The Washington herald., 1908-05-18

publican national convention at Chicago
next month viii obey Instructions, and
that the contests for seats viii be decid-
ed fayorably toward the administration.
William Howard Taft, Secretary Of War,
win be nominated for President by an
overwhelming vote on the first ballot.
Recently it has been a case of getting
on the band wagon" With State after
State instructing for Taft, his nomina-
ton began to seem such a foregone con-
elusion that doubling Republicans have
quickly jpined the majority.
stiH, with the contest apparently set
tied, there is a possible contingency to
which the Taft people look forw.rd with
apprehension and the Allies with a
hope-a stampede to Roosevelt Tafts
strength represents largely RooseveItism.
Roosevelt First Choice.
With fully one-half of the instructed
delegates Taft is second choice-RooseveIt
frst-and these delegates could disregard
their instruction by voting for Roosevelt
without being called to account by those
who send them to Chicago. That some
of the instructed delegates viii break
away and east their votes for Roosevelt
on the first ballot, is said TO be more than
probable
A story reached Washington q day or
two ago that George A Knight, the we'll
known California orator. who Is q dele
gate 10 the convention. had announced
his intention, regardless of instructions.
to vote for Roosevelt. This report may
not be true. but The fact that California
win vote early in the roll can shows the
possibility CT starting a stampede.
| Moneved Interests in Line.
All the powerful interests which have
been solidly arrayed against Roosevelt
are now not only reeonciled to Taft's
nomination. blt eminently pleased and
satisfied with the outlook. Edward H.
Hartman. who has been in washington
| looking over the situation. is said to be
quietly giving his support TO Taft. The
STANDARD Oil crowd. whose influence per-
meates the whole country. is also credited
with having done no little effective work
/ in a diplomatic and discreet way TO fur
/ ther the Taft candidacy. It Is not averred
] in any quarter that Taft has made terms
1 with the interests" but there is abun-
| dant evidence that they have no fear OF
/ an administration at his hands.
| The undoubted friendliness Of the East,
including Wall street, toward Taft con-
stitutes d factor Of some danger, espe-
cially IN tending 10 precipitate 9 stam-
| pede 10 Roosevelt. and the Taft mana
! gers are keenly alive to this phase of the
situation
Fairbanks Boom Alive.
OF the candidates represented by the
so-called Allies, Fairbanks is showing
more vigor than all the rest. He IS in
the fight to the finish. Fairbanks head
quarters VIII be opened at Chicago to-
day, and viii be in charge Of past masters
in the art of campaigning The two
booms that VIII be much in evidence
when the delegates begin to arrive in
/ Chicago win be the Taft boom and the
! Fairbanks boom. All the others promise
to be eelipsed In the meantime.
There has been some talk that Fair
/ banks might be put on the ticket with
| Taft. for Vice President. but such a
combination IS regarded as quite un-
likely. It is generally believed that. II
Taft is nominated. the convention will
almost certainly look 10 New York, New
Jersey. OF Massachusetts for his running
mate. Hughes is the most available man.
His nomination for Vice President would
not only strengthen the ticket in New
York, but would also eliminate him as
factor in State afFairs-a consummation
which the New York machine would
gladly acclaim. just as it welcomed the
nomination Of Roosevelt for second place
eight years age
Democrats VIII Name Bryan.
Anti-Bryan Democrats have taken on
renewed courage the last few days
| owing to the ovati0ns given to Gov.
johnson, of Minnesota, In Washington.
They are to-day contending that Bryan
cannot possibly muster the necessary
two-thirds vote in the convention, and
that a deadlock viii ensue which can
only be broken by the, choice Of Johnson
or Gray. shrewd party men, however,
apprebend no such outcome. They are
satisfied that Bryan will be nominated
on the second ballot. if not on the first,
es the nomination of johnson or GRAY.
backed By the Eastern wing Of the party.
would ALLEVIATE Bryan Democrats the
country over and inevitably invite a Tepe-
tition of the Parker disaster Of 1901.
The proposition TO put John Mitchell on
the ticket with Bryan. which the Ne
braskan himself is said to favor, does
not commend itself heartily to Demo-
Gratis in Congress Much as they esteem
John Mitchell. it is their opinion that he
could be utilized much more advan-
tageously as candidate for governor Of
Illinois than as candidate in the national
campaign. They believe that a ticket
made up Of Bryan and Johnson, Bryan
and Oiney. or Bryan and Harrison. Of
New York would be infinitely stronger
than Bryan and Mitchell
Accepting Taft's nomination as & cers
tainty, the Democrats are to-day conf
IDENTIFY counting upon carrying Ohio, IN
diana. Nebraska, Montana. and other
States that went for Roosevelt four
years ago, and are convinced that Bryan
will have much more than a fighting
chance to win. Many Republicans admit
that he win be stronger than in 1895 and
1900 against any man but Roosevelt Re-
publicans and Democrats generally agree
that Roosevelt would win overwhelming
ly, If he were nominated.