The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-02-06
SECRETARY TAFT
HAS THE HOUSE
ROLL OF REPRESENTATIVES, IN
WASHINGTON SHOWS HIM VERY
STRONG.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. IA
private poll of the Republican men,
bers of the House Of Representatives
so far as it indicates anything, shows
Secretary Of War Taft to be far in the
lead for the Republican nomination
for president This poll was undertake
en- to get the genuine personal choice
Of the members ana Of the thirty-siX
states having Republican members OF
the House. Secretary Taft was men
toned by some one on the delegation
in twenty-four of these states. As
further indication Of his strength he
showed a clear majority over all other
candidates among the members of
nineteen Of these states, which have
in the aggregate $50 delegates in the
next Republican convention.
There will be in the next Republican
convention $50 delegates from all the
states and territories OF this number
7G6 are from states having Republican
members in the House. OF this latter
number the representatives in the
house of states having 1SG votes were
either noncommittal or no one candi-
date gained a majority of all the men,
bers who expressed their choice One
of these which is significant as indi-
eating the undecided condition in the
Republican ranks of that state, was
New York, where more representatives
expressed themselves favorably to Sec
rotary Taft than for any other single
candidate, out the secretary failed to
get a majority of those representa-
tives who expressed choice as be-
tween all the candidates
The basis on which the poll was talk
en- procludes the idea of setting forth
in too great detail how the members
outspoken for the candidacy of Secre-
tary Taft, but others, who are either
embarrassed by conditions at home or
are contrary in their views with the
actual conditions in their districts,
would not care to have their real views
set forth at this time. 1t is safe to
say, however, that Secretary Taft is
the personal choice of a large major
ity of the House, in which choice the
members represented the true senti-
some Of those who expressed a person
al choice for some other candidate.
Speaker Cannon ran second in the
poll in every particular, and it can be
said that i'm each instance were sup
port for his candidacy was accorded,
that support was sincere and the men
giving it will be at work for him from
now until the convention meets. He
showed strength enough to muster a
majority of the members from states
having lightweight delegates in the
convention, including the ffty-four
from Illinois. Furthermore, the speak
er was fayorably mentioned by mem
bers from thirteen different states.
No other candidate was able to mus
ter votes outside his own state except
GOV. Hughes Of New York, who did
not, however show strength enough in
New York to have its votes credited TO
him. Senator Knox, who is the favor
lite son Of Pennsylvania, has to his
credit as a result of the poll the sixty
eight votes Of that state He was men
toned by members of the House from
two states, while Gov Hughes was
favordbly mentioned in four states.
Nice-President Fairbanks mustered
the thirty votes from Indiana and in
addition was mentioned in four states.
Senator LaFollette showed his conced-
ed ability to control the twenty-siX
votes Of Wisconsin and Senator Fora
ker was mentioned in Ohio, but show
ed no strength sufficient to indicate
that he will get the delegates from any