New-York tribune., 1910-08-17
NO COMMENT FROM TAFT
No Indications He Knew OF Girls
com Plan to Force Vote.
CRANE VISITS BEVERLY
Senator Maintains Reticence, but
Makes Full Verbal Report on
Western Trip.

Beverly, Mass, Aug. 16 - Beverly was
completely upset tonight when news came
from New York of the defeat of Theodore
Roosevelt for temporary chairman of the
New York Republican State Convention.
The fact that Lloyd G. Griscom. president
of the New York County Committee. had
been in conference with President Taft as
late as Saturday night and Sunday added
to the sensation that the dispatches created.
Secretary Norton carried the news to the
President shortly before the dinner hour
tonight. Mr.. Taft made no comment for
publication. There is nothing here to in
dicate that he knew of Mr.. Griscom's plan
to force vote on Mr.. Roosevelt's name
so far as can be learned, Mr. Griscom
talk with the President had to do solely
with the general situation in New York
State, and Mr.. Taft took the ground that
harmony ought to be brought about, If pos
sible, before the Saratoga convention meets.
The story that Mr.. Griscom took mes
sage to Mr.. Roosevelt which would affect
the future relations between Mr.. Roosevelt
and the President is discredited in Beverly
Mr.. Taft has assumed the attitude that any
overtures, If they be necessary, must come
from the other side
The statement issued by Mr.. Roosevelt to-
on the side of the "Progressives,' has
created much comment here. What effect
to-day's developments in New York may
have on the reorganization plans that nave
been in progress here must, of course, Tor
a time remain a matter of conjecture. So
far as can be learned there is disposition
here to stand pat on the plans as an
nounced. The publicity that has been given
to these plans may retard them for a while,
but there is apparently plenty of confidence
here that they ultimately will go through
Crane Two Hours with Mr.. Taft.
Senator W Murray Crane of Massachu-
setts the central figure in the reorganlza-
ton plans was here late this afternoon
and spent two hours with the President.
The Senator was reticent as ever. He
would not talk about his visit 10 the
President It is said that Mr.. Crane was
selected for the work he has in hand be-
cause of his habit OF reticence. The Pres1-
dert warned him to-day not Ito be SO
garrulous with the reporters and the
Senator appreciating the joke was little
more silent than ever.
Some of the Senator's questionerS Sug-
gested to him tonight that he might deny
some of the stories that have been sent
out of Beverly during the last week Ihis
Mr.. Crane modestly declined to do He
was interrogated from every possible angle,
but warded off every question
Secretary Norton who it is generally be-
lieyed has been working in close harmony
with Senator Crane, was equally retlcent
tonight He said with a smile. that he
could add nothing TO what Senator Crane
had said
Complete Verbal Report Made.
+ Dc known however that Senator Crane
submitted complete verbal report TO the
President of his observations in the West
and what he learned more recently III New
Hampshire and Vermont. The Senator has
been on an auto trip through the two lat
fer states and il was uncertain to-day
whether he would reach Beverly or not. IT
President Taft was in ignorance OF What
Senator Crane has been doing, ne uildouot-
edly learned of his activities to-day.
In this connection and with regard to
the reports that the reorganization plans
might go on the rocks because OF the re-
fusa1 of secretary Ballineer TO resign, II Is
stated that when Senator Crane was nrst
called into the situation it was on teic-
gram asking If he could undertake a mis-
sion 10 the West Tor the President THIS
mission to the West turned out to be a
conference with Secretary Ballinger re-
sardng a plan for his retirement from the
Cabinet II is known that heavy pressure
will be brought to bear Mr. Ballinger
TO resign without putting the President III
the position of asking for the resignation
The 18th OF September will tell the story,
and no one apparently in the mean time
can tell just what the outcome will be.