The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-03-04
THE PRESIDENTIAL
LINES FORMING
Looks Like Taft or Fairbanks
Republican and cuIbers0n
Democrat.
mail Special to the Advertiser !

WASHINGTON, d. c., February 16
Two things of some moment in the
maneuvers for nominating the nexI
President have come to the surface
here in recent days. One is a prospect
forecasted by good authority, that Sen
ator Foraker will eventually eliminate
himself as presidential possibility
and strike hands with Secretary Taft
The other is an incipient boom for Sen.
ator Cu1berson, of Texas. It is being
brought to the front by Democrats OF
Northern cities, some of whom are
Southern born.
Senator Foraker, of course, has never
declared himself in the running and
has been more or less passive under
the discussion of his availability. AT
present he undoubtedly holds the Ohio
situation firmly and to all appearances
could have the delegates from that
state to the next National Convention,
should he want them. But it is claim
ed that Senator Foraker is most con-
cerned that President Roosevelt shall
not be renominated and that, as soon
as he is assured beyond all doubt, will
quietly step aside and permit Seere-
tary Taft to get the Ohio delegates
If he can. There has been lot of
political bitterness between the Presi-
dent and Senator Foraker and the latter
prefers to have some one in the White
House with whom he can maintain
more amicable personal relations.
Such action, of course, would be to
the political Qualification of Ohio. That
State would like very much to have
another President and all the patron
age favors which go with such an
honor. At the same time, Senator
Foraker is not blind to the unpopu-
larity of his attitude on railroad legis-
lation and to the fact that, even If
he could secure a nomination, the
charge of being reactionary would be
raised at once against him and, prob
ably, with telling effect. If the ef-
forts to bring about such a condition
of affairs in Ohio succeed, it would i'm
mensely strengthen Secretary Taft s
prospects and would be long step to-
ward narrowing the rivalry for the Re-
publican nomination to himself and
Vice President Fairbanks.
Secretary Taft remains as Indifferent
as ever TO all plans to nominate him
as Roosevelt successor but there are
men working actively for him in spite
of this. The sembiance of an organiza-
ton in his interest has already been
started and this organization is to be
rapidly enlarged in its scope and eff
cheney.
The Secretary's brothers are very
much alive to his presidential chances.
One of them, ex-Representative Charles
P. Taft, editor of the Cincinnati Times
Star, while here the sst week, said
in conversation that the Secretary
would certainly be nominated and elect
ed. Whether or not Secretary Taft be-
comes formidable as a candidate, the
friends of Vice President Fairbanks
are carefully noting the developments
for the nomination of the present head
OF the War Department and also the
arguments that the Secretary's friends
are using with some effect that, If
Mr.. Fairbanks would not
be elected. The visit here few days
ago of Ex-Governor Durbin, of Indiana,
started the anti-Fairbanks talk. He
and the vice president have some old
scores TO settle. But while
Durbin' S attack ON Mr..
Fairbanks as a vice presidential can
didate rested largely on personal
animosity, much that he said is being
weighed by the Republicans of Con-
gress who are political leaders in their
respective States. 1t is having some
weight. Tor instance, with the Massa-
chusetts Republicans here although the
Senators and Represen-
tatives have very kindly feeling for
the vice president and may yet de-
eide to support him for promotion. 1t
is having weight, too. with Ohio Re-
publieans and the Republicans of some
other Western States.
It was proposed here recently that
a dinner of representative Democrats
be held to launch boom for Senator
Charles A. Culberson, of Texas. That
idea has been abandoned for the pres
emit, but other means are being used
to bring his name to the front as a
presidential candidate. An argument
being urged for him is that he will
command in the south all the strength