The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-13

one single man in the Republican par ty who seems to have a downright lead in the raceg for the nomination As rule the different candidates for the presidency can bound their own cer- fainties by their own States and a surprisingly small amount of adjacent territory.
 Secretary Taft probably stands at the head of the list. He comes near CT the popular Ideal than any one ex- cept MT. Roosevelt himself, and yet it is more than doubtful if Secretary Taft could secure the indorsement of his own State delegation without some thing In the nature of fight.
 Fairbanks Has Many Friends.
 Vice -President Fairbanks probably will show up In the next National Con- vention with more personal strength than any man who has been mention ed He is a modest gentleman, and has made a splendid record as presid- ing officer of the Senate. and the din- ner parties he has given in the last two years have been the most potent political arguments ever known m Washington.
 He has been represented unfairly as an iceberg, when in fact he is a de- cent, we'll behaved, and seemly gem tleman. who would undoubtedly like to be President, but who would never take any unfair steps in that direc- tfon.
 'Uncie" Joe Cannon. if he were twentu-five years younger, would sure ly be the Republican candidate for the presidency. His personality Is pie 1 turesque and attractive. He has made | a great many political bfunders and Is | liable to make more, but on the whole | the people respect the ruggedness of
 his character and the integrity of his | purposes. It was unfortunate Tor 'Un- 1 cle" Joe that he allied himself with Lorimer and the disreputabie element of the Republican party in the city of | Chicago, but at the same time 1t Is characteristic of the honesty of the | speaker that he never denied his | friendship, and on the contrary stood | by Lorimer and will stand by him to | the end, no matter how unpopular this course may make the speaker in Cook county
 | Root Not Serious Possibility.
 Secretary Root can hardly be con- | sidered in a serious light as presi- | dential possibility. He has been al- | lied with the Union Pacific Railroad | and dozens of other, great corporations. He does not even make friends easily. | He is reputed to have blood in his veins which circulates at considera- | blv lower temperature than that of | | character is beyond reproach. He has | never been accused of doing dishon-
 est thing In his life.
 | His ability also Is beyond question He is a personal friend of President Roosevelt Yet. with it all. Secretary Root can hardly be considered as se' | rious presidential possibility. because \ he is not known really outside of New Il York city, and probably never will become known to the American peo- nle except as a political abstraction.
 Secretary Shaw would make a good | President He Is an able man and con | servative to degree. He never would lead his party as Mir. Roosevelt has done. but on the other hand he never
 would allow his party to lead him into any dangerous political excesses. Ht
 has administered the affairs of tho
 Treasury Department during a time oi
 constant prosperity without making
 any great blunders. He has had no i'm
 portant questions to decide except 1T
 few cases. and they generally were Idecided wisely. He would iepresen
 the great corporations, the oa 1ks. thu
 railroads and important financial in
 terests of the country admirably be
 cause of his extreme conservatism
 and vet no one would accuse him O.
 political or personal impropriety.
 It is easy to see from such casua