The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-01-16
TAFT is BOOMING
Strength In Every Section of Country
Indicates War SeGetary's Nom
inatiOn On First Ballot.
Strength Of "FaVorite Sons" Limited
to Their Own States, With Taft
Acknowledged First Choice Of
Many in States Credited to opposl-
tion.
Especial Correspondence.)

Especial Correspondence.)
Washington, d. c., Jan. 4-One Of
the Century dictionary definitions OF
boom" is: "a sudden increase in ac-
tivity; a rush-specitically in politics,
a movement seeming spontaneous in
favor of candidate for Office, or IN
behalf of some cause"
No definition more accurately de-
scribes the status of the Taft presi-
dental candidacy today. 1t is boom
in the full sense of the word. The
sudden increase in activity, the rush
and the Spontaneity are everywhere
evident. 1t is the real thing, and can
not be mistaken. If mathematics are
needed to establish it's identity, that
is an easy matter
Boom is the word which applies to
the Taft movement only. Several
weeks ago there was a Roosevelt
boom, but the president put an end to
it when he reaffirmed the declaration
he made three years ago, that under
no circumstances would he be a can
didate again or accept another nom-
ination. There are other candidates
for the Republican presidential NOM
ination, notably the vice president,
Speaker Cannon, Senate Knox Of
Pennsylvania Senator LaFollette Of
Wisconsin, Senator Foraker of Ohio,
and possibly Governor Hughes of New
York. Bit none of them has yet seen
the first signs of a boom. They may
be waiting anxiously for the "spon-
taneous rush" = their favor, but it
is mighty slow in materializing.
Expectations Fully Realized.
The Taft boom had it's inception a
month or two before the war secre-
tary started for the Philippines.
While he wa in the orient it ran
counter to the Roosevelt boom and
seemed to sag about in the doldrums
But 1t gained headway again immedi-
ately after the president squelched
the so-called third term movement,
and few days prior to the return Of
the secretary from abroad. 1t had
been anticipated that a decided impe-
tus would be impaired to the Taft
movement at that time and the expec-
tations OF his friends, likewise the ap-
prehensions of his political opponents,
have been fully realized. His boom is
now healthy, vigorous, and in athletic
qualities is improving every day. The
betting men who, while sometimes
knowing nothing of political affairs,
seem to be able instinctively to pick
a winner in any kind of a race, are
already beginning to lay wagers on
lAe Ohio man as against the field.
Reports from various sections of
the country indicate that while the
other candidates are making no head
way, the Taft forces are making ma
terial progress in almost every direc-
tion. The political mathematicians
and forecasters are at work this early
figuring out how many delegates the
secretary of war is assured of already.
Scarcely any calculations are made
which do not give him already more
than three hundred votes in the con-
vention, which is still five and a half
months away. Although these COM
putations are supposed to be impair
tial, they do not give the other candi-
dates anything more than their own
state delegations.
FaVorite Sons Strength.
The Republican national conven.
tion will comprise $50 delegates, of
whom 956 will represent the 46 states
and IA the territories and colonial
possessions. A majority, or the mum.
ber necessary to nominate, is 491. The
following table shows approximately
what strength the candidates now op-
posed to Secretary Taft are able to
count upon this time:
Candidate and State. No. Deltes
Fairbanks, Indiana .....,,, 80
Cannon, Illinois ........... "a