The National tribune., 1907-03-14
TAFT OR FAIRBANKS.
At Present the Presidential Contest
Seems Narrowing Down to These Two.
The Repnbllcan Machine for Fairbanks,
the President for Taft,

Presidential gossip keeps growing ir
Importance in Washington. Every
straw that notes the tendency of the
popular mind is observed here And
or the important developments lately
Is the apparent growth IF the Taft SEN
timent.
I A few of the far Western Legislature
nave been polled. South Dakota show
CD prepondera1ce Of Taft legislators
so did Nebraska and Iowa. The Legs
| fattres also showed considerable senti-
ment for giving Mr.. Roosevelt another
| terih. But the States mentioned are in
/ the so-called progressive Republican
Deit. The radical wing of the party is
m IN control North Dakota. Minnesota
Wisconsin, Kansas and perhaps one or
| TWO other States could be safely added
to this column. From those States WIN
come the Roosevelt cheers in the next
| National Convention. Their delegates
VIII be clamoring that he be given an
other term. But the total of the del
egates from these progressive States
Will be small. There is one chance in
hundred that they will even hold the
bala nee of power between contend.rg
candidates.
Nevertheless there is growth of
Taft sentiment. Kentucky is trying to
get into line early for him. The Re.
pub cans hold a State Convention next
Juna, to nominate GubarnatoriaI and
other state candidates. There are some
ardent Taft people in the Blue Grass
State, and they want to nail old Kahn
tuck down for big BILL whose home
is across the river in Cincinnati Tbs
President is willing to help them all he
can, for he wants Pig Bill, to succeed
him, and will help him to the utmost
Of his ability. There is plenty of Tas,
talk in other parts of the country-in
Massachusetts,. for instance.
How long the tide will run can not
be foretold. In month some other
candidate may be coming to the fore |
a month ago things seemed to be com |
ing Vice-President Fairbankss way. and |
there is plenty of time for things 10 !
come his way yet. But Secretary Tafl's |
boom is looming up sufficiently to allow
the opposition to throw bricks at IL |
One is now hearing around Washington |
the objections to his nomination There |
are three big ones. One is his decS- |
ions when a United States Circuit Judga
against organized labor. He was an
injunction" Judge. AnOther is the hos
tility of the negro vote, because Secra-
tary Taft stood with the President fin.
ally In the Brownsville case. The third
Is that some years ago he made speech !,
the abolition of trial by jury
The opposition to him dwetls much up
On that.
On the other hand, the opposition to
Vice President Fairbanks is saying con-
stantly that he could not be elected
against Bryan if he were nominated.
they like to harp on TINT. because they
believe that helps the Taft boom along.
And every day the contest for the NOM
nation seems to be narrowing down to
hose two men. No one can yet safely
which of the two can conf
T.and the most delegates. There Is
;Dlendid organization for Fairbanks,
md also there IS quiet, effective work
n numerous States. There Is little or
saniZation for Taft. but the President
$ pulling for him, whatever may he
aid to the contrary. and it will be a
;reat force in his favor.
Things will probably come to such a
'oss soon that little trials Of strength
the friends of the two candi-
ates will be made, but thus far Vic" I,
President Fairbanks and his friends
ave been very cautious. They do not !
ct into the limelight. They are aware !
T the old truth that the moment n :
residential candidate gets into the )
pen he becomes a target. Mr.. FAR
anks has made no open move yet for i
he nomination, and no one has heard d
i'm say publicly that he is a candidate.
His lieutenants, however, are very
ctive. They count on the South and 4
n big Northern States to give him
lajority of the 1000 and more dele
ates who will nominate the Republi-
m candidate-Illinois, Indiana, Cali =
,rnia, Pennsylvania, New England, .
nd. perhaps, New York.
Several States hold conventions this :,
ear. and there will be efforts to secure u
for Presidential candi-I :
ates. The politicians are generally .
ary of these early convention indorse- u,e u
ents. but declarations in New jersey ~
sachusetts. Maryland and Rhode :
land. where there are to be conven- e
ons this year. would be mighty inter
ting as showing how the wind is