The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1905-04-14
WASHINGTON LETTER,
Candidates for President in
1908 are Being Considered.
II is Extensively Believed That
Roosevelt Will Again be the
Standard Bearer.
Especial to TmE RrrrnLwASl

Washington. ID. c.. April l3, 1908.
The presidential candidacy to be
settled in the Republican national
convention three years from the
coming summer is being discussed in
Washington to a surprising extent, "A
result, perhaps, of the absence of
other topics of more absorbing in
terest. but also promoted by the in
cipient presidential booms which
have already made their appearance.
Among the men who have avowed
their aspirations. privately or pub
licly, are Vice President Fairbanks,
Senator Foraker, Secretary Shaw
and, the latest of the aspirants,
though not avowed, Postmaster Cen
era1 Cortelyou. Two other names
are mentioned in this connection.
those of Elihu Root, former Secre-
tary of War, and William II. Taft,
present by the public as the most
likely candidate. On the other hand,
there are many shrewd politicians
who say that Mr.. Fairbanks boom is
premature and that, like most pre-
mature things, it is likely to get nip
ped by the frost. A facile speaker, and
a suave conversationalist, the Vice
President makes friends but few of
the thick and thin variety.
Secretary Shaw is good speaker,
a good fellow" and would doubt
less have the confidence Of the bust
nessmen of the country. Senator
Foraker promises TO be strong can
didate. He has served his State cred
IDLY as Governor and in the Senate
for eight years and has host Of
friends. Postmaster General Cor
telyou's boom is too new t. be
accurately guaged as yet. 1t is
based. of course, on his very success
full conduct Of the last national cam
paign and the fact that he has been
the right hand of three presidents
and knows what the business is. His
boom is automatic he is not urging it.
Had Secretary Root accepted the
nomination for Governor Of New
York he would doubtless have. been
the Republican presidential candi-
to succeed President Roosevelt.
1t can be stated on the highest au-
thority that Secretary Taft does not
wish the nomination. He has one
ambition in life and that is to become
Chief Justice of the United States
Supreme Court and if that position
becomes vacant during President
Roosevelt's term Mr.. Taft will
achieve his ambition.
-.
There is one man who is not can
didate and who has no intention of |
becoming one who is regarded by
many of the ablest politicians in
both parties as the most probable
nominee. his name is Theodore Roose-
welt. No one who knows the Presi-
dent questions the sincerity of his
assertion that under no conditions
would he accept the nomination for
another term. On the other hand,
it is pointed out that no man can re-
fuse the insistence of a national con-
vention and that President Roose-
welt would be powerless to stem the
tide, whatever might be his wishes.
if it were once turned in his favor.
IS
Apropos of the possibility, or pro-
liability, of President Roosevelt's
succeeding himself, attention is call
ed to the ovations he is this week re-
ceiving in the South. He has al
ready carried Missouri into the Re-
,,,,bls.ap ool,,v,p uoxxy manu- mora