Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-07
Taft Cancels
indianapolis
Engagement
President Curtails His Western Trip
Several Days and Will Not
Visit HoOsier Capital.

WASHINGTON, April 6.-Presldent Taft
has cancelled his engagement to visit In
d%ianapolis on May s. While no statement
has been issued in regard to this dec',ion,
It is believed to be the direct result Of the
events In the Indiana state repuollcai,
convention yesterday.
It is not admitted at the Whit House
that the president had a definite engage
ment TO visit indianapolis. although dis
patches from that city several days ago
announced that the president would be
there from ESQ p. m, until midnight Of
May 5.
In view OF the circumstances surround
ing yesterdays Indiana repu'@'Car conven-
ton. II was said by friends VI the ad1rilIs-
tration today that If the president spoke
at indianapolis . at all, ne would more
than likely feel compelled to express
again his Wen known views regarding the
Payne-Aldrich tariff bill.
1t was argued IL the president should 90
this it might be interpreted adversely to
Senator Beveridge. and rather ;han be put
in that attitude the president viii give
Indiana a wide berth In his forthcoming
visit to the middle west.
No matter what Senator Beveridge's at
titude towards the adminisJraU)n may he
the president told his callers TO-DAY. it is
said, that he had no doubt in his oNu
mind on that subject-he 1id not care to be
drawn into the Indiana Iish, in any way.
The president is anxious Cor republican
success in Indiana and hopes that The re
publicas under whatever Leadership they
choose may be able to turn he tide against
the democrats.
1t was said at the White House today
that the presidents trip west, when he
gins April 20, probably will lie curtailcd
several days, and 1t was minated that
this was likely responsible for the failure
to visit Indianapolis.
The president had planned 10 spend three
or four days in Cincinnati, but it is now
likely that he will be there only On May
3. lie will be in St. Louis May !, according
to the revised plan and be hack in Wash.
ington the morning of May G.
INDIANAPOLIS, April 6.-The invitation
was extended to the president by former
Vice President Fairbanks soon after his
return from his world tour. In a telegram
to the president, Mr., Fairbanks said the
citizens of indianapolis and the state would
be pleased to extend him a genuine vel
come il he would arrange to visit the city
on his trip west.
The president accepted the invitation and
plans were made to give the president a
generous greeting.
Mr.. Fairbanks expressed great dlsap-
pointment when informed today that the
president had decided to cancel his visit
here and said he would Immediately send
a telegram urging him to visit the city if
he could do so.
Il sincerely hope said Mr.. Fairbanks,
that Mr.. Taft may reconsider the matter
and visit Indianapolis. l know the people
Of Indiana wiln be glad to extend 10 him
the genuine hospitality for which they are
noted
President Winfield Miller Of the Com
mercial club, President A.. g. Jones of the
Board oof Trade and aother citizens ex-
pressed similar sentiments. It is expected
a meeting win be called and an effort
made to have ssthe president visit this
state.
Mr.. Fairbanks, and all those associated
with him in the preparations for the re-
ception of President Taft declined to dis
cuss the report of the cancelling the en-
gagement was due 10 the action yesterday
OF the state republican convention which
did not endorse the new tariff law and
did endorse the course in the senate OF
Senator Beveridge, who voted against the
law