Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-07-30

Winthrop Murray Crane of Massachu-
sets was summoned to Beverly today
by President Taft and had an extended
conference with the Chief Magistrate
at Burgess Point.
Senator Crane is perhaps the closest
political adviser the President mas. He
was asked by the President to make
trip through the West in the near fu
Wash. He will inquire into political
conditions in the various states
through which he travels. The Presi
dent has the widest confidence in Sen
ator Cranes political sagacity The
senator already has made few quiet
trips Of observation and he discussed
what he had learned with the Presi-
dent today Mr.. Taft is anxious to
have an impartial survey made of the
field. He believes that an outsider can
get and give a better understanding
of the situation in the different states
than the leaders actively engaged.
Tcday's move is regarded as one of
the most important politically that Mr..
Taft has ever made. The senator's Wis
it was surrounded with the greatest
secrecy He did not come by the well
beaten roads, but slipped into Bever-
ly by making a large detour around
Manchester. Not until the senator was
seen was it admitted at the Executive
Offices that he had been anywhere in
tire vicinity of the Presidents cottage.
The report that Senator Crane was to
include Seattle in his journeying. if
he accepts the commission given him
h,- to6av hrnIIchf
the fiat denial however, that Mr..
Cranes visit to the President had
anything to do with the Ballinger-Pin
chot controversy. 1t is stated with au-
thority that the President never mas
or never will consider a proposition of
asking Secretary Ballinger to retire
from the cabinet.
When Secretary Norton was ques-
toned tonight as to Senator Cranes
plans. he referred all inquiries to Sem
ator Crane.
The senator had long since departed
by automobile and it was said would
not reach his home at Daton until late
in the night.
Another significant move made by
the President today. and of almost
equal importance with the proposed
mission of Senator Crane. was the an
nouncement that Mr.. Taft has can
celled all of the engagements. tenta-
tive and otherwise. that he had made
in different parts of the country for
this fall. important affairs of admin
istration 1t was said would keep the
President busily engaged at Beverly
and Washington. until November
President will make a three weeks trip
to the Isthmus of Panama to observe
the progress of work on the big canal.
Whether the cancellation OF the num-
erous engagements for the fall means
reversal of the Presidents travel
policy or not, could not be learned
Political consideration may have had Il
great deal to do with the Presidents s
decision. II would be difficult for the
President to travel through the doubt
full states in September and October
without being drawn into the campaign
or at least having his speeches con
strued into political utterances. In
speech at Rockland, Me. the other day
Mr.. Taft said he did not believe d
President of the United States had
right to talk politics and that his only
platform should be patriotism. love
of country. and prosperity for all"
In the list Of wholesale cancellations
announced today. there were three
omissions. The President will go to
Provincetown. Mass. on Aug. TO re
view the Atlantic battleship fleet and
to speak at the dedication of the Pil-
grims monument. He has left open the
question of whether or not ne VIII
speak at the National Conservation
Congress which meets in St Paul Sept
81 and at the unveiling of the Reed
monument in Portland. Me. Aug. IL.
The chances are that the President
will 60 to ST. Paul. There has been 50
much said and written on the subject
Of conservation. that n desire to place
himself on record once for all may I'M
pei the President to speak at the Con
servation Congress. If he attends the
congress- lie will have the first say
Col. Roosevelt: will speak on sept. D
or I. Governor FberEardt of Mime
sofa, Frank +. Kellogg and Others Will
be at Beverly on Monday to urge the
President 70 sneak at the st. PAU
gathering Whether Mr.. Taft will leave
day, Nov. s, has not been definitely de-
cided. The chances are that he Will
leave Immediately after the ballots are
counted. He probably will sail from
Norfolk rn one of the ar9iored cruisers
or battleships of the Atlantic feet.
Some OF the things whict, will occupy
the Presidents time in the immediate
future and which entered into his de-
termination to avoid all travel during
the early fall. are the suprem" court
appointments. the appointment OF 81
railroad stock and bond inuuir.' com
mission. the subject Of economy in the
Congressional legislation and the pre-
paration of the annual message to Con-
gress.
Among the engagements ofnrlaiiN
cancelled today were to attend the
meeting for New Hampshire Veterans
Association. arg. "a: the Vermont His
torcal Society. in the early fall; the
Ohio Valley exposition at Cincinnati,
Oct. 1: the conference of governors at
Frankfort. Ky. Nov. 20: the Trans
Missjssirpi Congress. san Antonio.
Ten, Nov 22-25: the t.th National En-
compment of the Grand Army of the
Republic. at Atlantic City. Sept, 1924.
the laying of the cornerstone of 'he
Naval y. NJ. Z. \. building. Newport,