The Washington times., 1908-06-14
With All Signs Pointing to
Taft, Fickie Fancy
Is Feared.
POWER
IS STRONGLY FELT
Real Fight for Choice Begins Tues
day-Dolliver Still a Favor
tie for Second Place.
By ]. c. wELLIVER.

By J. c. WELLIVER.
CHICAGO. June 13.-With the clear
ing out Of the convention Hobbies close
TO the midnight hour tonight, the drst
period of the national conventions ac-
tivity ended Tomorrow the great gath
erIng VIII enter upon its second stage
Thus far the business has been in the
hands of the managing politicians; in its
second phase. the gathering viii be III
charge Of those sent from the people
TO name the party's Presidential choice
In the intermediate period OF relaxa-
ton which the Sabbath will AFFORD
there viii be opportunity TO consider
whether in the transfer OF control from
managers 10 delegates any significant
tendencies viii be. brought about.
The history OF national conventions
has proved them highly unmanageable
aggregations. Time and time again the
best-I~ii plans have gone awry almost
from tie moment when the reins Of
power we're turned over TO the cOuven-
ton Itself.
Completes Hanna's Work.
But it is an interesting and possibly
Illuminating commentary that the highly
organized one-man convention has ccn-
monty performed according tc program.
Marcus A. Hanna. who. by his genius
for organization. brought the Republican
party 10 its present perfection OF al
most military responsiveness TO au-
thority, was not in the habit Of having
his conventions betray his arrangements.
And a greater man than he yields the
power, thousand miles distant from
this gathering. Theodore Roosevelt has
strengthened and perfected the organi-
zatioD which Hanna made. and has to
spireC>a degree Of personal loyalty and
devotion among the rank and file such
as no political captain in recent time
has been able to secure
This is Theodore RooseVeH's conVsu-
ton 20 nominate his candidate; TO
perfect II pe-petuate his organization: .
10 write down his policies as the policies
Of the party. II would be little less
than a miracle Of politics II the cor
ventton should do aught else than to
carry ous the purposes Of its acknowI-
edged master.
Facing the Crisis.
Nevertheless, however small may be
the possibility OF a hitch incident to
transferring control from the pre-
liminary managers TO the delegates. tie
moment is at hand when thar transfer
must be made. and there will be acute
interest until the crisis shall have
passed.
oh, for a real. magnetic, compelling.
dramatic figure Of the first national
MAGNITUDE. who could come here at the
psychic moment ard VocaIize in moving
measures the real sentiment which
seems destined never TO be voiced, and
therefore never to be voted!''
Such was the plant of a leader among
the allies" as he dejectedly admitted
that the convention seemed certain 10
continue for another week obeylng its
clders from Washington as literally as
it has done during the past week.
A crown OF thorns and cross Of goId''
speech at the right moment might cas-
lily play hob with arrangements: and Is
one studies thoroughly the psychology
Of the gathering at this hour, he is
forced TO recognize the astuteness OF
those wise elders, who. being willing IN
have done with Theodore Roosevelt.
declined to give Beveridge the oDpor-
| tuntty to play on the enthusiasm, the
emotions, and the real sentiment Of the
thousand delegates.
"AIlies" Will Fight.
Nobody questions now that the al
lies" intend to go the entire road. They
are organizing 10 fight for control OF
the credentials committee and TO carry
that fight from the committee to the
convention. Every 'favorite son" Is
going t. stay for all the votes he can
get, and the steam roller will have "a
| be kept in commission to the very end
or the ballot on which the nomination
is made
There VIII be plenty of good lighting
before the weeks end. The Admins
tration platform win be the subject OF
a long and determined contest in the
resolutions committee, and there is. rea-
son for more than a suspicion that the
Administration may be compelled to
submit 10 unWelcOms notifications or
some Of its pet declarations.
There probably Will be a contest over
the committees craftsmanship. as in
deed there viii for every other chair
manship. Frank Hitchcock, the Taft
| manager. this afternoon ma is the sig
niticant statemena that noe a single
Craftsmanship of a convention commit
tee had yet been determined. Mr..
Hitchcock went into no details, ana
provided no explanatory appendix vita
this remark. But the casual observa-
tiOn was circulated by opponents OF
Senator Hopkins, as possibly indicate
ing that the time may be approaching
when the Hopkins idea, having served
its purpose Of keeping the stand pat
| ters' anesthetized, Hopkins NAV be
due TO walk the plank and give place
to somebody better representative OF
progressive ideals.
Certain 1t is that many vital features
Of the platform construction are yet tc
be determined. In the remarkable ma
tion-wide fluidity OF opinion and Iaxity
of party loyalty now prevalent. it il
recognized that q determininglmIno
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