The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-01-02

with the result that there has been
a reaction against Secretary Taft in
those particular localities. Probably
Secretary Taft would have been the
second choice of some of the Indiana
delegates, but for foolish invasion Of
Indiana by Taft lieutenants.
Here in washington, too. Mr.. Vorys
has b@en drawing political anathemas
upon his own head. He has stirred
up trouble with the candidates and
caused himself to be sincerely hated
by Secretary Cortelyou, Senator For
aker, Vice President Fairbanks and
others such things make the friends
of candidates mad and they work hard
er than ever, as hard as mad men
can work for the sake of getting even.
Very much will depend upon the at
titude of the President toward the
Taft boom. He told a friend of Speak
er Cannon, the other day, that he
thought it his duty now to do all in
his power to promote harmony within
the party. He did not want to go out
of office, leaving the Republican ranks
Isplit wide open as the Democratic
ranks Were split when President
Cleveland left the White House. If he
persists in that attitude and keeps
hands off in the South. the Taft boom
viii probably have hard shedding. On
the other hand it is recognized that
if the President makes a campaign in
the South he can bring over 100 or
200 delegates TO the Taft cause. He
would simply have to apply pressure
ing their jobs at stake, would sup
port any candidate the President
might indicate. Will the President go
to that extreme? The Taft men think
he will. The other candidates are
waiting to see. Only a few days ago
the President appointed some import
ant officials in Alabama and the Taft
men are going around gleefully assert
ing that these officials are for the big,
rotund candidate from Ohio.
Southern wiseacres say that if the
President does not interfere the other
candidates will pick up these Southern
delegates and that few months from
now matters will be in a condition
where the President will be powerIess
to help Secretary Taft in that section.
Taft getting very big bunch of dele
gates in the East and therefore the
Importance of his campaign in the
South is recognized. But his friends
are constantly emphasizing the great
err Importance of his campaign in Ohio
prominent Eastern senator, who
wants the Secretary nominated, said
a few days ago that if he were man
aging the Taft boom he would con-
centrate everything for the next month
or two on Ohio. Unless Ohio goes for
Taft with something like unanimity,
his boom will f1atten out and the rest
of the country will look upon it as
a big joke. 1.-THE Eastern people are
already rather skeptical of the secre-
tary's running qualities any way and
they as well as people in other parts
of the country, would have a better
opinion of him should he show that he
could sweep Ohio at the primaries
Some talk had been heard here about
a peace pact between Senator Foraker
and Secretary Taft and there will be
more of it probably. when the secre-
tary returns. The Taft workers are
now becoming aware of the big mis-
take they made three months ago in
trying to run their campaign. with
the elimination of Senator Foraker
from public life as one of the basic
principles He can not be eliminated,
the Taftites are trying to undo MIN,
as is already apparent, and the while
he can pull the pillars of the polit
ical temple down over their heads.
Senator Foraker would have kept the
political! peace, if the Taft advocates
would have promised to support him
for reelection. which was no more than
he had a right to expect from them,
after his long and eminent career in
the Senate.
Hints have been made to Senator
Foraker recently that he might ex-
pect overtures from the Taft lieuten-
ants, now that they find themselves in
extremities, but he is defiant. He is
a declared candidate for the Presi-
dency and has asked for primaries IN
Ohio to determine whether he or Sec
rotary Taft shall have a majority OF
the support from Buckeydom at the
next Republican national convention.
Nevertheless, it is possible that
peace can yet be arranged, but if it is
arranged President Roosevelt, by Sem
ator Foraker's insistence, must be a
party to it. The President will have
to capitulate absolutely and promise
to keep his hands off Senator Foraker
for the remainder of this administra-
ton. He will also have to promise
to let Senator Foraker alone in Ohio
and leave him free to conduct a cam
paign for reelection or not, just as he
chooses.
AS to other presidential booms,
Continued on Page Three.)