Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
TAFT SEES LEADERS
Hears Details of Aids Conger
Bribery Case.
CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK
President Says Situation Looks
Very Bad
SEARCHING INQUIRY FAVORED
Chief Executive Has Busy After
noon and Evening in Metropolis.
Will Return Here This
Afternoon.
CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK
SEARCHING INQUIRY FAVORED

NEW YORK. February f2.-The Presi-
dent of the United States came to New
York today, sat for an hour aud II halt
in conference with republican state lead
crs> said little but heard much concern
bribery case at Aibany-and. departing,
looks very bad.
President Taft thus passiveiy, at least.
wadcd into the tTouhlous whirlpool OF New
York state republican politics brought to
an acute stage of late by charges of brib-
cry by one state senator against another.
The conference was held at the New
York residence of Lloyd {. C;riscoiu, for
NOR United States ambassador to- Italy,
but recently elected president of the New
York republican county committee, sue.
ceeding Herbert Parsons. Besides the
President and Mr.. Griscom there were
present at the conference Timothy l..
Woodruff. chairman of the republican
state committee: United States Senator
Chauncey NJ. Depew. Gov. Charles r.
Hughes, James W. Wadsworth. speaker
of the state assembly, and Otto Barnard,
recently defeated as tho republican nomi-
nee for mayor of New York
Investigation Favored.
Discussion centercd almost solely in the
Allds-Conger ease, involving the two
leading proposals: Whether the party
should Investigate to the limit or, il pos
sible, smother il. The CONSENSUS OF opin-
ion appeared to be on adjournment TO
probe to the bottom regardless Of results
Apparently reitcrating this determine
t.v..f alt r.nfn .ir,.,
specifically to the Alids-Coneer ccntro-
verSy, President Taft. speaking 10 the
Republican Club at the Waldorf Astoria
tonight. said:
1T should be well understood that With
the republican party in its present condi-
ton, With its various divisions subjected
to the crosS-fiTe of its own newSpa perS
and its own factions any halt or failure
on the part of those in authority to pun
ish and condemn corruption or corrupt
methods will be properly visited upon the
party itself, however many good men it
contains"
Taft Listens Intently.
All the participants i'm the conference
said afterward that the President was AN
intent listener, but be took no part III
the discussion and made it clear at the
conclusion that while he was deeply in
terested in the situation he would not
OT1c1dlll interfere dictate IL p0llCy to
be pursued.
There had been Il ruinor that Il demon
stration had been made for the resigna-
ton OF State Chairman Woodruff Mr.
Woodruff, when asked about this tonight,
said:
I'VE talked about nothing but the
Aids case. No call was made upon lie
to resign and you can quote me as say
ing SO. I will not say that / shall con-
duct the next conpafSn, but I shall be
N1,.
ton
Arrival in New York.
President Taft arrived here shortly
after l o'clock this afternoon. He and
his party were taken in an automobile
from the sd street ferry directly TO the
house Of the Presidents brother, Hears
W. Taft, in West 4Sth street. With the
President were Mrs Taft, Mrs Ander-
son, her sister. and Miss Torrcy, an aunt
OF the President, together with the ex-
ecutive aid, Capt. Archibald Butt, ami
Assistant Secretary Michler Mr. Tatt
left his brothers house at 1 O'Clock for
the reception at the house of Mr.. GrIs-
com.
President Taft occupied the greater por-
ton of his time OH the trip over from
Washington in preparing the speech
which he. delivered tonight at the Lincoln
day dinner given by the Republican Club.
The Presidents address on this occa-
sion was looked forward to with great
interest because in 1T he was expected To
deal with details of his program for
recommended legisa ton and express in
unmstakable terms the attitude of his
administration toward the financial in
terests regarding which SO many di
vergent rilnors have been circulated re-
Gently.
The President will return to Washing
ton tomorrow afternoon.