The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-20
His Chances Believed Best
Now by SlatemakerS.
HAS ORGANIZATION AT WORK
of other Conservative
Candidates for Republican Nom
inatiOn Urged-Taft Boom Not Pro-
gressinE-OpiniOn That Only RoOse-
welt or Cannon Could be Elected

six months the party nominee LOT tht
Presidency would be Vice President
Charles Warren Fairbanks. Material
changes may be brought about before
the date for the convention, sixteen or
seventeen months hence but that Mr..
Fairbanks has a decided advantage now
is adInitted, even by Republicans who do
not favor his nomination.
Mention Of the fear Of some Of MI
Fairbanks friends that Mr.. Aldrich's
threat TO offer ii resolution providing for
an investigation Of alleged political dis
elimination against the negro in the
South has interfered with the Vice Pres
idents chances. has added to the dis
/ cussion of the position he occupies at
present The belief has become general
and well-iuformed Republicans say It IS /
warranted by the facts-that the cid
guard Of the dominant party, the element
that gathered around Marcus a. Hanna
in his lifetime has gained control of
the Republican organization in the
Southern States, and, moreover, is max
/ ing noticeable Roadway toward securing
a foothoid in other parts Of the country.
I This does not necessarily mean that MIR
( Fairbanks is favored in the States named.
/ Of course. for, while he undoubtedly be-
I longs TO what is now called the conscrva-
tive wing OF the party, there are several
other tentative candidates for the nomi-
nation who are also conservative.
Conservatives Gaining strength.
The important point to begin with is
that according 10 advices brought %
1 3D.
ton to know. President Roosevelt and his
friends. who differ from other members
of their party in the matters of the con-
troll of corporations. the tariff. income
and Inheritance taxes, and other issues,
are no longer In a position TO give orders
IN the Southern States. and that in all
human probability the delegates from
those States 20 the convention next year
VIII favor the nomination Of q conserya-
tive
The next point to be considered appar-
entity, is that, with conditions as they are
at preseat, Mr. Fairbanks has a better
chance TO secure the prize Jhau any OF the
other conservative candidates
Talk Of Secretary Root as the Republ-
can standard bearer has not been heard
3
friend and adviser of the President. Alr.
Root is classed as a conservative-in other
words as one who is inclined to favor
what is known rs vested rights. and to
deprecate attacks on corporations such
as some Republicans say the President IS
continually making. In the language Of
relative of his. Mr.. Root would make
an excellent President. but as poor Il
candidate as the dominant party could
select Re is not magnetic. and he is not
popular, in the commonly accepted mean 4
iEg OF that word. Nobody doubts his
ability. AID yet nobody who is well in
FORMED thinks that that quality. without
anything else would carry him through .
the convention
Senator Foraker is perhaps the most
prominent conservative who is discussed .
in connection with the Republican a0mi- f.
nation these days. Mr.. Foraker has
Joined issues with the President In tho
Brownsville matter. and has precipitated
party quarrel which sUrpasses anything 4
OF the kind the Republicans have had .
20 deal with IN recent years. His course .
since the beginning of the present ses-
sion OF Congress has had the effect OF f.
making him immensely popular among
the negroes of the country, no doubt; but
something besides negro votes are needed .
20 nominate and elect a President
Might Not Control Ohio.
Tt is not even certain that Mr. Foraker
could control the convention delegates .
from his own State owing TO the fac (
tional fighting which has been IL progress /
there for some time past Mr.. Foraker /
opposed the rate bill. and voted against
It, This fact, brought out in cam /
paign. would hardly add TO his popular
strength.
Secretary Shaw is not generally re-
garded rs a probability. He is opposed +
by a faction Of the Republican party
in his own State, as is Mr.. Foraker He
viii retire from the Cabinet soon. and
viii enter the commercial field, where
his opportunities for political activity
viii be less numerous than they have
I been.
I OF the Roosevelt Republicans who are
/ looked on as possibilities, Secretary Taft
I is easily the foremost The tentative an
nOunCement of his candidacy two OF thre.
weeks ago has not met with anything
/ Ike "a general or enthusiastic response.
and. despite the common belief that ne
I Is President RoOseveIt's choice for the
nomination. political observers do not
regard him as a formidable contestant at
I the present time. The reasons for his
uHavailabillty in certain directions have
already been pointed out in detail and
are generally understood.
After going over the situation thorough
ly, and applying the process Of elimiHa-
ton. the slatemakeTs come back TO the
opinion thar with the situation as it is
now, the Vice President has the inside
track IN spite Of his attitude with refer
ence 10 corporations his much talked
of lack Of magnetism and other things
which naturally would be expected TO
render him less available than he might
be.
E7,i,r,.,,r-- NJ o--.,