The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-15
BOOSTS CONTIGUOUS Room.
senator ElkIns says He Has q Good Chance
10 Heat Taft u others.

WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE George Bruce
Cortelyou Presidential boom got a big
boost to-day. Senator Stephen b. Elkins
of West Virginia was the booster. Yester-
day it was Representative Jesse Overstreet
Of indianapolis. the home Of Indiana's
tallest son and citadel Of buttermilk and
cocktails. who was saying some pleasant
words about the availability Of the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury. To-day 1t Is the senior
senator from West Virginia. chairman Of
the Senate Committee on Interstate Com
merce. who is giving ii a lift.
After some general remarks o the
certainty Of selecting a good man and one
who il sure 10 win and discrediting the
gossip Of the average politician who talks
about candidates. Senator Elkins continued:
"Mv own view is that hone of the gentle
men who have been mentioned 30 promi-
nently in connection with the prospective
nomination will get the prize. All this talk
about their having q certainty in this or
that State ia more or less tommyrot. It IL
Just possible that the man who will get the
nomination has not had his name
toned yet 10 any great extent. Now. in
the cases Of men like Secretary Taft. Senator
Knox, Senator Foraker. Vice-President
Fairbanks and others who have been talked
81 so freely we might be justified in using
a comparison which sometimes. l am told.
is employed as a phrase on the racetrack.
| believe there is such a saying as blowing
mp in the street CHI on the track as indicating
that some Of the horses competing grow
tired Just before they reach the wire and
allow others To draw in and beat them.
Now, isn't il Just possible that men like
Taft. Fairbanks ct al all favorites now
may blow up in the stretch and allow a
contestant who IL classed in the future
betting. as the expression goes, as a 100
to I shot to win? You know such things
often happen"
DO you mean by your statement the
Sentaor was asked. that the man who
NAV get the nomination has not had his
name mentioned to any great extent; that
President Roosevelt may lie renominatedp"
Il did not say so" the senator replied.
But it now appears to me" he continued.
that Secretary Cortelyou il going to nave
the support Of the New York delegation In
the national convention next year. loumust
consider that the delegation has seventy-six
votes. and il ia political history that. gen
orally speaking. the convention IA a whole
goes as New York State goes. New York
State IL a powerful factor not only in the
election but in the national convention
as well. And if Mr.. Cortelyou has the sup
port OF New York State in the convention
the handicapped must acknowledge that
he has an excellent, very excellent. start
and u good chance OF winning. To have
New York behind him Mr.. C%ortelyou will
have an i~ncalcuhable. valuable influence
behind him. What man IL there who has
a better prospect Look over the field
and then answer me"
Discussing the political situation from
the Democratic standpoint Senator Elkins
said he considered that Judge Gray would
make "A very strong candidate. but he did
not believe it was possible for a Democrat
10 win.