The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-04-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Numerous Candidates for the Presidential
Nomination at the Republican Ma
tiona1 Convention Four
Years Hence.

/
The presidential candidacy to be
settled in the Republican national con-
vention three years from the coming
summer is being discussed in W ash
ington TO a surprising extent, result,
perhaps, of the absence Of other topics
of more absorbing interest, but also
promoted by the incipient presidential
booms which have already made their
appearance. Among the men who have
avowed their aspir ations, privately or
publicly, are Vice President Fair
banks, Senator Foraker, Secretary
Shaw and the latest of the aspirants,
though not avoWed-Postmaster Cen
eral Cortelyou. Two other names are
mentioned in this connection, those Of
Elihu Root, former secretary of war,
and William Fl. Taft, present secre-
tary of war. OF the field, Vice Presl-
dent Fairbanks is regarded by the
public as the most likely candidate
and there is no doubt that he is play
ing the game of politics with master
hand. On the other hand, there are
many shrewd politician who say that
Mr.. Fairbanks boom is premature
and that, like most prem allure things,
it is likely to get nipped by frosts. a
facile speaker and suave CONVERSE
tionaiist, the vice president makes
many friends, but few Of the "thick
and thin" variety, for the reason that
he possesses too little magnetism to
draw men to him in that way. His
enemies tell ugly stories of Wall street
domination and an unholy alliance
with J.. p. Morgan and E. FL. Harri-
man, successfully, based no doubt on
the fact that the vice president made
his fortune as a railroad attorney and
probably on little else. But aspiring
candid ates can never, unfortun ately,
escape UNIV arranted insinuations from
those opposed to them.
Secretary ShaWis good speaker and
a sgood fellow" and would doubtless
have the confidence OF the business
men of the country. On the other hand,
he is man of little culture and of far
narrower calibre than, for instance,
President Roosevelt, while his recent
decision granting the millers draw
back on Canadian imported wheat
when mixed with domestic wheat and
exported as flour has lowered the
price OF wheat by several cents and is
claimed by westerners to have ruined
the secretary's vote-getting ability
among the wheat raisers of the great
west. Senator Foraker promises to be
a strong candidate. He has served his
state creditably as governor and in
the senate for eight years, and has
host OF friends. Judging By the pre-
diction of those who ought to know,
he is candidate who will play an i'm
portant part in the next Republican
convention. Postmaster General Cort-
elyou's boom is too new to be accu-
rately gagged as yet. It is based, of
course, on his very successful conduct
Of the last national campaign and the
fact that he has been the right hand
man Of three presidents and knows the
business. His boom is automatic-h
is not urging it. Had Secretary Root
accepted the nomination for governor
Of New York he would doubtless have
been the Republican presidential can
didate to succeed President Roosevelt.
He would have carried his state last
fall by as large a majority as did the
president. He is man Of exceptional
ability and fine character, and enjoys
the confidence of the Republican lead
ers, 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 gubernatorial nom
nation, but he insisted that he had
40 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 &C
cepting 100000 retaining fee as
counsel Of the Northern Securities /
Company, and it is believed this fact /
would injure his prospects, even if he
we're willing to enter the race, which |
Is by no means certain. It can be Il
stated on the highest authority that /
Secretary Taft does not wish the NOM
He has one ambition in life
and that is to become chief justice Of
5he United States Supreme Court, and
+ that position becomes vacant during
President Roosevelt's term Mr.. Taft
will achieve his ambition.
There is one man not a candidate
Ind having no intention of becoming
one who is regarded by many of the
ablest politicians in both parties as
he most probable nominee. His name
5 Theodore Roosevelt. No one who
Knows the president questions the sim
'erity of his assertion that under no
condition would he accept the nomina-
ion for another term. On the other
land, it is pointed out that no man
an refuse tie insistence of a national
and that President Roose-
'elt would be poWerless to stem the
ide, whatever might be his wishes, if
were once turned in his favor. Those
Tho predict that President Roosevelt