Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-04
Taft Administration Will
Assume the Offensive.
Has Submitted Long Enough
TO Criticizing Talk.
Opening Guns to Be Fired in Chi
cago and Washington.

Washington, April 3.-The Taft ad-
ministratioI is about to defend ltsell
aggressively before the people of the
United States. Convinced that the pub
lie mind has been impressed by at
tacsk of various kinds, upon the ad-
ministratiun in many parts OF the
country and thar the criticisms can
not be permitted to pass unanswered
without injury to Republican rrestlSe'
| the party leaders have decided TO
| carry the war into the enemy's coun-
try
President Taft is now declared to be
ready and anxious to assume the Of
fensve.
The opening guns will be fred next
SATURDAY night in Washington. by the
President in person and in Chicago by
Attorney General Wickersham
| Mr.. Taft will speak in this city on
| the subject OF Organization" and ne
will be supported by other powerful
orators of the Republican party. Al
| torney General Understands subject
Will he THE Policies Of the Admins
| tration.'
| The speeches by the President IN
Washington, Senator Lodge, Rep.
| Mckinley of illinois, chairman of the
| Republican congressional committee
| Rop. Mckinley Of California, Jonh
HAYS Hammond, president of the Ma
| tional League of Republican CLUBS,
| John A. Stewart of the New YORK
| League. and John C. Cappers. nation
al committeeman for South Carolina,
| at the same gathering, and that of Mi.
| Wickersham at Chicago are expected
| to supplv the theme for other rroml-
| nent Republicans
Nothing has created SO much inter-
| est among the Republican leaders IN
| WASHINGTON since the Inauguration Oh
| Ny Taft as the plans nov 1ornuiat-
ing TO defend the administration. Some
| facts are to be brought out about the
| oneratiou of the Payne Aldrich tariff
hill and the enemies Of that legislation
viii he called uDon to answer '-the
| friends of the administration with
| some concrete evidence if this SUP
| iect is to continue as an issue within
| the marty. The party, it is said, eX-
| meets confidently to clos" the session OF
| Congress with interstate commerce.
statenood. postal savings. anti-inJunc-
tinn and conservation legislation to its
l
statement NAV be issued showing that
very great saving has peen laaoe III
tLe expense of carrying on the gov
ornamental business.
Little is being said by the party leaders
about the issue of "Cannonism beyond
the statement that this question VIII take
care of itself at the right time. The only
exclamation vouchsafed for this comment
is that Speaker Cannon is expected 10
resign the Speakership at the close or thS
present session of Congress. NO oliicia'
statement on this subject IS eNpec'e
from the Speaker. His frlends peieNe
would be inadvisable for nm 70
the organization of the House io" ~
disclosing his intentions.
Run,ors are circulating with consider
able fraedom about the capital that be-
fore the congressional elections some
cbanges NAV be expected in the Presi-
dents cabinet, but none of these stories
can he confirmed. In fact, no one pro-
fesses IA have any first hand informa-
ton on the subject AL the Same iilhe
the general impression seems to be that
an effort will be made TO strength the
cabinet in a political way Among the
possible retirements oftenest mentioned
are those of Secretary Dickinson of the
war department and Postmaster General
Hitchcock Although it is said that Mr..
Ballinger may resign from the interior
department at the close of the present
investigation if the change can be made
without subjecting himself to the charge
of retiring under fire.
Some of the party leaders are urging |
upon the President the desira bility of ap- !
pointing for the treasury portfolio some !
man who has been affiliated with the par |
ty There is no dissatisfaction with the |
administration of Secretary MacVeaSh |
but some politicians argue that the Pres
ident should use every legerage to adj |
vance the administration politically. If
two or more changes should be made in
the cabinet it is said with some show OF
authority. that one Of the places would
so 10 William J. Loeb, Jr.. former secre-