Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-12

ministration and to Taft. Kansas City,
supposed to be favorable to the T-ft peo
| pie as the convention city, was beaten. All
| of the three territories, supposed to be for
Taft or Roosevelt, were reduced in repre-
sentatibn from six to two delegates each.
and the line was always about the same.
The charge made 10 the President was
that in every instance the Cortelyou men
on the committee stood with the known
opponents of the President. 1t was as
much an analysis of the doings of the
national committee as anything else that
determined the President to prompt ac-
ton.
His belief was that his announcement
would clear the situation, and prevent
other people playing under his skirts.
Has No Second Choice.
1t is as much known at the White
House today as if an official announce
ment had been made that President
Roosevelt, has no second choice. He is
for Taft and for no one else. Mr.. Cor
telyou is not his second choice. From
now on the race so far as the President
is concerned. is to be Taft against the
field and Mr.. Roosevelt is for Taft. What
h may do should Taft be unable to land
the nomination no one now knows 1t
will depend upon the developments. Per-
sonally he is friendly to Knox, but
whether personal friendship would in
f1uence his beliefs as to policies is
wholly speculative.
The President is, confident that a great
Taft wave will sweep over the country
shortly and that it will land many states
the War Secretary from the country has,
it L. believed. operated against the
chances of Mr.. Taft.
Despite the alleged conspiracy to take
the south away from Taft the President
| has it in his power to secure those dele
gates at the right time. Not a single
southern state will send a delegation to
the next national convention that cannot
be controlled on the floor of the conven-
ton by federal officeholders of the respec-
tive states. They run all state conven-
tions. name ali the delegates to the ma
tional convention and can control those
delegates with perfect ease. The Presi-
dent knows this. He has the power of re-
moval of those who vote against what he
believes are policies that should be car
ried on for a number of years. Undoubt
edly the officeholders will be wary at
Chicago as to how their delegations are
permitted to VOTE Now, that the Pres-
dent is out of the race, the understanding
is that many of the southern states will
come up with instructed delegations for
Taft. Uninstructed delegations will prob
ably be viewed by the administration with
great suspicion, although their motives
will become apparent later on.
Taft May Leave Cabinet.
The next development in the presidential
political situation is the possible resig
nation of Secretary Taft from the cab
met and his going it alone in the
presidentiol race. 1t will be recalled
that the report was current last
spring before Mr.. Taft departed for
the orient that he might resign from the
cabiret in December. That report was
based upon the fact that some of his
friends advised him to pursue such a
course. The advice will be renewed upon
his arrival in this country, but whether
he will adopt it or not is a question for
his deciding.
Republican politicians in this city talked
OF nothing today but the effect of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's reiteration of his in
tention not to again be a candidate for
the presidency. One could sget almost
any kind of an opinion desired upon this
falpsrian+r subject. "A
II wtla3 be some 'hst difiicsli 10 reach
political sentinsnt, but the tendency
toward consensus of opinion was that the
Presidents action will force the conserva-
tives in his party to concentrate at an
early date upon their candidate; also that
1t precipitates an immediate fight in New
York state for the control of that dele
CATION between Hughes and Cortelyou.
Furthermore. that it makes the southern
delegations the object of solicitation by
the prospective candidates and adds to the
interest of politics in the south.
keenest interest will center at once upon
New York. 1t is generally conceded that
President Roosevelt cannot swing New
York for Mr.. Taft. He might get it for
himself. but even that is problematical. 1t
is said to be certain he cannot turn 1t to
some one else. 1t would be a rash predic-
tion to attempt to say that either Gov.
Hughes or Secretary Cortelyou is abso-
lutely sure of the state. Gov. Hughes is
strong with the people at large, but he is
doing nothing to build UP practical or
ganization. His silence and his neutral
attitude tend to leave his supporters some
what at sea. Secretary Cortelyou has the
support of the financial interests of the
metropolis. They would not object to
Gov. Hughes, but they prefer Corteiyou.
1t is accepted as matter of course that
the Cortelyou boomers will proceed with
expedition to build up Cortelyou organ
| friendly cooperation in New England
and count upon New Jersey and Penn
| sylvania. In the case of the Keystone
states support. it is understood of course
| that 1t can be obtained only after it
| might be shown that Senator Knox's
chances were hopeless.
Politicians said today that if Gov.
| Hughes should come out in the open as
| an avowed candidate, Mr.. Cortelyou's
| standing would>be imperied. They added
| that Gov. Hughes will have do 1t pretty
| soon or thereafter hold his peace
Taft Men Delighted.
| The Taft men were delighted with
President Roosevelt's announcement. They
I felt that it has cleared the atmosphere
| for their candidate. Unquestionably there
| has been great deal of doubt as to the
| Presidents intention. and the feeling has
constantly been growing stronger that
the President might be forced to take The
nomination This has resulted in fixing
| Secretary Taft in the position of being
second choice of the Roosevelt admirers.
Mr. Tafts friends said today that hence
| forth Secretary Taft will be first choice
of those who think it necessary that the
Roosevelt policy should be carried on.
His friends said today that the attention
of the country will now be centered upon
Mr.. Taft as the exponent of the Roose-
welt ideas.
The President outspoken.
President Roosevelt was frank and out
| spoken today to some of his callers who
discussed his third term declaration with
| him. With unanimity the callers viewed
1 last nights statement final Nou