The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-03-19
Political Significance in Gov
ernOr'S Conference
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Taft Delegations the Aim President De.
clared to Have Enlisted for Cap
ture of New York, Pennsyl-
vania and Illinois.

Washington, March 19.--The presi
dents White House conference with Gov
egnor Deneen Of Illinois, II is now learn
ed, assumed a political significance which
almost overwhelmed It's Importance as
related to railroad matters. Az a re-
suit of it there Is no longer doubt that
Mr. Roosevelt has determined To sit in
the presidential game Of 1908 and do
what he can To see that the cards are
not stacked in favor Of man opposed
to his policies. He Is telling his callers
that he win have no ''Feactionary" nomi-
mated if he can help 1t. He made his
attitude plain to the illinois executive.
Secretary Taft's friends are interpret
ing the conference With Deneen to mean
that the president has come out fatty
for Mr. Taft and has sought 70 enlist
Deucen in the movement 1t appears,
however, that Mr. Roosevelt displayed
shrewder finesse than this. He sought to-
impress on Deneen that II would never
do for "reactionaryp delegation To be
sent from Illinois. He does not want a
Cannon delegation from that state, and
particularly does not want a delegation
that will be for Fairbanks as second
choice. Fairbanks friends are quietly
working to this end, and the president
feels IL IS time to do something to coun
ter this plan He would be pleased to
see Deueen become a candidate himself
and get delegation that could be
thrown TO Taft or some other friend Of
The president AZ the proper time.
Fishing for Favonte Sons.
Deneen win probably 40 back home
and do some hard thinking. He is a
cool, clever lawyer, inclined to regard
Roosevelt as impulsive and spectacular,
and ii may be set down az certain that
he will not permit himself to be used
as mere cat's.paw By the administra
tion He will do nothing to ALLEVIATE the
support OF any great body Of Illinois
constituents for the mere glory Of help.
ing out the Roosevelt programme He
il aware that Speaker Cannon is strong
in Illinois, and the men who know him
best doubt greatly whether he viii OPP
pose the Cannon candidacy. II IS quite
conceivable, however, that he would be
willing to head OF any scheme 10 throw
the Illinois delegation to Fairbanks or
any other anti-Rooseyelt candidate out
side the state.
The presidents effort to enlist Deneen
in the presidential contest is parallel
with a movement he Is quietly further.
ing to have "fayorite sons" brought out
in various states for the purpose Of get
ting delegations that can be thrown TO
TAFT or some other Roosevelt man. In
pursuance OF this the Missouri Repub-
Iieans are shouting for Senator Warner,
who has not the shadow Of a chance for
the nomination. The president, too, has
warmed up 20 Ia Toilette and relies 4
him TO get q Wisconsin delegation that
viii support a Roosevelt man. He has
New York already surrounded, and there
Is much talk that be has encouraged the
Knox boom in Pennsylvania and has
treated Penrose with consideration for
the purpose Of keeping his hand on the
Pennsylvania delegation.
IF some man will tell me where the
votes OF New York, Pennsylvania, and
Illinois will 90 in the next convention,
I'D tell him who viii be the nominee
declared member Of the national Re.
publican committee who is friendly 10
Mr.. Roosevelt. This appears to express
at least part of the presidents phil
osophy
The Anti-Roosevelt Idea
Secretary Taft's Ohio friends feel
much encouraged, but Mr.. Roosevelt is
not putting all his eggs in one basket.
What be wants primarily is man who
will follow out bis own policies ana
plans. Taft would suit him best; but
he viii not discourage others whom he
regards as suitable.
Those enemies of the president who
regard him az Machiavellian in his poll
tics declare that what he is really doing
Is ensuring Roosevelt delegations--Nyh
under the guise Of supporting Taft, Ia
Toilette, Warner, Knox and others favor
tie sons, will be thrown eventually 10
the present incumbent. Even the friends
oil Mr.. Roosevelt win not deny that
rather than see a man named whom be
regards as unsuitable or unfit be would
allow his name 10 be used.
Aside from politics, the president talk.
ed with Governor Deneen about the gem
eral railroad situation and the invali
dation Of the S32,0o0,000 bond issue Of
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