The morning journal-courier., 1908-06-15
Monday, June IN, isos.
THE WEEK AT CHICAGO.

Tomorrow will see the formal or ganization of the republican national convention. For over a week the ex- ecutive committee of the national com mttee, closing its hearings on Friday last, heard each contestng delegation and announced it's conclus- ions. In an overwhelming number of instances the Taft delegates were seated, and despite the noise made by the disappointed there Is no reason to believe that the committee took an unfair advantage of their power. If they did. the wrong can be righted by the committee of the convention It. self charged with the disposition of such contests. If they accept the con clusions of the national committee and adopt their advice, 1t will al least be prime facie evidence that the work was in the first place honestly done.
 There appears to he no longer a doubt as to the nomination of Secre- tary Taft on the first ballot. Nor Is there further any ground for fearing a stampede for the renomnation of President Roosevelt. The attempt may be made but If so 1t bids fair to bic of the vaudeville variety, and in- furious to those only who are the indulgents in 1t. Who the candidate sfor vice president will be is to be de- cded, from the present outlook, not until after the first place has been disposed of. This will manifestly he to the enjoyment of the delegation from the state of New York, which ia placed in a deservedly ridiculous pos ition by the events of the past three or four months. The republican lead CTS in that state have never been in favor of the nomination of Governor Hughes and he has known 1t. He has therefore from the outset given them whatever rope he thought would be sufficient for them to hang them selves and this they have done with singular skill at the art of self-des- truction. Now when they would bless him if he would announce his retire. ment from the race in order that they might nominate one of their own number for second place, he smiles and goes about his business Not having created the ridiculous position he is in no position to cure 1t. It is a fitting commentary upon as selfish a game as has been played in the poll tics of the empire state for many a moon.
 The real dramatic interest of the convention centers in the deliberations of the committee on resolutions. If the platform adopted dwells ob- sequiously upon the policies of Pres- dent Roosevelt and his achievements, both ways upon matters In which the country and the business interests have a commanding concern all will have been done that could have been done to embarrass at the outset the campaign of man superbly edu- cated for the great office of president of the United States. It will immed- lately impose upon him the obligation of manifestly shaking himself free from entangling alliances which his best friends have the liveliest reasons entire list of presidential aspirants could have stood as well as Mir. Taft has the almost brutal interference of the president, an interference not ob- jected to because of it's proposed bene- ficiary but because of the manner in which 1t offends against the dignity of the greatest office within the gift of the American people No matter who the beneficiary is, it is not q pleasant sight to see the president of the United States actively engaged in furthering the aims and aspira- tions of even man universally ad- fends against the whole fabric of American institutions Nor is there any reason to believe that Secretary Taft invoked such interference.
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