Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-04-26
FROM WASHINGTON.
Gossip over Possible Candidates for
President.

,y,surSeToS, ID. c., April A-The
.idoptial candidacy to be settled in the
psnhliean national convention three years
he coming summer is being dis
ICED in Washington to surprising
s,ort a result, perhaps, OF the absence
:, o,ber topics OF more absorbing interest,
leo promoted by the incipient presi-
,iat hooms which have already made
their appearance.
'H.- -, the men who have avowed their
nir.tions, privately or publicly, are
- President Fairbanks, Senator For
49, secretary Shaw and, the latest of
-. sspirants, though not avowed, POST
.s.s,er- General Cortelyou. Two other
are mentioned in this connection,
49, If Elihu Root, former secretary OF
rar and William II. Taft, present secre-
NJ the deld. Vice President Fairbanks
:. ,egsrded by the public as the most
Tgely candidate, and there is no doubt
mot he is playing the game of politics
~ master hand. On the other hand,
.ssrs are many shrewd politicians who say
hat MIR. Fairbanks boom is premature
"a that. like most premature things, 1t is
IileIy 10 get nipped by frosts. a facile
.,oaker and a suave conyersationalist, the
,;.e-prssldent makes many friends, but
a., ~ the ..thick and thin" variety, for
The reason that he possesses too little mag
rotism TO draw men to him in that way.
His enemies tell ugly stories OF Wall
.trasf domination and an alliance with j.
p Morgan and +. II. Hartman, success
ivelv. based no doubt on the fact that the
vice president has been railroad attorney.
Secretary Shaw Ii q good speaker,
avood fellow, and would doubtless have
the confidence of the business men of the
country. On the other hand, he is man
az far narrower ealibre than for instance,
President Roosevelt, while his recent de-
eision granting the millers drawback on
imported Canadian wheat when mixed
with domestic wheat and exported as -four
has lowered the place OF wheat by several
cents and is claimed by westerners to have
ruined the secretary's vote getting ability
west.
Senator Foraker promises TO be a strong
candidate. He has served his state credit
ably as governor and in the Senate for
eight years, and has host OF frisnds.
Judging by the predictions OF those who
ought to know, he Is a candidate who will
play an important part in the next repub-
lican convention.
Postmaster General Cortelyou's boom IL
too new to be accurately gagged as yet.
It Is based, OF course, on his very success
full conduct Of the last national campaign
and the fact that he has been the right
hand OF three Presidents, and knows the
business His boom is automatic; he is
not urging it.
Had Secretary Root accepted the nomi-
nation for governor OF New York, he
would doubtless have been the republican
presidential candidate to succeed Presi-
dent Roosevelt. He would have carried
his state last fall by as large majority as
did the President. He is a man OF excep-
tional ability and fine character, and he
leaders, including President Roosevelt,
one Of whose closest friends and most
loyal supporters he is.
All this was pointed out to Mr.. Root
when he was urged to accept the guber-
Material nomination, but he insisted that
be had no political ambitions, and that he
owed it to himself and his family to apply
himself TO the accumulation of a fortune.
He went about this by accepting retain
ing fee as counsel OF the Northern Securi-
ties Co., and it is believed this fact would
ln!ure his prospects, even il he were will
ing to enter the race, which is by no
means certain.
II can be stated on the highest authority
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 il that
position becomes vacant during President
Rooseyelt's term, Mr.. Taft will achieve his
ambition.