The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-02-23
WHO IS OUR NEXT BIG CHIEF?
Republican Talks Of Many Men
to Run in 1903
BRYAN IS DEM0CRACY'S CHOICE
GOVERNOR FOLK is THE ONLY
OTHER POSSIBLE CANDIDATE
AT PRESENT WRITING.

rests rather heavy upon public men
during the short session of con-
gress, those who manage affairs and
whose opinions have weight in the
party councils are finding the time
to discuss the relative merits of pros
pective candidates for the presidential
campaign of 1908. 1t is significant
fact that up to the present no name
in connection with the democratic side
of the coming campaign is mentioned
seriously save that of Mr.. Bryan. This
does not mean that other distinguish
ed democrats are void OF ambition or
that the party has not available presi-
Dental timber, but it does seem to
indicate that by common consent the
man who has twice made an unsuccess-
full race, may stand a better chance
of nomination under changed cOndi-
tons and changed public opinion than
any other man today prominent in the
party.
Social Republican Candidates
In the republican party there are
quite a number of men whose quail
ifications are being carefully and seri-
ously considered by leaders, and al
though the time for election is still
in the future, by the process of elimin-
alton efforts are being made to cen
tralize public opinion around some one
man who may be found to stand head
and shoulders above his peers. Upon
whom choice may finally rest is ques-
ton that could not now be answered
and probably will not be answered
until the very eve of the convention.
That President Roosevelt will do all
within his power to assist in the cleo
ton of man who will continue the
policies brought into existence and
given force and effect by the presi-
dent, no one can doubt who under
stands the individuality and sincerity
of Mr.. Roosevelt. No matter how men
may disagree with him, few are so
bold as to charge the president with
insincerity.
Therefore, it is reasonable to sup
pose that if the president can con-
troll the convention he would swing
it for the one man in whom he has
confidence that nothing can shake
Secretary Taft. The only thing that
may prevent the war secretary from
being candidate would be a vacancy
in the supreme court justiceship. He
is judicial in temperament and re-
Gently in an official statement admit
ted there were certain objections to
him that might make him unavailable
as a presidential candidate. If Chief
Justice Fuller retires during the term
of President Roosevelt, the probability
is that Mr.. Taft would accept this
place. as he looks upon it as a position
worthy the ambition of any man in
this country.
All Idle Talk.
With the secretary OF war eliminated
it is difficult to see in what direction
the president might turn for the kind
of a man he would like to see as his
successor The talk that Mr.. ROOse-
welt. himself, would again be can
didate is idle.
Vice-President Fairbanks, perhaps,
up to this time has the most perfect
and effective organization. He is an
avowed candidate and his friends in
all sections of the country are ener-
getically at work. Although it is not
admitted. there are several bureaus
engaged in dissemin ating Fairbanks
literature and otherwise keeping their
candidate to the forefront. Mr.. Fair
banks makes no secret of his ambi-
ton and his friends are in constant
communication with his Washington
headquarters. If the suggestion of one
of the prominent Chicago papers, made
within the last few days, should be
carried out, Mr.. Fairbanks would have
opposition in his own state. This pa
per in a vigorous editorial called at
tention to the policies of the present
administration, to which it gives cor
dial approval, and declared that if
these policies were to be perpetuated
the one man who might be counted
upon to do so was Senator Beverage,
of Indiana This paper declares that
in the coming campaign the fight must
be on the issues as defined by Mr..
Roosevelt and not upon the personal
qualities of any candidate. and upon
this assumption it declares that the
senior senator from Indiana is the
ideal candidate.
Many State Contests.
In the list of those who may be de.
! signated as avowed candidates, the
name of Leslie M. Shaw, secretary of
| the treasury, must be placed. Mr.
Shaw retires from office March 8 and
will then be at liberty to devote his
| time to the advancement of his own
| interests. In some of the southern
states Mr.. Shaw is understood to be
particularly strong and is said to
have built up an organization that is