The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-30
SITUATION IS
 PERPLEXING Republican Candidate Much in Doubt. TAFT IS VIGOROUSLY OPPOSED Fofaker Forces Making All Kinds of
 Trouble in Ohio. rairbanks wm Have Advantsge of Going Into Convention With Solid Home State Delegation.
 other Caadidates.
BY ;. R. HoRNADY.

BY J. R. HORNADY.
 Columbus, Ohio, Dec. 29-(Special)- As viewed from the watchtower Tn that pivotal territory embracing ohio, Illinois and Indiana, the new year VIII find the presidential game still full or perplexities for the participants. The Taft boom, which was the nrst 10 at tract public attention. ahd has been ex- ercising it's legs for year or more. is slightly winded on the eve of turning into the stretch. And 1t is very cri'- teal period to be in this condition'
 The camuaign in behalf of the Sec retary of War has been carried on from Alaska to the Gulf and numerous com mittees and not a few conventions nave expressed preference for him' put 'ne cold and clammy fact remains tnat he has not yet captured his own state ov- spite all the bold claims ahp DIase athar that has been indulged in. That other distinguished Ohtoan. Joseph isehson Foraker who entered the Presi1enuaI raca not for the prize of the high omce of chief executive. but for the purpose of putting dents in the poiitical ianio of a few choice enemies, IS tne t,'sa tna,' who soaped the Taft track Tn oh.o; Roth he and Senator Dick have stakeo their seats in the councils or the ,nirhtv upon the outcome Of the nsht' and assisted by many or the mos. able graduates of the old Hanna scnoo, of politics. they are working gay nn. ana nirht to turn Taft's home State against ht,, and thus put . decided crimp In | his hoom in the country at large. Crucial Test Near at Hand'
 r,ha crucial test between the For- .tar-Taft forces will come early In the new year, probably apout ren ruary l5 when the State convehtlon, .s haId The Republican State Executive ro,,,n,ttee will meet In this city on January 2 when the method or seiect- ing deiegates to the State Convention ,r,iI he determined and the date or the gathering definitely fixed upon .nS method of selecting the delegates much will depend and sun nsne VII .t,n .Sss less precede final action upon this @ score. The Taft people want plan under which delegates will be elected I mon either Taft or Foraker ucket. l which proposition will be opposed ny 1 inc Forakerites, who do not want the | lines to be too tightly drawn.
 Tsa ,daa that Foraker will get the | o,,to delegatfon to the National Conven- l lion Is entertained by no one-not even hv Troraker-but he and those wno nave linked their fortunes with him, nope to sniIt the delegation. split VIII pc sufficient to justify the claim that oni9 S
 is moi solidly for Taft and to De used in inc campaign against him in other statas. That the Forakerites Will pc | .nahled to capture few or the ono SaIegates is not certain, but there IS snough danger in the situation to keep the Taft forces awake nights
 Fcrnker Fighter. troraker is a tighter. first. last and | all the time and the very boldness witn wh,eh he has gone into the fight against Taft and the administration wins ad- l ,,,sration even from his enemies He hes powerful following among the oid soldiers. the rank and file among the negro population is almost soiidly | for him. and he has the active sympa, thy and aid from many or the olo ! school noliticians-Hanna and Mckin-
 ,av men In addition to this, he stands to lose everything that is dear to the haart of the public man-position, tn- 1 auanra nrestige Then there Is the in- | nsntive to .get even" Thus backed and
 thus inspired, there Is good reason 10 believe that at least a portion of the Ohio delegation will got to the nationa' ] convention instructed TOT mn. 1 whv Foraker should forfeit an excel
 ,ert onnortunity to succeed himself In
 tha senate in order to enter an almost
 homeless race for the Presidency, IS not | eenerally understood and the expian-
 ation that this motive Is one of revenge ia not entirely satisfactory In grop- | ing for some solution to the propien' | sonoe astute politicians think they
 
 .Io, smong the anti-Taft forces in the
 country at large, the understanding De- | tho that if Taft Is defeated ana any | one of several candidates are sue | ceesful Foraker is to receive a caoinet 1 nosition. If this surmise IS true IL
 serves to throw a flood or hsnt upon | inc situation. Certain 1t is' that tWhe W
 anti Taft people all over .ne coun'ly 2, look to FoTaker to spike the guns or | roft and 1t is reasonable to suppose
 tbat If he succeeds in doing so he will
 race,ve recognition at the hands or the
 oan who profits thereby. whoever he
 rnav he, providing the Republicans are
 successful at the polls in lsos'
 Taft After The south.
 While recognizing that for the
 nresent their chief interest lies In the
 mastery of Ohio, the Taft people are
 not neglecting other sections. Just
 now the South is being given thought full attention and. by reason Of the iact
 that the Republican machines m tne
 South are in practically all instance W \
 dominated by office-holders and the
 office -holders are supposed to be sub
 seryIent to the administration. the hone is entertained that a majority or
 the Southern states will lend their sup
 hort to the administration candidate,
 If might be observed in passing that
 tbe Taft people, for some reason not
 fully explained. look upon Governor
 Hughes as the most formidable riVai
 n the race for the nomination.
 While Taft Is having all sorts or
 trouble in his home state. Vice Presl-
 dent Fairbanks Is enjoying delightful
 ly smooth sailing in Indiana No other
 name is considered in the Hoosier State
 and. despite the tempest that some or his enemies succeeded in raising be- cause he permitted President Roose- veIt to guzzle a cocktail while guest At his home, there is no doubt bu' } he will receive the solid and enthus.as- } ttc support of the Indiana delegation } The enthusiasm the mention of ms } name created on the occasion or the , bio Republican love feast last Thurs day. demonstrated the fact that he en' ioys the confidence and support of his party in that state. He also has strong following in Kentucky, where he contributed largely to the recen'