The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-01

Ohio Man Said to Be
Choice in Every
District.

Al the Taft headquarters the state
mept was made last evening that. with
advices at hand from every district in
Minnesota, the State was positively
claimed foc Taft. Every district will be
for the Ohio man. ana instructions VIII
be secured.
This statement was the result OF a
careful investigation OF the Minnesota
situation, which has been giving the
Taft people much wOrry. The outbreak
Of La Toilette sentiment there was u
surprise The rapidly and effectiveness
with which the La Toilette people or
ganiZed themselves was another Occa-
sion az WOnderment. Finally, the diff
hculty OF getting the Taft forces into
manageable shape was a serious i'm
pediment FOR some time.
Strong for Ohio Man.
But it is now claimed that Minnesota
is finally and securely for the Buckeye
candidate. The La Toilette people laugh.
and insist that the state is stronger
tor their man than ever before, ana
that the Taft people know it is, and are
claiming it because It is time TO drop
the hght.
This is not all; the Taft bureau also
Put out the claim last evening that
unquestionably taken into camp. They
expect 10 set the delegation at large
and every Congressional district OF the
State,
West Virginia has been counted a
Knox State: in any event the anti-Taft
people expected to control II, and the
disposition has. been to concede II TO
them. But lately the Taft forces have
been doing some quiet work there. as
a result OF which their bulletin last
evening placed the State securely in
their column.
While they do not insist that they
have an absolute majority Of TIE con
vention assured. the Taft people do
claim that the night is over. Their tone
has changed. and It IS said that their
policy is going TO change forthwith.
Forced to Pledges.
Hereafter they will be out for instruc-
tions. States whose kindly considera-
ton was cheering and satisfying to
them a fortnight ago are now asked to
instruct. They want nothing less than
iron-clad pledges.
Thus Minnesota, the two Dakotas.
and Nebraska would have looked good
10 the Taft managers a month ago IL
they would have been reasonably assured
OF friendly delegations without instruc-
tons. Now they are declaring that they
viii instruct, and that in other States
they are going to do likewise.
One more evidence of-or rather rea-
son for-the confidence OF the Taft
management is to be found in the re-
suit OF a canvass Of the Republican ma
tional committee. recently made by
Manager Frank II. Hitchcock. The
complexion OF the committee has been
in doubt ever since the meeting in De-
cember 10 make preliminary arrange
ments for the national convention. At
that time Mr.. Hitchcock was a COrtel-
you man and he dumped in most of the
south 20 vote ii locate the con-
ventfon at Chicago. so as to beat Taft
On the strength of that vote, IN which
the anti-Taft forces. plus the votes
Hitchcock and Cortelyou controlled. de-
feated Taft. There has been a good
deal OF fnsistence that the anti-Taft
people were in domination. ana that, In
case Of a long list Of contests, the COM
rnittee would organize an anti-Taft
convention.
Found the Facts.
So il became necessary for the Hitch
cock Organization-NIr Hitchcock hav-
ing meantime been seen by mis- great
and good friend at the White House,
and taken into the Taft camp-to find
out the facts about this national COM
mittee. 1t is not known in just what
language Mr.. Hitchcock explained to
his late allies in the anti-Taft cause
how he happened to have ho9ped. but
anyhow he took up with them the ques-
ton OF their views at the present time
~ he G
given out from the Taft headquarters
last evening:
That the Taft people unquestionably
control the committee. by rather close
hut safe majority.
That the committee is not going to
make up a temporary ron call that viii
be anti-Taft.
That the committee viii frown upon
any scheme % Juggling numerous con-
tests into the convention.
The anti-Taft combination has been
claiming ill recently that they con-
troIIed the national committee by a
majority of at least five, probably by
seven. The claim has been doubted by
shrevgd politicians, who know that the
national committee is a good deal OF a
weathervane itself. more disposed to
show which way the wind blows than
10 stir up much Of a wind itself
II Is thought altogether probable. by
outsiders. that NOBODY controls the ma
tionai committee at this time, It Is go
ing TO be for the winner, and It viii
know who he is before it alights
Meantime the claim OF the TAFT peO-
pie stands as the most authoritative
and authentic to date. It is claimed
to be based on a poll.
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