Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-17
CAPITAL CHAT.
Candidates for the Nom
ination in 1908.
The Victory of Senator HaIe's
Naval Policy.
A Letter to Senator Frye on the Smoot
Question.


come quiet since the inauguration.
With The departure OF the inaugural
hosts, however. one political theme be-
came dominant, because of certain
incidents. That is the race of Republi-
can aspirants for the Presidency. 1t
is still three years tc the time when
to the National Republican convention
and therefore one would think it Il
little forced TO discuss Republican
preside ntial candidates now. Never
theless the knowledge that President
Roosevelt will not be Il candidate for
reelection and that the Republican
nomination may be almost equivalent
to an election leads spirit to the con
test. The candidates, of whom there
are several, have moi only begun early
but they have begun in earnest.
The heat If The early struggle is
chiefly in the South and the middle
West. Ii is in the South because, for
The first time since the pre-cOnvention
strife Of 1856. when the late Speaker
Reed lost his Southern delegates by the
most lavish us. Of money and prom
ises. the Sou,h has Il possible oppor-
again. At this great distance from
the event itself, ii looks very much AS
though the Southern delegates might
have the balance of power and be able
to pick the choice of the next cOnVen-
ton. Candidates, who are actively in
the running al this date, are even now
-nucSiinS up 10 The so-c;l!led Southern
Republican leaders and are also seek
ing tn capture tnc few Republican
newspapers in that scrtion Of the couil-
try.
There is strife carry in the middle
West. because the West thrivcs on
strenuous and continuous politics,
more than any other section of the
country and because Jour of the lead
ing candidates. Of whom three are now
practically avowed candidates, rcSid.
in that section and the jockeying for
advantageous position Is vigorous with
them. Senator Foraker and Secretary
Of War Taft hDtll come from Ohio and
Vice President Fairbanks is as good as
an Ohio man. for he was born in that
state and resides only Just across the
line in Indiana, where politics are
quite as fcvrrish the Year round as
they are in ucliey.iom. a little
farther towards the setting sun is
secretary of the Treasury Shaw, who
has come to knew all the trails in Iowa
and adjoining states.
1t need be no surprise if some por-
lions of New England ere approached
snon with friendly overturcs from cer-
tain Of the candidates. OF course
New England states contine their
politics a little more to certain periods.
near election time, than their younger
sisters. But Secretary Shaw is n
native of Vermont and he will be try
ing to re-enforce himself by being abb
to proclaim the allegiance of voters in
the East. Vie President Fairbanks
forbears came from Vermont and ne
will be looking over the Green Noun
tain state to exclude Brother Shaw, If
it be possible. Mr.. Fairbanks has also
campaicncd in Main" considerably.
was n close friend OF the late Repre-
sentative Dingley. AMI also has other
lines in the Pine Tree State. 1t looks
very much as though the struggle for
the nomination was 20 be fought out
much earlier during this administra-
ton than in former years and therefor
There is a good deaf Of gossip about
whom the President favors. OF course.
Mr.. Roosevelt isn't telling and he will
not tell in any formal statement. But
The president talks freely about men in
n,,bIi, life with the callers whom he
trusts. His general estimate of the
mon i'm the race to succeed him is
nrcttv we'll known he:a OF, the inside.
IT is taken for granted that he will not
lend any Influence. quiet or otherwise.
10 Vice President Fairbanks. Secretary
Shahy or Senator Foraker. If the
cardi.latc is to come from the middle
wcst Secretary Taft is more likely
,h,r al the others to h&ek in the sun
shire Of n-esdens ial favor. If the man
i m come from he East it is serious
ouostion whether ex-Sccrctary Root or
pot.rn,.s.cr General Corteiyou will be
the lucky man.
put after all is said and one has re-
Viewed conditions to the utmost. one
comes hack to the same old ground
.b,+ !, is , long time till the next con-
,an+ion Things change in politics
erc,tlv in that length of time. There
iii, he state and congressional elections
ono ,.aar from now. Those elections
nav no far reaching on the fortunes of
,,r.,sidartial candidates of 1908.
senator Hale. after his vigorous and
indanendent stand about expenses for
The Navy. during the Congress just
closed has the qualification of finding
the NAVY Department and the admins
tra,ion coming straight around to his
wav Of thinking. President Roosevelt
has recently told the Senator that the
=, agreed upon by Congress for |
the hnilding of new warships, in FASH
;nnin~ which Mr.. Hale had more to do
than than any other half dozen senator's or
nsmhars of the House. meets with his
mbe President's) full approval. Fur
, W.. the President has stated that
ha i satisfied that the sentiment, ex-
against against building u, an enormous navy hu,
for keeping the present navy up to its
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