Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-24
STEAM ROLLER METHODS
ANGER REPUBLICANS
Especial Washington Correspondence of
The Argus.)

Especial Washington Correspondence of
The Argus.)
Out of the Republican national con-
vention have come many heartburnings
and many political antagonisms. The
heavy hand and the iron heel with
which the Taft forces in the national
committee crushed down all opposition
In the convention aroused antagonisms
that will amount 20 something serious
In the campaign yet - come. In Chi
cago two great mass meetings of ne
groes, attended by all the colored dele
gates who were thrown out of the con-
vention, have already been held, and
resolutions denunciatory not merely OF
Secretary Taft, but of President Roose
welt as well. were adopted. The so
called allies. Foraker, Fairbanks. Dick,
Knox, Crane and Cannon. the most
eminent names in the Republican party
today save that of Roosevelt himself,
entered the convention with a feeling
of despair and left 1t in nowise COM
forted. To what extent this feeling of
hostility may be mtigated or amelio-
rated during the campaign it is difficult
now to estimate. The Republican party
has singular knack of getting togeth-
er toward the end of the campaign.
But one of the senators mentioned
above-never mind which one-in con-
versation with me admitted that he
cared as little for Roosevelt as he did
for Taft. but that he had fought for
Roosevelt because he believed that the
president could win and had fought
against Taft because he believed there
was not n single chance for the secre-
tary's victory. Said he: We do not
care for Roosevelt personally. AS a
matter of fact. we dislike him. But the
Republicans in the senate, the old
guard. would rather have Roosevelt in
the White House than a Democrat.
whoever the Democrat might be. At
least with Roosevelt there might be
some shreds of patronage left to us,
while with Bryan we would expect
nothing whatsoever" This utterance is
typical of the attitude of most of the
allies ut Chicago. They did not believe
that Taft could by any possibility be
elected.
Senator Cranes Little Joke.
just in the middle of the very Wig
orous operations of the Taft forces in
the national committee for the oblitera-
ton of all the anti-Taft delegates who
had come as contestants Senator Muir
ray Crane delivered himself of a wit
ticism which, though not yet printed,
l,o Il t., NV
cles in Chicago. Crane was one of
the leaders of the anti-Taft movement.
Meeting at a Chicago club. the head 81
the great Swift Packing comp3E,
Crane said: swift, l wish you would
take me out to the stOckyards. Lwant
to go through your plant What
for?' asked Swift. 1T isn't very
pleasant sight. and you are no ordinary
sightseer" ON said Crane in his
mild and somewhat insinuating way,
~ would just like to find out whether
you fellows out there can equal in
scientific butchery what has been done
to us who came to Chicago expecting
to get a fair hearing before a national
committee even though we did oppose
the White House and its pet" Per
haps the story isn't literally true
Senator Crane did not tell it to me
But I happen to know that he did 81
to the stockyards with Mr.. Swift ant
returned wearing very thoughtful
air
David q. Hills Swan Song.
Men once great often pass into the
period of npttineSS Twenty wears 1g,
David B. Hill might fairly be regarded
as big man. an able man, though no
altogether great man. He never ros
to the point of true greatness. But /
he was rightly quoted by the New
York reporters on the eve of his sail
ing for Europe he must have descend
ed even from the heights which h
reached to the lowlands from which
he rose. Mr.. Hill deplored the de
cadence of the Democratic party
which, by the way, was Gever NOR
united and militant than it is today
He grieved over the disappearance o
the giants" apparently chasing him
self MS one of them. He attacked MI
Bryan bitterly. which, of course, wa
to have been expected. But he woun'
up with the most remarkable encomi
um upon Governor johnson that coul
possibly have been imagined by an,
mind. Space will not permit its quo
tation in full. In effect. Mr.. Hill dc
clared that it~was a great thing tina
Governor Johnson had been brough
I'D I'm poorhouse and said Thin