Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-08
TAF1'S STAR Is RISING,
Washington View of Presidential
Possibilities
Both shaw and Root Are ELIMINATED
-GOod Progress by Fairbanks
TAFT would Re Like Another
Term for Roosevelt.

The Washington Correspondent Of the
Boston Transcript says:
Politicians and oficcholders I'm Wash
inSton are Interested in the progress If
the campaign as throwing light on the
question who will be the republican
nominc for tho presidency In the next
campaign. They are Interested largely
| in this question because of personal
considerations, but they also see that
the congressional campaign under ex-
listing conditions cannot have many
consequences OF fur-reaching import
This later opinion IN held because If
the belief that President Roosevelts
prestige Will be sufficient to carry
! through Congress such measures as
may be deemed of value by him, no
matter whether the House is predom-
! inantly democratic or republican, and
because it is not felt that there Is any
prospect of action on tariff matters be-
fore the opening of the next preslden-
| tial term. while on other matters the
! party lines are not drawn tightly enough
to expect from the one organization
very different action from what will be
/ taken by the other
| 1t may be said, however, and with
confidence. that the question OF ano-
I Their term Tor the President depends Co.,
tirely upon the strength developed b.
! the democrats. Should they seem te
gather to themselves an adequate sup
port so that the contest is likely to he
close, the party leaders may be willing
to call ON the President But with TIA.
contest fairly open and good chances
of republican success Prcsidont Eoos.
welt will be the last man who will he
allowed to be nominated. 1t is 8lrendy
stated positively that the influence OF
the corporations which have been
/ chiefly under hre-two In particular
/ is being eScrted on the side OF other
candidates that are preparing their or
ganlzations in order to assure the sell
ection Of nominee who will be safe
and satisfactory to the conservatives.
The personal influence of the leaders
: entirely without reference to such con-
siderations as those which animate the
be against the presi-
dent. 1t is these considerations that are
giving such interest to the Bryan boom
and account for the rumors that certain
repuhli ms are lending their counten-
ancc lad aid to the Bryan movement as
a way OF impress!ng It upon the party
that third term for the President viii
be the only salvation OF the party.
Granting that some other candidate
should be determined upon. the question
of selection is gradually solving itself
through, the elimination Of impossible
candidates.
Secretary Shaw has been allowed to -
by the board completely ever since
the Cummius victory in Iowa, and his
boom Is now rarely, II ever, referred
to by those party leaders who are
following the matter. The same Is true
Of Mr. Root. Mr.. Fairbanks is uniyer
sally conceded to be foremost OF all
the possibilities In the matter OF or
ganization. He is working hard for
the nomination and is operating with
Il care and attention to detail that IS
not even approached by any of his
competitors. Nevertheless there seema
to be n little spontaneous lie in his
boom, and while he is Enthusiastically
a distinct possibility, he would be
likely to sectre the nomination only IN
the event Of a complete party lassi-
tude and certainty Of victory, ire
spective Of the personality OF the can
didate selected. With Mr.. Bryaus
prospects looming up in the way they
are now doing, Nj. Fairbanks's out
look is recognized as more and more
gloomy. In fact, judging from present
appearances, the contest seems 10 be
narrowing to a question Of Secretary
Taft as against some one Of the
Congressional possibilities other than
Vice President Fairbanks. Among
such Congressional lelders Speaker
Cannon, as representing the conser-
tive wing and Senator LaFollette -
representing the radicals ara most
prominently in the public eye. Mr.. La
Toilette IS not likely TO succeed In en-
listing sufficient support during the
coming two years and Speaker Can
non Is regarded as out of the question
for number of different reasons, In
dependent of the fact that he is now
II years old, and would be 73 or more
before he could be elected. More and
more, therefore, the feeling among
politicians and office holders here is
turning to Secretary Taft as the most
conspicuous possibility.
The election OF Mr.. Taft would bs
the next thing to the election OF tina
President for another term. Not only
do the two men stand close together
but both are supported by the new
machine element among republicans
as against the older organization
| Whether President Roosevelt or NJ
Taft occupies the White House for tho
four years l9os-l9l2 will signify re-
latively little to the administration -.
affairs In Washington. Comparatively
few changes in the personnel will
likly be made The chances distinctly
favor continuance OF the present re-
sime, either under Mr.. Roosevelt or
Taft.
tya No. 10