New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-12
TAFT HEARS OF JAPAN
DIR. OBRIEN At BEVERLY.
Fec Recess appointments, President
Announces-Defeat at Golf.

| Beverly, Mass. Aug. n-Presdent Tart talked
| with the American Ambassador to Japan Ihoihas
J. o. Brien, for more than hour THIS AFTERNOON
on the porch of his summer cottage. The anpas-
sador had expected his visit to last not more thah
fifteen minutes, but found the President keenly
alive to the situation in the Far East ana ME-
OBrien went carefully over every question OF I'M
portance that pending when he left MS post
at Toxic home on leave OF absence MT
OBrien is to be retained by the President as am
bassador, and is credited with being close to
the throne any ambassador at the japanese
Emperor's court.
Mr.. OF rien brought many messages of congratu-
lation and good will to Mr.. Taft from the Pres-
dents friends in Japan These friends include men
both in and out Of official life. After his interview
with the ambassador. President Taft declared that
matters In the Far East were satisfactory
The probab iIity OF break between China and
Japan over the Antung Moukden Railroad improve
ments not taken up the situation. which
seems TO be adjusting itself had not become
acute when Mr.. OBrien left Japan.
The question Of the Japan-American treaty. soon
Is 10 he taken up in this country and II is believed
that the President gathered much Information for
his future guidance from his extended talk with
the American Ambassador Mr.. O'Bren will sail
for Europe Saturday. but will return to this
country his way back to his post.
President Taft made the important declaration
to-day that 1t will be his policy 20 make as few
recess appointments possible. In cases of va
cauces the federal bench, especially the Presi-
dent has stated sh7t he will make appointments
only In districts or circuits where the need OF
judge Is shown 10 be Imperative. The President
does not believe It TO be good policy TO appoint
man. to a life office and to commission him in the
absence OF confirmation by the Senate. There have
been several cases In recent years where federal
judges have failed of confirmation after serving
from one TO three years and the situation thus
created has been exceedingly emba raising Mr..
Tafts declaration OF his policy as 10 recess APP
pointments came up in connection with the vacancy
on the district court bench at Chicago occasioned
by the death OF Judge Bethea. Mr. Taft will not
hll this vacancy until Congress meets liz December
MR. TAFT LOSES MATCH.
Speaking of golf. the President and his partner
John Hays Hammond. were defeated aeein AZ
Essex to-day and lost to Their old foes General
Adelbert Ames. of Civil War fame and w 7
Boardman of Washington This was the second
defeat the President and Jack" Hammond as no
calls his playing partner have suffered at the hands
OF General Ames and Mr.. Boardm4n but they are
not discouraged and they have challenged the same
opponents for the third game on Friday morning
On Monday. according 10 revised returns firm,
some OF the heretofore missing precincts the score
In favor OF Ames and Boardrnan was IN The
President had thought II IS or 4" up but to-day
the error was corrected. To-day ais, the Pres,der,
and Mr.. Hammond lost only by I'd The match
was nip and tuck and "all square at the sixteenth
hole Ames and Boardman won the seventeenth
putting the President and Mr.. Hammond "dorrny
! coming to the eighteenth And then. Just as
the President thought he and mis- partner had a
chance TO carry the foursome to extra holes Cen
eral Ames made a phenomenal 50-fcot put and mn,
his opponents out Of the running
Tomorrow Mr.. Taft will 20 to Aryopia again for
return two-ban match against Mr. Hamn,ond
While ostensbly playing against each other the
President admitted to-day that he and Mr. Ham
mond are really practising up FOR the fourson,e on
Friday II also came out on this day gold truths
that the President did not defeat Jack Ham
mond yesterday at Myopia by up. at all Mr.
Hammond won the match by that score. The
President had not the papers to-day when
Mr.. Hammond began 10 complain bitterly that he
would have to get press agent" and did not
understand what the trouble was all about until
some OF his callers began to congratulate him on
having defeated Mr. Hammond Just the same
Mr.. Taft hopes TO Justify the somewhat previous
reports OF his victory By taking Mr. Hammond into
camp tomorrow.