Omaha daily bee., 1907-12-30
TAFT GAINING IN NEBRASKA
Declaration of Senator Burkett En-
phasiEes Growing Sentiment.
MUCH INTEREST OVER DELEGATES
Only Break In MOnOtOny of Demo
cratic Affairs ~ Possible Contest
for DHhIman's Place ~ Ma
tiOnaI Committeeman.

The authoritative announcement from
Washington that both Senator Burkett and
Senator Brown want to 60 as delegates
at-large to the republican national conven-
tion and the positive declaration by Senator
Burkett for Taft as his personal prefer
ence for president, has emphasized during
the last week growing sentiment behind
the Taft movement in Nebraska.
Nebraska is 20 have four delegates-at-
large and it seems to be conceded that
Governor Sheldon, who was an original
Roosevelt man with Taft as second
choice will head the delegation. From
various parts Of the state comes mention
as a probable delegate at-large of Victor
Rosewater of The Bee. it being taken for
granted that one OF the four places will be
given to Douglas county.
NO other names have yet been projected
in public, although it is inferred the ac-
tivity of Lawyer Charles o. Whedon at
Lincoln is intended to furnish the founda-
tion for the claims of some candidate for
one Of these places in the person of either
Mr. Whedon, himself, or his former law
partner Governor Magoon. now at the
helm in Cuba. Governor Magoon is known
to be strong Taft partisan, which makes
1t all the more dificut to fathom thus what
Mr. Whedon is playing for.
Perhaps some light may be thrown on the
situation by taking the cover off of the
local factionalism smoldering in Lancaster
county. The Burkett candidacy is bound
to be complicated with the efforts of
former State Chairman Rose and his
friends to secure Burkett's acauiescence in
the appointment of Rose to succeed Elmer
Is. stephenson as United States collector
NOf Internal revenue. The friends of Rose
do not know Just which way to turn. Tbcre
is small element in Lincoln impIacabie
20 Burkett and determined to block hin,
for anything he wants. The Rose follow
ing might make trouble for Burkett bv
Joining the implacables, but on the other
hand they might also bring Burkett to a
sense Of his obligation to them by swing
ing In line for him and giving him a clear
track to Chicago.
IL Is certain that with Lancaster county
pehlhd senator Burkett's desire to go to
the convention 1t could be easily grati6ed
ana even If Lancaster county were hostile
is not certain that the rest of the state
would permit the senator to be left ar
nome Ordinarily the four deleFates-at
large are allotted to different congressional
bNS 'hiS pLeCeu6nI mas not been
unbrolSen, because in 1900 the state conven-
ton in choosing Edward Rosewater and
senator Thurston gave two delegatesIat-
large to Omaha. The fact that Governo.
Sheldon and Senator Burkett botf, ban.,..
TO vote in the First congressional d,strict-
the one IN Cass county and the other in
Lancaster county, does not necessarilv bar
one of them from the state delepatiori
Ihe discussion over the question whether
primary election should be held 20 civ
the Nebraska voters chance to exnress
preference between presidential candidatos
Is still going on in few newsnanars
whether primary is held or not the del
esates' both district and at large, will have
\ TO be named in conventions If the Nebraska
law Is to be complied with All these oues-
uons probably will be settled at a meeting
OF the state committee to be called shortly
oeiore or shortly after February l.
IN the meanwhile the members of tho
state committee from Omaha have decided
10 extend an invitation to have the con-
Vehtlon called for this city. Omaha has
not had republican state convention since
1883 When Judge Reese was nominated for
supreme judge All the conventions in the
elght years succeeding have been held I'm
Llhcoln' The new primary law further
more requires the annual platform con
Ventions of all parties to be held in lin
coln' so that the coming convention to Sc
iect national delegates is the only ono
whose meeting place is in the discretio,,
OF the state committee. The handsome ma
Jorities polled in Douglas county for the
republican state ticket in the last few wears
urged as an additional reason whv
omaha should be favored for once this
time. i'
On the democratic side everything is st,l
and quiet. 1t goes without saying the dem
ocratic delegation heading for Denver viii
De finally made up to suit the wishes of
MT Bryan himself The democrats are
tkely to have little tilt over the nationa,
committeeman. Mayor Jim's gubernatoriaI
amoilons are expected to terminate his
ACTIVITY as member of the democratic
national