The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-12-03
LOOKING TO TAFT
TO DEFEAT CANNON.
Opponents OF Speaker Say President
Elect nust Declare Himself.
By ]. c. WELLIVER.

ginning to pass from a simmer to a
boil. 1t simmered for a week; it
II boil during the last week be-
re Congress meets, and for some
time thereafter. Then, every
thing will depend on the manifes-
tation which shall come from the
camp OF the incoming administra-
ton.
Among the men who have come
to Washington thus far, the senti-
ment is pretty decidedly bea1ish
on any proposition of defeating the
Speaker. Even among the men
who would like to see a change,
the feeling is strong that his de
feat is likely to prove impossible.
1t is definitely understood that
President Roosevelt, who is no
more fond of the Speaker than is
Mr.. Taft, feels that it is very
doubtful whether the Burton an
nounuement from Hot Springs was
good politics.
The President has a way of fig
uring out carefully the chances of
winning before he projects himself
into fights. In this case he feels
as do many ofthe insurgent House
members, that victory in a contest
against the Speaker is most uncer-
tain, and that defeat in such a con-
test would be extremely unfortun-
ate.
The Taft camp must soon decide
whether it will press the effort
against Cannon. If it is to- do so,
it must have a candidate for
Speaker or else a group of candi-
dates. you can't beat somebody
with nobody" is a political maxim
which has been deeply impressed
in practical m in DIS in recent
months. Mr.. Taft couldn't be
beaten for the Chicago nomination
by rope-of,sand alliance; Gov
ernor Hughes couldn't be defeated
for the New York Gubernatorial
domination by combination of
isafection and personal ambitions
or bosship; and Mr.. Cannon can
not be beaten unless some man of
great strength leads the opposition
forces.
But in casting about for a candi-
date the insurgents are much at
loss. Mr. Burton will know
whether he is going to be Senator
several weeks before the Speaker
must be elected. He could enter
the Speakership race, if defeated
for the Senator But there are OBJ
viouS difficulties. Defeated for Sen
ator, he would have lost prestige.
More serious still, he would have
lost precious weeks of time. While
holding the field open on the
chance of his entering it, he would
have given the Cannon people
time and opportunity to obtain
pledges.
What is needed now is either
one overshadowing candidate for
the anti Cannon forces, or else
group of candidates who, each in
his own locality, will be able to
hold out following, the aggregate
Of which will be a large enough to
comprise a majority of the Repub-
lican members. Who are the pos
Slble anti Cannon candidates.
Mr.. Burton comes first. He is
looked on as the most promising
man to gain some votes in the re-
gion east of the Alleghanies and
north of of the Ohio. In that ter
ritory most of the votes are at this
time regarded as sure for Cannon.
Any thing obtained there is pure
gain. Burton is the type of man
to make appeal in the East.
Next comes Charles +. Town
send of Michigan, author of the So
called Esch- Townsend railroad
rate legislation measures which
started the railroad control fight
the House, and leader of the
insurgents in the last session.
Townsend has proved his complete
sympathy with the progressive
program, and likewise has demon
,Axo4oI @IoA L., 1