Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1908-07-07
WASHINGTON
LETTER

(special Correspondence. }


Washington. ID. C.. July 6.--The Re
publican managers are at war with
each other over the selection Of a
chairman Of their National Commit
tee. Candidate Tart seems Ioath to
settle the matter and has postponed
the eyil day until July sth. What
ever decision he arrives at viii not
add to the era OF good feeling that Is
necessary to get the brethren to.
gether The trouble is the antipathy
OF Hitchcock and voreys. the two
TAFT managers OF the campaign for
the nomination \ Although Mr.. Hitch
cock has said that his health will not
permit him to assume the arduous
duties of chairman. his friends are
still very actively at work in his be-
half which would indicate that he
wants f. Hitchcock Is here and
voreys also, and there is no love lost
between these two. for both seem to
Imagine they fixed things for Taft
and are entitled to the chairmanship
as reward. Both of these practical
politicians know too much to be neg
lected by Mr.. Taft, and both will
have to be taken care OF politically
and no doubt will be. II the law com
PEELED publicity of expenditures mate
ia securing nominations, there would
undoubtedly be- nest Of corruption.
IN the way OF money spent and on
ces promised exposed to the American
people which would astound them
and perhaps defeat Mr., Taft for Presl-
dent.
But the Republican leaders having
defeated the bill for publicity Of cam
paign contributions and expenditures,
and having rejected the LaFollette
plank TO the platform which promised
legislation requiring publicity. the
Republicans find themselves handi.
capped at the beginning Of their cam.
palgn BY the jealousy OF the two
managers, who having had taste
Of blood IA the selection Of the candi-
date, now want to feed on the full
body Of political corruption. It is
almost certain that voreys will not
be selected as chairman. for although he
undoubtedly cleared the way fl Ohio
for Taft yet his appointment would
emphasize the deal that was made
with Boss Cox, allowing him in return
for supporting Taft to dictate the
nomination Of very questionable can
dldates for the principal State officers
In Ohio, which quite large faction
OF the Republican party In that state
is refusing to support.
II the Democrats adopt a plank in
their platform for publicity Of cam.
paign contributions and expenditures
both for the nomination OF candi.
dates ana for their election, that is.
sue viii be quite prominent In the
campaign and may AFFECT enough
voters IN the doubtful States to turn
the tide IN favor OF the Democrats.
Il Is said that Mr. Bryan favors such
a plank and viii advise the new
chairman OF the Democratic National
Committee 70 publish the items Of all
receipts and expenditures IN this
campaign. II Mr.. Bryan should also
have the expense incurred BY himself
and his friends in his long campaign
for the nomination made public, he
would make Il decidedly uncomgort.
able for Mr.. TAFT in whose interest
very large amount OF money IS a.
ported to have been spent by hls
brother and others, for Il Is said thar
many such expenditures would hardly,
look well 10 cold figures.
There win be no initiative and refer.
endum plank IN the Democratic PLAT,
form am assured upon high author
ity, but the antl-lniunctlon declaration
IL 70 be about al the labor people
desire, except that the wording viii
Ne much condensed. am also ~.
formed that the whole platform S now
undressing a severe blue pencillnS
process at Lincoln ana WIN omerre
trQni Mr.. organs sanctnm sanctorum
IN an abbreviated form that win con.
trast savorahly With the vebose
hoas'ings % the Republican platform