The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-06-10

een's failure to bring things around in
Illinois and has been trying, apparent
w. to mollify the Speakers wrath. The
Speaker was pledged the support of IL
Iinois, the third largest state in the
Union, at the last state convention.
Vice President Fairbanks has Indi-
ana. 1t is conceded that Senator La
Toilette can have Wisconsin, if he
wants it, although, probably, after a
complimentary vote for him, the ':ele-
CATION would swing the way Roosevelt
wants it to go.
The anti-dictation forces argue that
it will be exceedingly difficult to NOM
mate Republican for President
against the wishes of these great
stronghold states. These States have
an influence far beyond their real vot-
ing strength in a convention. Even If
most of the 300 votes from the South
could be mustered for President Roose-
velt's man, they might be source of
weakness to him. The commercial
character of Southern Republican sup
port and the knowledge that patronage
had been freely used to herd it, would
be a great handicap to a nominee in
fierce Presidential struggle.
AS matter of fact, it is very i'm
probable that Secretary Taft can have
anything like a solid South. The ne
groes and a certain class of the white
politicians are against him, just as the
sugar beet growers of Michigan, Colo
RADIO and Idaho are against him, be-
cause of official acts and personal
utterances that have greatly displeased
them.
The Secretary's Republican oppo-
nents say that, with most of the really
important fields preempted, he can not
grow very rapidly into Presidential
prominence. They concede consid-
cradle majority of the Ohio delegation
to him, even if Senator Foraker con-
tinues on the war path. They also CON-
cede that he may pick up a few States
here and there in the West. Perhaps
he can capture Kentucky next month
when the State convention meets. The
West Virginia Republicans are shouting
for him, chiefly, they say, because Ohio
is a sister State. But Senator Elkins.
who in the last analysis will come very
near to saying how every West Vir-
ginia delegate shall vote, has been in
the opposition confabs of New York and
Washington.
Kansas has virtually jumped into the
Taft bandwagon, but the Kansas poll
ticians have reputation alike for be-
ing '1sooners" and for being nimble at
scrambling OUT Of one wagon into an
other. Most of the Missouri politicians
have declared for him, but 1t is said
Missouri's big delegation will certainly
be divided. The Taft total. in any
event. as his rivals claim. can not be-
come impressive. They say the nomi-
nee will not be known till after the
convention has bailoted. that it is very
improbable any candidate will be as
sured in advance of a majority.
None the less, they will watch close
ly for evidences Of the vitality of the
Taft boom as the Secretary swings
through a big circle of States during
June. He starts now in a few days on
a trip, during which he will inspect
several army posts and do considerable
political campaigning. His managers
are confident he will be greeted with
great enthusiasm and that the DEM
onstrations of popular regard attending
him throughout the enthusiastic and
demonstrative West will give his boom
great impetus.
ERNEST G. WALKER.
.A.@~--