Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-07-31
TAFT SENDS CRANE 10 WEST
President Wants First Hand Informa-
ton of Political Conditions.
PERFECT CONFIDENCE IN HIM
Administrations Right Hand Man
Has secret Conference at Bev-
erly - President Cancels
Fall engagements.

BEVERLY, Mass, July Ex-senator Win
throp Murray Crane Of Massachusetts,, who
occupies in the senate a position similar to
that of the republican whip" in the house,
was summoned to Beverly today by Presi-
dent Taft and had long talk with the
chief executive.
Senator Crane was asked by the president
to make a trip through the west In the
near future, going as far as Seattle. He
will inquire into political conditions in the
states through which he travels The pres
ident is said 10 desire this Information first
hand He has the utmost confidence in
Senator Cranes political sagacity The SEN
ator is noted for the quiet manner in which
/ he accomplishes the most difficult tasks.
During the last session of congress Mr..
/ Taft relied absolutely upon the Junior sem
ator from Massachusetts, and often made
! him the means of communicating the ad-
ministrations views to the upper branch
Of congress. In selecting an emissary to
the west, the president naturally turned to
Senator Crane.
Talk in Secret.
| The senator already has made a few
! quiet trips of observation and discussed
what he had learned with the president to-
day. The senator's visit was surrounded
with the greatest secrecy. Not until the
senator was seen was it admitted at the ex-
ecutive offices that he had been anywhere
in the vicinity of the presidents cottage. 1t
was denied that Mr.. Cranes visit to the
president had anything to do with the
Ballinger-Pinchot controversy. 1t is stated
with authority that the president never has
considered and never will consider, asking
Secretary Ballinger to retire from the cab
met.
Another significant move made by the
president today, and of almost equal i'm
portance with the proposed mission of Sen
| ator Crane. was the announcement that
Mr.. Taft has cancelled all of the engage
ments, tentative and otherwise, that he had
made in different parts of the country for
this fall. Important affairs of administra-
tion 1t was said. would keep the president
busily engaged at Beverly and Washington
until November.
VIII Observe Canals Progress.
In November, II was announced, the pres
ident will make three weeks trip to the
Isthmus of Panama to observe the progress
of the work on the big canal. Whether the
cancellation of the numerous engagements
for the fall means reversal of the presi-
dents travel policy or not could not be
learned. Political consideration may have
ndu d great uedt 10 10 Win the 3
decision. 1t would be difficult for the pres
ident to travel through the doubtful states
in September and October without being
drawn into the campaign, or at least hav-
ing his speeches construed into political ut
terances. In speech at Rockland, Me-,
the other day Mr.. Taft said he did not be-
lieve a president of the United States had
, a right to talk politics.
In the list of wholesale cancellations an
nounced today there were three omissions.
The president will go to Provincetown,
Mass, on August to review the Atlantic
battleship fleet and to speak at the dedica-
ton of the Pilgrims monument He has
left open the question of whether or not
he will speak at the National Conservation
congress, which meets in st. Paul, Septem-
Der 5-7 and at the unwilling Of the Reed
monument in Portland, Me-, on August Is
The chances are that the president will &c
to st. Paul.
Leaves After Election Day.
Whether Mr. Taft will leave for Panams
before or after election day, November 8
has not been decided. The chances are
that he will leave Immediately after. HI
probably will sail from Norfolk on one Of
the armored cruisers or battleshlps Of the
Atlantic fleet
Among tne engagements OlllCidIly Gun
celed today was the Transmssissippl con
gress. San Antonio, Tex, November 1926
: s. NJ. FELTON,. president of the Chicago
Great Western railroad. one of the thre'
western presidents who visited Washing
ton early this summer after the presiden
had directed that indictment proceeding!
: be brought against twentyfour western
roads to prevent an increase in freigh
rates. dropped in on the president at Bur
CESS Point today.
The question of freight rates came up
= however, and Mr.. FELTON, urged upon tn,
president the necessity and Importance o
allowing freight rates to be increased
r The president replied that the matter wa
T entirely in the hands OF the Interstate
D Commerce commission, and that he did no
J, intend TO interfere in any way. The In
\ terstate Commerce commissioners are sen
sitive about their prerogative and Mr.. Eel
( ton was told that the law gives them full