The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-12
Republican Leaders Pushing
Harmony Plan to Insure
His Nomination.
FEAR THE EFFECT OF
ROOSEVELT STAMPEDE
Though Satisfied That President
Will Discountenance Such
Move, They Are Apprc-
l1ensivc of Prolonged
Fight in Con
vention.

v- = vASHINGToN. D. c.. May H.
NV Republican leaders in Con-
AA/ gress are now working
Wv earnestly on plan to pre-
vent any break at the Chs
cago convention that might disrupt
party harmony and endanger defea.
at the polls In November. Conferences
have been held at both ends of the
Capitol, among such men as Senator'S
Aldrich, Hale and Crane, and Repre-.
sentatives Payne. of New York
Tawney. OF Minnesota; jenkins, OF
Wisconsin, and Smith, OF Iowa. They
have been directed to one end-a nom.
ination on the first ballot. by which
they mean William Fl. Taft. While
no definite result has been reached,
they believe their efforts will be sue.
cessful.
Friends Of Allies in 1t.
Most OF the men figuring promi-
nently in this movement were num-
bered against Taft early in the cam
paign. but party policy and the neces-
sity for harmony. which have been
manifest in Republican ranks since the
disastrous results OF the Blaine-Conk.
ling feud has awakened demand that
personal desires be subordinated to the
will of the majority. That the efforts
of the group OF leaders back of TIL.
harmony movement have not been
barren of results is indicated by the
fact that to number of the confer
enccs have been called such men as
Senator's Hemenway. Penrose. Cullom
Hopkins and Depew, and Representa-
tives Parsons and Vreeland, OF New
York; Boutell and Mann, Of Illinois;
Burke and Dalzell. of Pennsylvania
Watson and Landis. of Indiana, and
Others who are backing the candidates.
OF Vice-President Fairbanks, Speaker
Cannon, Senator Knox, or Governor
| Hughes.
Fear Roosevelt Stampede.
No attempt is made to disguise the
| fact that the real impetus to such a
jiconcerted movement In the interest OF
/ Secretary Taft is the refusal of Roose-
Welt sentiment to be snuffed out and
the danger of such sentiment spreading
to an extent that might be difficult OF
control at Chicago. AT the same time
1t Is said the movement is not hostile
to President Roosevelt. who admittedly
occupies the position of command in
the Taft forces. He has made 1t per-
fectly plain that nothing can come of
the renewed calls for his denomination
which have been made in Texas, Utah
and California. as he is prepared to
reject any proffer of support, no matter
how extended. The uttermost limit
of endeavor Of the Republican leaders
who are striving to harmonic party
differences is to eliminate all candi-
dates for the nomination except Secre-
tary Taft, but it is not anticipated that
all of tic candidates will readily agree
to this proposition.
Supporters of Senator Knox parti
cularly are said to oppose the plan. ant
one of the other candidates is holdint
out strongly that there is no inme
diate demand for agreement. AT th
same time there are leaders in Illinois
Indiana. Pennsylvania and New Yorl
who are parties to the movement wit:
the knowledge of the favorite son can
| didates from those States.
Why Taft Is Chosen.
The selection of Secretary Taft a
the beneficiary of the harmony factiol
Is made because OF the fact that III
is the only candidate who has suni
i cient instructed votes to promise a,
i early nomination. The argument o
the harmony faction is that II TAT
should fail to secure the nomination OF
the first ballot and the allies are ab!
I to hold out against him 1t would mea,
1 a convention contest of many ballots
4 In such contingency the Roosevelt
4 thfrd-term sentiment would threaten
stampede, and though they have littl
doubt that the President would no
4 hesitate to squelch any propositiol
Z looking to his nominations. the effec
4 of such a stampede can only be sur
!. missed. The possibilities of the re-
q suits on the campaign for the electio,
3 OF the candidate. whoever he may be
!. Is ono of the arguments used to draw
the so-called allies into the harmon,
program.
Are BADLY Scared.
Republican leaders concede that thei
majority in the House is likely to b,
materially reduced at the fall elec
{ ton. and they fear that unless all fac
tions are brought together before tn
Chicago convention they might los,
" their majority altogether.
One Of the side plans being discussed
I favorably Is the denomination of MI,
Fairbanks as vice-president on TIL,
ticket With Secretary Taft, which the,
would assert would remove Indian
from the doubtful column and make /
u safely Republican,. 1t is believed ais,
/ that with the Republican forces solid
lly aligned, Taft could easily carry II
! linois, and the thermometers are Willing
to conceue Cannon's recollection a
Speaker by Republican House.
There is a movement on already t,
bring about the denomination Of MI
. Hughes as Governor OF New York
and an effort will be made to brin,
Secretary Taft and Senator Forake
! together. which, 1t is thought, woul,
make Ohio safe.
Drank Laudanun,, hut Lives,
Especial to The Times Dispatch.1
J LYNCHBURG, VA, May ll.--Thoma
Going, bridge builder, attempted sui
= eide this afternoon at his home, OF