The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-06-12


being warned ard being, Of course. un-
able to detect his absence, brought his
remarks to an end. The instant he
sat down Aldrlch ST ang to his feet,
secured the floor and demanded that
votiha begin.
Soue Possible Political Effects.
The day after La Follette's defeat
in this fight Washington was buzzins
with speculation as to whether the Bit
terness which he manifested would
not result in his openly abandoning the
Republican party. This do not be-
lieve, although agree with the very
generally expressed opinion that the
treatment, of the Wisconsin senator by
the other Republicans in the senate and
by the. vice president will so long
way toward making Wisconsin doubt
full state this year. AS presiding
officer Mr.. Fairbanks adopted tactics
that would make the late Tom Reed
and the present Joe Cannon wonder at
their own moderation. The only SEN
ator on the floor whom he seemed able
to see was Aldrich, and lie responded
to the arguments and even to the ges-
lures of that somewhat notorious legis
lative agent Of the trusts, monOpolies
and plutocratic forces with docility
that was amazing. He invented prec-
edents and shattered old ones. Per-
haps the senate never saw one OF its
members SO thoroughly incensed as
was Senator Hepburn of Idaho at the
cavalier fashion in which he was treat
ed. The remark was current that If
Fairbanks should be renominated for
vice president he would need to look
out for the Idaho vote.
The Chicago Contests.
Secretary Dover Of the Republican
national committee reports that there
are more than 200 contested seats for
the Chicago convention. 1t Is to be
kept in mind that primarily these con-
tests are to be settled by the present
national committee, which is notori-
ously hostile to Taft. This committee
will make up the preliminary roll CT
the convention, and these 200 seats
may give the anti-Taft people control
of it's organization. In passing upon
credentials politicians are peculiarly
cold blooded. Questions OF justice sell
dom enter into consideration. All the
hopes of the anti-Taft people center
upon these 200 seats. For my own
part, l do not believe that Taft can
now be, beaten, and am decidedly in
clined to the opinion that the man
who should beat him would have
sorrowful time in the campaign unless
that man should be Roosevelt himself,
and through a specially favored White
House correspondent the president has
put out another announcement Of his
purpose not to run. ~
Democratic Progress.
The result Of the Texas, New Hamp-
shire, West Virginia, New Mexico and
Arizona conventions added siXty-two
instructed delegates to the Bryan col
umn and eight delegates from New
Hampshire who are not instructed, but
who are all avowed advocates of the
nomination of the Nebraskan. The
name of no other candidate was men-
toned in any Of these conventions.
This gives Mr.. Bryan 553 absolutely
instructed votes. Furthermore, out of
the fourteen votes Of Connecticut at
least six are for him. In Florida there
has been some misunderstanding not
readily explainable at this distance.
The vote in that state Is by direct pri-
maries and not by convention, and
it was supposed that the delegates had
been chosen and all were for Bryan
But it appears that owing to some in
formality or irregularity in the proce-
dure new primaries must be held III
six districts. There is no expectation.
however, that the reported result will
be changed. Seven out Of the eight
Rhode Island votes are his and twelve
votes from Maine. In brief, the friends
Of Mr. Bryan may rely today upon 500
fOleS W DeuNSl, uluSa bohS SAoh
majority, enabling, even should there
be unexpected reverses later, the Bry-
an men to organize the convention.
But there is no reason to anticipate
reverses. The daily report of the ac-
ton of country conventions indicate
tSlt there will be little serious hostili-
ty to him in the convention Of the Old
Dominion. For some time there was
rather general opinion that Louisiana
might send an anti-Bryan delegation,
but Congressman Favrot, who returned
to that state recently, said that word
had come to him that not only would
the delegation be favorable, but that
it would be easy to secure Instructions
Congressman Pujo, who has not been
favorable to Mr.. Bryan. only the other
day gave up the fight and conceded his
state. It has been an interesting fea-
ture Of the discussion, particularly here
in Washington, that so many of the
leaders have been somewhat op-
posed to this nomination, but that all
concede that it is demanded by their
constituents.
The Rival Candidates.
There has been no change in the ex-
tent of the support Of either Judge
Gray or Governor Johnson. Judge
Gray's friends are making 4 canvass