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Show TAFF PLAIN! II I SEE PANAMA CANAL; Presidcnt-EIcct Feels That Ho houd 'Inspect Great. Work .at Early Date. ROOSEVELT AND ROOT GIVE HEARTY APPROVAL Will v Lay Aside Oliicial Cares Awhile and Take Much-Needed Much-Needed Rest. ' WASHINGTON, Dec. 12. Presidentelect President-elect Taft contemplates a visit to Panama Pana-ma before 'his inauguration. This visit is approved by President Roosovelt and Secretary Root. While" it has not been finally determined upon, Mr. Taft announced an-nounced tonight that it was his inclination incli-nation to go. Should this bo his final decision ho will depart the last week in January for a trip which wiU cover approximately twenty days. There are many reasons, in Mr. Taft's, view, wiry -this trip to tho isthmus would be of decided advantage. President Presi-dent Roosevelt's visit proved a stimulus stimu-lus to tho work; tho three visits which ' Mr. Taft has made as secretary of war were all of advantage; thero aro con-stantlj' con-stantlj' arising and -accumulating many minor tangles of . administration which the prcsonco of tho president-elect might mako possiblo of elimination with littlo difficulty. Last Opportunity. Mr. Taft feels that this is practically liis only opportunity to visit tho ith-mus ith-mus during his forthcoming term as president. The visit would put him in direct personal contact with tho situation. situ-ation. , The only objection to tho expedition, which has been pointed out by careful students of tho laws and constitution, is that, pending tho official declaration of Mr. Taft as president-elect by action of thc electoral college aud his inauguration as president, thero is no constitutional or legal provision, for thc substitution of any ono olso in tho event of anything happening to him in Panama. Tho news of this trip followed a conference con-ference last night with President Roosovelt, and today again at tho While House and later with Secretary Root. Further details of today's conference con-ference wero not make known beyond tho statement: by Mr. Taft that tho Koloctiou of his cabinet was thoroughly discussed. Agrees With Senators. . Mr. .Taft said tonight tho interviews ho had had yesterday and today with Secrotary Aldrich and Senator Halo had led him to believe that tho attitude atti-tude of theso two leaders in tho sonate, rospocting tariff revision, was decidedly favorable to the kind of a tariff he lias i been advocating. A conference with Senator Crano of Massachusetts also confirmed this view. Chairman Frank II. Hitchcock, who camo to Washington today from "Now York,, saw Mr- Taft tpnight. Thc Cuban Cu-ban situation was discussed thoroughly at a conferonco with Governor Magoon and Secretary Wricrht, and Gen. Clarence Clar-ence R. Edwards of the insjilar bureau talked with Mr. Trtft about departmental depart-mental and Philippine matters bona-tor bona-tor Bourne of Orccon. Bishop O 'Gorman of Sioux Falls, S. D Secretary Gar- field and Representative Martin of South Dakota and Roproseutati'vo Need-ham Need-ham of California, also talked with Mr. 'Taft. Mr. Taft planned to loavo Washington Washing-ton at midnight for Now York following follow-ing the dinner of tho Gridiron club, no will there bo tho guest of' his broth-or, broth-or, Henry W. Taft, until Thursday, whon lio will go to Augusta, Ga., for several weeks. |