Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-03-21

| pennsylvania one, IocDttOr NHOS,
and Massachusetts, ono, Senator
Crane.
/ All OF these men have ,ue!r
enthusiastic followers. It IS easily
conceivable that at least Il dozen
men may he ballotted for at the
beginning of the struggle IN The
next National Convention. In this
respect the Republican party scents
to be swinging back to the days OF
strife over nominations which mark
ed its course from 1876 to 1896.
| Beginning with the second nomina-
tion OF Lincoln. the party made its
nominations by acclamation mlS6f,
| 1868 ana 1872. Then there was n
| period Of s,riio in the counsils,
there being seven candidates before
the Cincinnati Convention of 1870,
fourteen before the Convention oi
1880, eight before that of 1884,
thirteen before that of 1855. Mic.
Kinlcy and Roosevelt were nomina-
ted together by the unanimous nc
tion of the philadelphia Convention
IN 1870, and Roosevelt was the
unanimous choice of the Convention
OF 1904
Minus Roosevelt" is an express.
lon which discloses the prospects
of a!c other candidates for n Re.
publican nomination next year. With
Roosevelt a probability, with the
slightest cilance that he will take
the nomination., there is little pros
poet even for Il man who has such
splendid organization as Vice
President Fairbanks or for a man
wiho has such popularity and the
administrations good wishes us Sc.
cretlry Taft
1t is necessary, however, to leave
out OF the problem, for the pres
ent. the man now in the Waite
House. He has resisted all efforts
to induce him TO change his mind.
He Is not 10 be considered a factor.
He reterates it whenever he is
mentioned as his own successor, an.
instead OF weakening dis influence
It has immeasurabIy strengthened
him with the public. 1t will in
crease his influence with the rank
and file CT the party, and may ena;
bile him to aid powerfully any of
the candidates who accept in adj
vance of the convention theplatform
of the Roosevelt policies.
Without touching on personality
OF any of the men whose friends
are urging them for the Republican
nomination 1t will be Interesting TO
glance minute at the situation
in the country. 1t is on the eve of
Il great struggle. The Republican
party IS divided into several con-
dieting clements. There is very
large and influential interest tsa-
desires n perpetuation Of the existing
tariff schedules. There is smaller.
but no less aggressive, class that
desires tariff revision and tariff re-
dIction There is much smaller
class that believes that whether we
are TO reduce or stand pat" the
cotlntiy must adopt u maximum anu
minimum tariff or suffer in Il com
merc!al war with Europe.
Then again, there are two dis
tinct Classes who divide over the
Roosevelt policies. Mr.. Roosevelt
has let the tariff alone and has
kept the minds OF the country
largely diverted from it by going
after tho railroads and corporations
and the misuse OF private wealth
and !"other peole's money" He has
large popular following, who be
lieve that all he has done is good
for the country, and he only has
to appeal TO the public TO mass
that force behind him in the COM
ing struggle. On the other hand,
there is a very important elemen,
in the country, bankers, capitalists,
spectators, rlilrcad managers ami
editors, who desire to reverse the
policies of the President, chick the
| tide of legislation and call a mast.
These men are willing that ~.
Roosevelt should retire, and he viii
retire with their tmanks-for get,
ting out, They also desire to nave
% candidate for President who will
return TO good Old days ana give
the country rest
So far as the President is con
cerned the issue is joined right
there. 1t is an unprecedented thing
for President to endeavor TO name
his own successor. Presidents have