The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-08
v, \, TAFT
| GUEST Of WILSON'S
| AND CHAMP LARK
Makes First Visit to White
| House Since Retirement and
! Goes to Capitol
is LOST BENEATH
DOME
Looks for Speaker Room and
/ Butts Into Oscar Under
woods Office, But the
Door Is Locked

WASHINGTON, June Former
President william II. Taft made his
first visit to the White House today
since he left March 4th to become
a. private citizen and teach law at
Yale university. Mr.. Taft was the
luncheon guest of the President and
Mrs. Wilson. but before he sat down
to tho White House table again he
made a brief visit to the executive
ONCE. shook hands with all the old
employees he knew and made the &C
~ouaintance Of Secretary Tumuity.
Before his White House call Mr..
Taft motored to the Capitol and got
dost. Alone and unannounced he
vent to the house wing and looked
Tor Speaker Clark IN the chamber.
cnly an array OF empty benches greet
ID him.
He strolled through the lobby. look
Id at the portraits of former speak
ers. and after asking a few rues-
lions OF the pages. stepped confident
ay up TO the door OF Representative
Tnderwood's private office 10 find 1t
locked.
.Im looking for Speaker Clark"
raid Mr.. Taft,
"That's not his Office suggested a
bystander. who pointed u the proper
door.
"I'm locking for a gentleman
named Champ Clark" said Mr.. Taft
as ne entered.
Speaker Clark jumped from behind
q newspaper and shouted, How are
d >"
The former president and the
speaker conferred for ONT time. Both
are members OF the Lincoln memorial
commission. which will meet here
next Monday
tinted States" declared Mr.. Taft as
he left The speakers ONCE.
Pointing to the speaker, he oh
served The speaker hasn't changed
any I find
Il haven't been on this side in more
than four years" added Mr.. Taft. 81
used To orn up and lobby as sec
rotary Of war"
VIII Talk With HiIle<.
Mr. Taft. who arrived In Washing
ton yesterday evening for a three
day visit, began a long day with an
early breakfast this morning al the
home Of William J.. Boarduan. whose
guest he Is, MI. Taft is looking for
ward TO a talk tonight or tomorrow
with Charles u. IIilles, chairman Of
the Republican national committee.
Washington this evening.
Mr. tart dfctned 10 talk Poiatics
Soday' he pointed out that II would
not De fair 10 the Democrstic aofaih-
istration to DO so. he said mai MS
recent speech In New YORK expressed
AL he had to say Tor the present, al
though he might nave something to
to that speech a little later on
after thinking over the subject a little
more carefully than he has yet done.
Mr. Tarts most interesting a
ment today was luncheon AT the White
house with PRESIDENT wilson n Mrs
wilson. Whiie al the executv ofhees
pit, TART inquired anou, a set or
Supreme court reports belonging 10
nim which have not arrived IN New
kaven.
Calis on Cuiiom.
For a professor or law 10 he with
Put a set OF supreme court reports
Mr. TAFT remarked. rs a good deal
Ike trying 10 produce the play of
Hamlet with Hamlet left out
The former president was informed
that former Senator Cullom desired TO
call on him at the Boardman home.
but he stopped that by sending word
90 Mr.. Cullom that he would call on
him at his office in the capitol be-
tween ] and II o'clock. This he did
In company with Chief Justice White,
OF h Supreme court
There has been talk that the Lin
coin memorial commission is casting
about for a builder or known repu-
tation. for the purpose of intrustinx
TO him the building of the memorial
without advertising for bids. MIR.
Taft said today that this will not be
done, and that bids will be advertised
for.
I'VE can safeguard ourselves by
selecting half a dozen or a dozen OF
the best known and most reliable
builders, and combining the bidding to
those who we know can do the work
,r1rx-l p,,t tha .n-nx.x- -