Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1908-02-21
REVOLT AGAINST TAFT
Other States Likely to Follow
Florida's Example.
G. O. P. TORN BY DISSENSI0N.

Use OF Federal Patronage to Secure
Delegates For War Secretary Has
Aroused Bitter Hostility to the Ad-
acknowledgements Unity Among
Dsmoerats-Fair Field and No Fa-
vers nj Denver.
BY WILLIS j. ABBOT.
The bitter fight in Florida over the
delegations to the Republican national
convention is only indicative of what
is likely to happen in many of the
southern states. The split in Florida
is between the federal employees and
the true Republicans in that state. 1t
is quite true that there are not very
many Republicans in Florida. In 1904
the state cast for Roosevelt 1914 votes,
or less than One-quarter Of the total
vote. But even states in which there
are no chances of electoral votes are
useful prior to national convention
for votes in that convention. So Flor
ida and Georgia, South Carolina and
Mississippi are being worked for
Roosevelt or Taft delegations. Florida
was first to revolt, and, having led the
way, it seems probable that the other
states will follow.
Florida. through its Republican con-
vention, refused to indorse Taft. The
Taft people say that the convention
was bolted by the Fairbanks or posi-
bly, the Cannon advocates. The Fair
banks and Cannon people say that the
convention was bolted by the Taft
supporters. Few people at this end Of
the wires know which of these claims
is right. AS a matter of fact, it Is not
important which is correct. The i'm
portant thing is that the first southern
- state to select a delegation to the Chi
cago convention has selected two and
that there will be a contest first be-
fore the committee on credentials and
afterward before the convention to de-
termine which delegation from Florida
shall be seated. And more. This Flor
ida clash means much. The claim will
be made at the Republican national
convention that the delegates chosen
and instructed for Taft were picked
out by the federal officeholders in Flor
ida. The question will be raised as to
whether the administration has the
right to use the power of federal pat
ronage in order to secure delegates to
a national convention. That Mr.. ROose-
welt is SO using it everybody knows.
From the Portland on the Pacific coast
to the Portland on the Atlantic. from
Key West to the Sault Ste Marie. ev-
cry federal officeholder is engaged in
pressing the political purposes of the
administration. AS a civil service re-
former Mr.. Roosevelt was great in the
days of his youth, but as a performer
today, when he has power to accom-
plish something, he is a disappoint-
ment if not indeed a sham.
The Republican contest in Florida is
not unique. 1t is as bitter in New York.
But in the Empire State three-fifths
at least of the Republicans will refuse
to vote for Governor Hughes even if
he should be nominated. 1t is savage
in Wisconsin, where true Republican
ism is represented by La Toilette and
the bogus brand by rich men who care
only to defeat La Toilette. The fight
appears in Iowa, where Governor
Cummins is slowly but surely driving
Out*of public life the men who stand
for what has come to be called the
stand pat policy, has forced the re-
tirement OF two members of congress
and will in all probability retire to pri-
waite life Senator Allison, who has
been in the senate over thirty years.
They talk about a. divided Democ-
racy. Democratic papers are foolish
enough to use this term. But as a
matter of fact the Democratic party
was never more united. the Repub-
lican party never more torn by in
ternal dissensions. There is not one
man mentioned for the presidential
nomination on the Republican side
who could poll the full vote of his
party.
The Republican Candidates.
Consider them. Take one after the
other and judge what may be their
strength or their weakness.
First, Secretary Taft He is weak
ened in his own party because he is
merely the candidate of the president,
who hopes to retain the control of the
party. 1t is true, too, that in New York
the Republican organization is split
upon the Taft question. Many of the
strongest men in the organization are
for Hughes. and some are for Taft.
There will be such fight in New
York state before and after the con-
vention as may have a very serious
effect upon the ticket nominated.
New England Republicans are di-
vided on the question of the candidate
Only last week the Taft forces in Mas
sachusetts retired from the effort to
secure an instructed delegation. Sena-
tor Lodge had been attempting to Sc
cure such delegation, but very pru-
IDENTIFY gave up the effort before he was
beaten. New Hampshire and Vermont,
which the administration tried to con-
troll, will also send uninstructed dele
cations. Apparently the entire New
England strength at the Chicago con-
vention will be at the service of the
best bidder. This means that New
England, the real citadel of Republic
anism, is not ready today to accept the
order of. the president to nominate
Taft or to indorse unreservedly the
presidential policies. Illinois is abso-
lutely and irrev oeably for Cannon. In
diana has already instructed its dele
gates for Fairbanks.
There is no unity of purpose among
the Republicans. There is hardly any
candidate for their presidential nomi-
nation who has not even in his own
state. hostile faction. Against Hughes
is the Roosevelt element; against Fair
banks the friends of Beveridge; against
Taft the Foraker forces; against La