not leave the President 8
office until 1870 O'Clock. long past the
usual dinner hour of the executive ad-
viserS.
The gathering was for no other purpose
than to go over the mess age, the PRESIDENT
desiring the advice OF his official family.
tIe had written the message in haste and
had not been able to consult the cabinet
as the work progressed. For that reason
he called the members together.
Not many changes were made as re-
suit of the conference. The President
made most of these after his dinner hour.
being engaged with his secretaries until
close to midnight.
1900 words, and is less than half as long
as the last message of President kOose-
welt, which was 30,00O words long.
The President felt relieved today that
I1I - ,ge, 10
some callers before the regular meeting
of the cabinet at IL o'clock.
Representative Tawney was one OF
these. Mr.. Tawney has returned from the
| Panama canal region and talked over his
trip with the President, who asked num-
Der of questions as to the progress OF
the work, particularly as to the 4atun
dam.
Taft to Make Speech.
President Taft will make the opening
address at the convention Of the National
Civic Federation when 1t begins its i'm
portant work in this city January II, con-
tinuing in session for three days. The
President accepted an invitation to be
present and make the address. Seth Low,
president of the federation, who conferred
with the executive for fifteen minutes.
| extended the invitation.
A meeting of governors of the states is
| to be held in Washington January 1S, ~
and TO- Mr.. Low said that an effort Is
| being made to have the two conventions
| work in harmony in the discussion of the
| same subjects. The federation will take
up uniform state laws, especially those
dealing with divorce.
Want a Democrat for Judge.
Ex-Representative James Hamilton
Lewis of Chicago, who is in town on a
| law case before the interstate commerce
commission, is seeking to have a demo-
crat named as federal district judge at
| Chicago to fill the vacancy made by the
death Of Judge Bethea. Mr.. Lewis made
| an appointment to take the matter Up
\ with Attorney General Wickersham this
afternoon, and will probably see the
| President later.
| There are four federal judges In Chi
cagO," said Mr.. Lewis, 'and all OF them
| have been republicans. Judges GrosScup
| and kohlsaat Of the circuit court are re-
publicans Judge Lands of the District
| court is also a republican. thought the
| President might be willing to grant the
| minority party one of the judges"
| But it is understood the President
will appoint Judge Carpenter OF the ap-
pellate court Of Chicago, republican.
as judge"
"Of course. I do not know what the
President will do, but 1 have under
stood that his policy was against ap-
pointing state or city judges who have
| recently been elected and whose ap-
| pointment to the federal bench would
make necessary another election. Judge
| Carpenter is one of these.
| "Ex-Judge Edward Osgood Brown,
who was defeated as a democratic can
didate for Judge in the recent election,
| would make splendid democrat for
the federal bench. There are other good
men in the party In Chicago"
Judge Carpenter Is said to have al
| ready been selected.
Senator Cullom is working for the
nomination of c. b. Morrison, former
United States district attorney at Chi
| cago, but in recent years engaged in
trust breaking work with the Depart
ment of Justice. When Judge Bethea
| was promoted to the bench from United
States attorney he was succeeded as at
torney by Mr.. Morrison. E. w. Sims,
| the present United States attorney, has
MANY friends who are urging him for
the position.
Senator Lodge called on the President
today to introduce E. L. Curtis, who
| has been named as collector of the port
| of Boston.
| The regular meeting Of the cabinet to-
! day lasted for two hours and a half. but
| the members were disposed not to talk of
| the business before the session.
Secretary Knox Is understood to have
| taken up with the President the Nicara-
guam situation. The question was not
discussed generally before the cabinet.
ALASKAN COAL LAND CASE.