The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-01-24
Washington Letter

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.-lttfr not
often that the White House shelters
a President and two potential cand;-
dates for the Presidency in opposing
parties: bu. Presicen:. Taft establish
ed the precedent when he entertained
the conference of Governors at the
Executive Mansion recently.
The Two who are " In tho hands of
their friends" for the nominations in
1912 are Charles Evans Hughes, Gov
ernor Of New York, and Judsons Har.
mon, Governor OF Ohio. Harmon,
since the death Of John; A. johnson,
of Minnesota, and the temporary oh.
E~curation Of one William Jennings
Bryan as a presidential possibility,
has been the one bright star Of hope
ahin:,g for the Democratic party in
a lowering eroudbanked sky.
His colleague. of New York was one
Of these "stcan;rolIered" at the Chi
cago convention when Taft was
'plaeed at the head OF the Republicans
party.
Hughes has not voiced his Presi.
Dental aspirations, but within the last
week or twe he has let 1t be known
that he will not accept a rcnomina.
ton for governcr Of New York, for
"%nersonaI" reasons, and the political
world has not beer slow to 'dcduce
tnerefrotn that he might accept the
Republican nomination for P%residen.
in 1912 II any one "insisted."
The New York governor refused to
discuss, even in the most impersonal
way, the outlook in the Republican
party, during the reception OF the
State executive at the White Houcc.
SO did Harmon, but he did remark that
nc +'iiked the view from the White
HOUSE,"
a understand that the place is for
rent every four years," he continued,
with q smile.
ayes. We're you thinking of leasing
it?" he was asked. d.
SWELL, | would have to discuss that
matter with my wife. No sensible
man ever tries to establish a resi-
dcnce without his wife's advice" Har.
mon observed sage'y.
That evenH,gr'the Ohio governor and
his wife both attended the dinner CIV.
en- the executives by the President.
The next day Harmon was ASKED what
Mre. Harmon thought Of the White
House dc 4 residence.
Mrs. Harmon has not yet decided.
Eut she Is thin king about IT," was the
Governors diplomatic reply.
$1,000 :rnSii
The whole Secret Service Is downs
cast, and gloom prevails wherever a
Federal sleuth1 is sIeuthing.
That magnificent organization of
special agents and soft.shoe men, pre-.
sided over ny Sherlock Holmes Wilkie
has been wounded" lin its tenderest
spot-its esprit de corps.
It's ali the fault Of "aJck" Wheeler,
who Is "Jimmy" sIoan's partner In
that thrilling = continuous vaudeville
performance, "Guarding the Presi-
dent" Both Wheeler and Sloan are
honored attaches Of the Secret Ser
vice, although they look more like
youthful bank presidents.
Well. The dire deed that has cast
the Service into gsoom happened weeks
ago. but the sIeuths have, up to nav,
kept their sorrow buried, lest the pub.
lie know the disgrace. Some recalci-
trant, however, going his way in sad
ness, with %scrrowing heart, let the &C.
cret slip.
A thief-a common, ordinary, gar
den variety Of thief-looted a secrc,.
Service man, and worst Of all. looted
"Jaek" Wheeler, pride Of the White
House.
Jack had purchased a refrigerated.
twas a magnificent Ice box, and Jack
was proud Of It. But while the wag-
on, with the freezer, was %stsnding be-
fore the Wheeler residence, the driver
having entered the house to find the
exact spot on which: 1t was to be
placed. some one stole lt-Ilfted the
refrigerator bodily, horse, foot ane,
GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS GI