The Washington times., 1907-12-27
TAFT WILL START
NOMINATION FIGHT
Secretary Not Anxious at
First for the PreSi-
dency.
Will Go on the Stump and
May Outline His
Policies.

Secretary OF War William a. Taft is
showing strong symptoms OF abandon
ing the role he has hitherto occupied
Of a rather passive candidate for the
Republican nomination for President
and of jumping into the political ring
in deadly earnest Speeches are prom
ised from the Secretary in which he
VIII handle the political Issues Of the
day without gloves
II Is no secret that for a good while
secretary Taft did not look with any
great degree OF qualification upon the
movement to nominate him for Presi-
dent His friends In White House cir.
cies. in Ohio and elsewhere. and his
brother, Charles p. Taft. got him 10
90 into It. He did not. h1wev-r. have
much heart I'm the efforts 20 boom him
for the Roosevelt succession. He had
lived too close TO one Preslden. and
Ead seen too much OF The troubles os
tAe Chief Executive as revealed in the
"'lte night that burns about that Of
nee TO make him long for the task.
lis Fighting Blood Up.
Early in the campaign. when on his
western trip. Secretary Taft told some
o. ms friends that he did not care for
I the Presidency. and that he felt he was
| better fitted for the bench.
But things have reached a pOint where
secretary TAFT has become earnest about
getting the nomination. He has got SO
i4F INTO the contest that his lighting
Diood mas been reused. de could not
/ get out Of IL now II he wanted 10. and
there Is nothing left for him but 10 take
on ms coat and sail in. This is lust
what he plans 20 do.
Secretary Taft will be heard first al
bosJon, december 81. IN a speech to be
deAYered before the Merchants AssOcia-
tlon or that city. He viii discuss the
! ieadlng Issues. including the financial
situation and railroad and corporation
matters. He has pronounced views on
these subjects and on tarir revision. II
Is not unlikely he VIII touch on revision
I In his Boston address.
Finish Fight in Ohio.
The address at E5ston will be fol
lowed By a number of others. II IS
| expected the Secretary viii make nu-
merous speeches in Ohio. The situation
there has reached a point where all pos
slDllty or compromise is past. Senator
Foraker Is prepared 20 hght 20 a finish
/ 10 save himself from being eliminated
from Ohio politics. and has set out TO
| make such a split In the delegation as
VIII make Tafts nomination impossible
! There is nothing left for Secretary
I Tart but to make a sqUare-cut contest
/ against the Foraker forces, and leave
4 II to the voters OF Ohio to decide
/ whether they are prepared To indorSe
/ FOrakers Observation-Disclosures policies
| or 10 support those policies for which
| the President has stood.
Secretary Taft will put the issue up
I 10 the Ohio voters and will Insist that
/ II be met in the primaries. II is likely
! his forthcoming speeches in Ohio will
| attract national notice, as viii. in fact
/ the Ohio struggle In all its leading
| features.
May Outline Program.
Some Of Secretary TAT s friends are
/ advising him that he can take no more
! popular step than through a series Of
speeches to give a clear-cut exposition
/ of what his policies VII be n made
! President and that the country IS pre-
/ pared 30 give him as hearty support
/ as IL has supported Roosevelt. If he will
/ do this and show he IS prepared for q
| vigorous administration.
| In the Ohio fight. Senator Foraker
| and his leutenants are relying o.. cav
/ inG the Id soldier vote. the org rzed
/ labor vote. and the coIored vote to start
| With With this foundation to build
| OF. they believe they can win a rood
| share Of the delegation.