The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-11-08
KANSAS ON SECRETARY TAFT

The attitude OF Senator Long of
Kansas on the candidacy of Secretary
Taft is very gratifying to the friends
OF the secretary. A few weeks ago
the senator had a conference with
the president and when he left the
white house he was a stronger 7 Taft
nan than ever. The very favorable
attitude Of the senator was received
with much favor In Washington. In
making his announcement in Wash
ington recently the senator's inter.
view Is thus commented upon by the
Washington Post:
"But, beyond all this, It Is note
worthy that since the Presidents
return to Washington there has been
a marked feeling Of confidence among
prominent republicans here that Mr..
Roosevelt would adhere to tile pro-
mise which he gave tire country on
the night Of election in November,
1904, that he would not aeain be a
candidate. 1t is intimated very
broadly that the president may soon
set at rest all doubt as to whether
he will adhere to that PROMISE. and
coupled with this is the eqtally
broad intimation that he would
repeat his election night announce
ment in terms just as emphatic and
unequivocal. The expectation in
political circles is that the %opE.srtun-
president as the proper Obj. for
abandoning his present attitude OF
~reticence on the subject will bAthe
action of some republican state
%convention In instructing its dele
gates to the national convention to
vote for Mr.. Roosevelt's nomination.
"Politicians who have contended
all along that the president would
adhere to both the letter and spirit
of his election night promise. aid
who asserted, in fact, that they had
fi1st-hand knowledge with which to
back up that contention, have been
INDUCING In some speculation as to
why the president has shown an
indisposition to discuss the third
term movement with those prominent
men of Ills party who have approached
him recently with a view to ascer.
tanning where be would stand when
the national convention assembled
"While some of these have asserted
that the president. having made his
announcement. had the right to
resent being subjected to any inquiry
which would indicate a doubt of his
sincerity, the majority Of those who
are satisfied that he will not again
be a candidate seem to be convinced.
that the presidents reticence is due
loja desire on his part 70 play a little
politics which will lie helpful to the
\ nnn1ilonu ~ Nnnsot n ~, 1.HN
THAT the Roosevelt administration
growth of the movement for the
nomination OF Gov. Hughes for the
/ presidency is becoming PRETTY we'll
understood in republican cilcles.
The nomination OF Gov. Hughes Is
something that the administration
does not want. not only because the
president prefers Mr.. Taft, but for
other reasons. The opinion here is
that the PRESIDENTS %reticence con-
cerning the third term movement
comes from an intention to keep the
supporters of presidential candidates
other than Taft in an uncertain state
of mind as to what MIR. Roosevelt
intends 70 dc. 1t Is argued thar
as long as there Is ground for the
belief among republicans In many
states that the president may agail
be q candidate, Sentiment in that
portion OF the party which prefers
Hughes. or somebody else, to TAFT
will not crystalline upon any Darticu-
lar Man. However, the expectation
Is growing that the PRESIDENT will
soon end the uncertainty BY letting
1t be known that he will stand by
his election night promise. II that
comes to pass, the administration
forces will openly bend all thcit
eneyvieS toward bringing about the
nomination Of the secretary OF war.
HAnother Taft boomer, in the
person of Representative Kennedy,
If the old Mckinley district, Ia
Ohio, also came from the executive