The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-02-08
PRESIDENTIAL POSSIBILITIES.
Wen That Are Spoken Of In This Con-
nectlon by Both Parties. j.

HM WHSllluEFUu, rcN ~ -NfpoNAs1. ~
| though the pressure OF congressional
Duties rest rather heavy upon pub
! lie men during the short session OF
d congress, those who manage affairs
land whose opinions have weight in
the party councils are finding the
time to discuss the relative merits
| of prospective candidates for the
|.presidential campaign of 1908. IT is
h significant fact that up to the pres
lent no name in connection with the
democratic side of the coming cam
paign Is mentioned seriously save that
IN Mr.. Bryan. This does not mean
That other distinguished democrats are
void of ambition or that the party
Mas not available presidential timber,
but II does seem to indicate that by
common consent the men who twice
made an unsuccessful race may stand
better chance OF nomination under
changed conditions and changed pub
|Rsic opinion than any other man today
prominent in the party.
In the republican party there are
quite a number 81 men whose qualif-
cations are being carefully and seri'
ously considered by leaders and al.
| thoueh the time for election Is still
| m the future. by the process Of elimi.
nation efforts are being made to CEN
fraliga 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 question that could not now he
answered and probably will not be
answered until the very eve Of the
convention. That President Roose-
vet will do all within his power TO
assist In the selection Of a man who
will continue the policies brought into
Existence and given force and effect
BIZ the president, no one can doubt
Who understands the individuality and
xincerity Of Mr.. Roosevelt. No matter
how men may disagree with him, few
are so bold ais to charge the presi'
Dent with insinceri;y
Therefore. il Is reasonable TO sup
pose that II the president can control
the convention he would swing II for
HI The one man In wnom he has a con
fidence that nothing can shake-Sec
retary Taft. The only thing that may
prevent the war secretary from being
a candidate would be a vacancy In
The supreme court justiceship. He Il
judicial In temperament and recently
In an Official statement admitted there
were certain objections to him thai
might make him unavailable "a a
presidential candidate. II Chief Jus
tice Fuller retires during the term
M OF President Roosevelt. the probability
Is that Mr.. Taft would accept Thu
place, as he looks upon II as position
worthy the ambition Of any man In
this country.
III With the secretary Of war eliminat
ed, IL IL difficult 10 see In what d.
rection the president might turn for
the kind OF man he would like ia
see as his successor The talk that
Mr. Roosevelt himself would again be
a candidate is idle.
Vice President Fairbanks. perhaps
up to this time has the most perfect
and effective organization. He Is ar
avowed candidate and his friends In
III sections % the country are ener
eetIcaIly at work Although Il Is moi
ndmitted. there are several bureaus
engaged In disseminating Fairbanks
lItsrature and otherwise keeping theii
candidate to the forefront. Mr.. Fair
banks makes no as"'et OF his ambI
Hon and his friends are in constant
Communication with his Washington
headauartere. II the suggestion oi
one Of the prominent Chicago papers
made with:n the last few days. should
H. carried ort, Mr. Fa.,banks woult
hate opposition IN h. own state. Thii
paper In a vigorous editorial called
Mention to the policies o. the pres
ID, administration tn which II give
koId:a! approval AMI declared tina
IA these policies were 10 be perpet
6nied the one man who might b,
- ted upon 10 dp 80 was SenatCt
&eyeridg3, Of indiana This paper Dc
ares that In the coming campaig'
ihe fight must b. on the issues a.
Refined by Mr.. Roosevelt and not up
~ the personal qualities Of any can
tidate. and upon this assumption 4
hectares taht tho senior senator from
indiana "a the ideal candidate.
In tho list Of those who may b.
designated as ayOwed candidates. tn
name Of Leslie NJ. Shaw. ,secretar!
Df the treasury. must BE- placed. Mr.
Shaw rctires from Office March IN,
viii then be- al liberty TO devote hi
lime to tho advancement AZ his owl
Interests. In some N tho southern
btatos Mr. Shaw Is understood 10 b,
particularly strong and Is gaid "a
have built up an organization that Il
laboring TO advance his interests. Hi
strength In the south IL said 10 u,
chiefly In the Atlantic coast. A thor
In the side ~ Mr.. Shaw. however. 4
The candidacy Of Governor Cummins
pf Iowa. Between him and Mr. Shav
md the other stand pat tariff met
the party there has been bite
a.. IA 4.