The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-05-15
STAMPEDE FEARED.
Many Conferences in the Interest of
Secretary Taft Being Held in
Washington.

Republlcan leaders in congress are
working earnestly on a plan to pre-
vent any break at the Chicago con-
vention that might disrupt party har-
mony and endanger defeat at the polls
IN November. Conferences have been
held at both ends Of the capitol
among such men as Senators Aldrich,
Hale, Allison and Crane, and Repres-
entativcs Payne and SSherman, Of
New York; Tawney, Of Minnesota;
Jenkins, Of Wisconsin, and Smith, of
Iowa. They have been directed to one
end-a nomination on the first ballot,
by which they mean Wm. II. Taft.
While no definite result has been
reached, they helieve their efforts will
be successful. Most of the men fieur-
ing promptly in this movement were
numbered against Taft early in the
campaign, but party policy and the
necessity for harmony, which have
been manifest in Republican ranks
since the disastrous results Of the
Blainc-C -Conklin fucd, has awakened
demand that personal desires be sub
ordlnatcd to the will Of the majority.
lhat the efforts Of the group Of lead
erS back OF the harmony movement
have not been barren Of results is in
dlcatcd by the fact that to number
OF conferences have been invited such
men as Senators Hcminway, Penrosc,
Cullom, Hopkins and Depew, and Rep
rcscntatives Parsons and Vreeland, of
New York; Boutell and Mann, of Illi-
nois; Burke and Dalzcll. of Pcnnsyl
vanla; Watson and Lands, of Tndi-
ana, and others who are backing the
candidates. of Vicc-Presdcnt Fair
banks, Speaker Cannon, Senator
Knox or Governor Hughes.
No attempt is made to disguise tine
TACT that the real impetus to such a
concerted movement in the interest
Of Secretary Taft is the refusal Of
the Roosevelt sentiment to be snuff
ed out and the danger Of such scnti-
mcnt spreading to an extent that
might be difficult of control at Chica-
go.
At the same time il IS sad the
movement is not hostile TO President
Roosevelt, who admittedly occupies
the position Of command in The forces.
He has made it perfectly plain that
nothing can come Of the renewed calls
for his denomination which have been
made in Texas, Utah and California,
and he is prepared to reject any prof
Ter of support no matter how extend
ed.
The uttermost limit of endeavor Of
the Republican leaders who are striv-
ing to harmonic party difficulties is
to eliminate all candidates for the
nomination except Secretary Taft, but
1t is not anticipated that all of the
candidates readily agree to this pro-
position. Supporters of Senator Knox
are particularly opposed to the plan,
and one of the other candidates is
holding out strongly that there is no
immediate demand for agreement.
At the same time there are leaders in
Illinois, Indiana, Pnnsvivania and
New York who are parties to the
movement with the knowledge Of the
favorite son candidates Of those Sta
tes
The selection of Secretary Taft as
the beneficiary Of the harmony fac
tlon is made because Of the fact that
he IS the only candidate who has Suf-
ficlcnt instructed votes to promise an
early nomination. The argument of
the harmony faction is that if Taft
should fail to secure the nomination
of the ballot the allies were able to
hold out against him it would mean
contest Of many ballots. These lead
ers 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
stampede can only be surmised. The
possible dire results upon the cam
paign for the election of the candi-
date, whoever he may be, is one Of
the arguments used to draw the So
called allies into the harmony pro-
gramme.
Republican leaders concede that
their majority in the house is likely