The Washington times., 1907-12-27
Declare Secretary Will
Go Into Convention
With Most Strength.
PropheSy Stampede to
Ohioan After Compli-
mentary Votes Have
Passed.

The Taft people think they will nom-
mate their man on the third ballot;
they profess to be confident that they
viii do it by the fourth at latest.
The Taft people right now have aboard
the largest cargo Of confidence that has
been foated into Presidentiaf waters in
many moons. They think they are go
Ing to nominate their man on the fourth
ballot at the outside, but that probably
1t will come or the fifth ballot. They
ct unit It this way:
Taft VII lead By a big plurality in
initial strength, but VIII never lose his
lead.
Knox Will nave Pennsylvania. Della
ware. part OF Maryland, some OF New
England. and some scattering: Hughes
New York AZ the outset and will have
a considerable part Of New England.
Jersey, and some scattering strength
TAFT Will have most, or all, OF Ohio A
majority OF the South. most OF the
trans Missouri West. and support in a
majority Of States he does not control.
La Toilette viii ha. Wisconsin and
likewise. q remarkably wide-sca tered
strength throughout the country. which
IS likely 10 reach 10 the Pacific North
west, New England, and ali the inter
mediate regions.
Fairbanks Chances.
Fairbanks will have Indiana. Ken
lucky in the main. and. Il IS hoped. some
other showings in the South. with scat.
terlns votes in number OF Northern
States.
Cannon Will have Illinois. some OF the
south, and votes wherever Congressman
under obligations TO him can nav the
compliment in consideration Of favOra
hopefully, anticipated or gratefully re-
There viii be small doubt a. the open-
ing Of the convention as 10 what ls
going 70 happen. There Will be possI-
blllty Of combination against Taft.
but no probability. Il will be necessary
70 give complimentary votes on two bal
lots; after that the band wagon will
loom IN sight and he scramble for IL
VIII have something like an alphabetical
arrangement To sta'' 1t alphabetically.
however, would destroy the geographic
significance. What the Taft people ex-
pect IS about this:
That the Ohio man will on the nonli-
mating ballot. poll a majority OF Maine
and New Hampshire, probably all Of
Vermont, where Taft's father was born
and where they love q winner. about
half Of New York. Connecticut, Rhode
Island. nearly half Of Pennsylvania
where William Flirn. OF Pfttsbure is
himself aEainst PenrOse and IS anxious
20 be with tie winner. and most OF
Maryland.
Then will come Ohio, most Of AIichI-
gan (Which loves band wagon), and
Missouri, which has already climbed on.
Indiana viii die IN the ditch with Fair
banks, but Kentucky Will give Taft a
slice. Il this diagnosis is reliable Hi
nois Will not get IN line. because II is
too near the top Of the roll call. Iowa
will turn IN mainly for Taft though
its delegation Is expected TO be unin-
structed because OF local complications
In which. TO date. TO candidate for the
Presidency seems Z" have the temerity
10 mix.
South Strong for Taft.
IN the South most OF the votes are
counted for Taft, at this crisis. because
Taft will have the organization. and
the support OF the ple-counter patriots
who, in the main. make up the party
there.
Minnesota viii be mainly for La Fol
lette. Beyond the Missouri Taft's
friends count on both Dakotas; they
recognize the strength OF La Toilette in
Nebraska and Kansas, though hoping
20 win those two States for a solid SUP
port on the nominating ballot: and IN
the inter-mOUntain and Pacific coast
country they count on rather a com
Portable majority over all other candi-
dates
Nobody connected with the Taft move
ment has been willing thus far to pre-