Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-05-14
A HARMONY Plan
REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN CON
oREss FEAR STAMPEDE TO
ROOSEVELT AT CHICAGO.
WANT TAFTOMFIRsTDALLOT
Those Opposed to the Secretary A
First Now Think Party Safety
Demands His Early
Nomination.

Washington. May 12.--RepublicaI
leaders in congress are now working
earnestly on plan to prevent any
break at the Chicago convention thai
might disrupt party harmony and en-
danger success at the polls In Novem
Der. Conferences have been held al
both ends Of the capitol among such
men as Senators Aldrich, Hale, ALI
son and Crane, and Representatives
Payne and Sherman Of New York,
Tawney OF Minnesota, Jenkins Of Wis
consin and Smith Of Iowa; In fact,
meetings of small groups from this
list have been of almost daily occur
renee for more than a week. They
have been directed to one end-a
nomination on the first ballot by
which they mean William H. Taft.
While no definite result has been
reached they believe their efforts will
be successful.
Most of the men figuring prominent
ly in this movement were numbered
against Taft early In the campaign,
but party policy and the necessity for
harmony, which have been manifest
on the Republican ranks since the dis
astrous results of the Blaine-C onklin
feud, has awakened demand that per-
sonal desires be subordinated to the
will Of the majority, That the efforts
of the group of leaders back Of the
harmony movement have not been
barren of results is indicated by the
fact that to number of the confer
ences have been called such men as
Senators Hemenway, Penrose, Cullom,
Hopkins and Depew, and Represents
tives Parsons and Vreeland of New
York, Boutell and Mann Of Illinois,
Burke and Dalzell Of Pennsylvania,
Watson and Lands of Indiana and
others who are backing the candi-
dacles of Vice President Fairbanks,
Speaker Cannon, Senator Knox Of
Governor Hughes.
No attempt is made to disguise the
fact that the real impetus to such q
concerted movement in the interest Of
Secretary Taft is the refusal of Roose.
welt sentiment to be snuffed out and
the danger Of such sentiment spread
ing to an extent that might be diff
cult Of control at Chicago. At the
same time 1t is said the movement Is
not hostile to President Roosevelt,
who admittedly, occupies the position
of command In the Taft forces. He
has made 1t perfectly plain mat moth
ing can come of the renewed calls for
his denomination, which have been
made In Texas, Utah and California
as he is prepared to reject any prefer
of support no matter how extended.
The uttermost limit of endeavor of
the. Republican leaders who are striv-
ing to harmonic party differences is
to eliminate all candidates for the
nomination except Secretary Taft but
1t is not anticipated that all of the
candidates readily will agree to this
The selection of Secretary Taft as
the beneficiary of harmony action is
made because of the fact that he IL
the only candidate who has sufficient
instructed votes to promise an early
The argument of the har-
mony faction is that II Taft should
fail to secure the nomination on the
first ballot, and the allies were able to
hold out against him 1t would mean
convention contest Of many ballots.
These leaders have little doubt that
In such a contingency the Roosevelt
third-term sentiment would threaten q
stampede and though they have little
doubt that the president would not
hesitate to squelch any proposition
looking to his denomination, the effect
OF such a stampede can only be sur
missed. The possible dire results upon
the campaign for the election Of the
whoever he may be, is one
Of the arguments used to draw the
so-called allies into the harmony
program.