The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-04-08
TAFT IS FAR AHEAD
BUT NOT SURE
OF WINNING
Hughes Is No Longer Consid'
cred in the Race
VIEWS OF JOHN E. HARRIS
Says That Washington IL Still FIaur.
ms on Forcing Roosevelt to Be
the Candidate.

Since my last former communication
to the Banner. some time since, /
have been waiting to see II something
might not appear above the horizon
pointing conclusively TO the result OF
the presidential contest, but today and
here that result seems no more clear
ly defined than six weeks ago In the
first place | wish you TO bear in mind
that whatever opinions | may express
are the consensus of opinion here on
the subject. disalowing any personal
inclination.
Above | used the word contest"
but am not yet sure that there is
one or Is to be one. The situation Is
a most remarkable and unprecedented
one. Thus far, Taft has been opposed
by no individuality as candidate.
Whatever opposition to him that has
appeared has been only a sentiment.
II has had the backing Of no person
ality. The other supposed candidates
have shown no individuality or
strength whatever In their own right
The sole opposition has been the UNI
willingness of. the people here and
there to submit 10 the presidents die
tation OF his successor. This princi-
pie however. is not aggressive. 1t
does not inspire enthusiasm. Taft
talks and shakes hands and does
things, the principle doesn't. While
thoughtful people mildly resent the
presidential choice of successor and
respect the policy of non-interference
by the executive, yet Taft is the only
real man who moves around them and
has something positive to say. This
must and does account for whatever
success has attended the Taft move
ment thus far 1t is the only real
movement" Beyond the admitted
fact that the other alleged candidates
have their own states, they are in cold
storage. The Frenchman's horse
took first money at the races because
there was only one entry and no dis
lance flag up. If Taft wins it will be
by default. Ii will be because he had
no red-blooded opposition.
From the point of view OF his friends
he is as good as nominated. From the
standpoint of the opposition. he never
can be. He now has considerably
less than two hundred instructed fol
him and uncontested To nominate
49l are required. Perhaps he is go
ing to get them, but how and where
1t is foolish to disguise the fact tina
Hughes--from this distance-inspire'
no hope, courage or enthusiasm what
ever. In Washington he is not seri
ously considered. He Is not con
sidered at all. Here, Cannon, Fair
banks and Knox have the call, in tina
order. Or IL may be a rank outsider
Unless Taft can secure three hun
dred more pledged votes, the oppOs
ton must unite on some name a
Chicago in order to effect the nom
nation of any one. II may be done a
Grant and his immortal 800 were d.
feated, or as at the last moment MI
Foster was nominated for congress 70
the first time. Ii Is believed her,
outside administration circles. that
can and will be done. Allowing, fC
the sake of argument, that the con
bined opposition will control the COZ
vention, who could they unite on?
incidentally. here is serious matte
for considerations Practically the e.
lAllt oOuAn VIII NC tltu up OtIOiC Il
convention by contested delegation
Approximately $50 votes are in Il
balance. With all these contests
cided in his favor. Taft might posi-
ly be nominated. With all of them
cided against him, he certainly cou
not be. Any compromise would
unjust aud cowardly. With all the
delegates at stake, possibly enough
, settle the question, whichever way Il
= national committee decides the matt
. is more than likely to cause a colo
= sal row. 1t may split the conventit
and cause bolt. There Is going
! be lots of heated blood there, al
g trouble will arise on slight provoc
. ton. Any view of the future must
% clude these possibilities. Incident;
% ly 1t may be said that the Taft del
g gates from the southern states ha'
% been elected without the cooperate
or votes of the negroes 1t is said
be a fact that there Is a majority
from ten to fifteen in the nation
committee against seating any de-
- gates whose election was broug
about by ignoring the colored vol
If this Is true, there is trouble abe;
for large number Of people.
In order to state the situation, tn
may be asserted: Taft lacks tod
approximately three hundred votes
a nomination. All the other con,
dates lack somewhere around fo
hundred and fifty. Mr.. Roosevt
\ does not lack any. If he would gi
his consent, even by silence, he won
N sweep the convention as lorna,
y sweeps u chicken yard. What 9th
republican could easily be nominal,
and certainly elected by an unpi
cedented majority. Amid all b
racket and claims and tumult and u
n certainty the republican leaders a
IN asking themselves this serious que
y ton and finding but one answer.
is inevitable therefore. that the fe
ing that Roosevelt must be re-non
mated Is growing by leaps and bount
In him only is seen certain salvati
and triumphant victory for the par
What he may desire or say or Obje
to has nothing to do with the case.
must bow to the insistence of Gig
or ten millions of voters. He cam
help 1t. And there you are.
| have not given you guesses
political bias or hopes or suspicio
or wishes; simply the bare facts
the situation as II exists today. G,
slider them as you please.
! J. Il. Harris