The Washington times., 1908-09-29
Induce Taft to Take Foraker
Into Fold-Think Them
Political Wonders.
THEN HEARST SPOILS
PLANS OF VETERANS
Civil War Heroes See Their
Schemes Of Advancement Shiv-
cred by Letters.
By JAMES HAY, j.

NIALLETTE. S. D, Sept. 29-Gen-
Henry c. Corbin. Z. S. a. retired, and
Gen. ]. warren Keifer, who once led
the Union hosts to victory on many a
bloody field, are no longer important
figures in the campaign Of William
Howard TAFT for the Presidency.
At one time they bade fair to rise as
high in the tumult Of politics. as they
once had on the embattIed bulwarxs Of
surrendered forts But the bright prom
isG Of their political youth has not been
fulfilled
Wherefore, this is a lamentatlon OF
military nen-military men who. having
won medals and honor with the gun
ana the sword. prepared TO wreathe
about their martial brows the laurel
wreaths hat bloom respondent in the
hOt-house OF ward politics and State
combinations
They owe their sudden eclipse In the
arena Of votes 10 Joseph Benson For
aker. the senior Senator from Ohio, who
few days ago inconsiderately and i'll
adVisediy allowed himself 10 be featured
by William Randolph Hearst and TheO-
dOre Roosevelt as the man with the
oiled palm and the trailing standard. In
this there IS the irony OF fate. In fact,
fate was cruelty irony, for IL was over
the peaceful and loyal body OF Joseph
Benson that the two military men had
expected to climb to great things I'm
politics. Nov, however, they are not
seen about the Taft train nor near the
Taft Offices, nor are they dragged from
their midnight sIumbers by the message
that Taft is at the other end of the
long-distance telephone with a burning
desire TO have their advice on fmpOr-
tant matters affecting the campaign
Corbin's Last Appearance.
The last time that General Corbin was
seen by the Taft party was on the
evening OF the arrival in Cincinnati
from Middle Bass Island. The general
announced that he would soon return
to Cincinnati from Washington, and
take up once more the arduous but
pleasant work of helping Taft to the
White House There was in his manner
a jauntiness which aroused the con-
hdence Of the behOlders. Those who
saw him walk through the train with
swelling cnest and soldier stride IN
consciously held their breath. turned Ut
their eyes to heaven and mUrmUred:
There is a man who has accomplished
something He looks the part"
To this accusation, the general plead
ed guilty-very guilty
General Keifer, who, in addition 70
having led the hosts on bloody fields
is member Of Congress, had left the
train at Springfield. Ohio. with ar
equally full consciousness that he had
-
party. and himself. If somebody had
slipped a medal into his hand, he would
have invOluntarily pinned it on his coat
The reason for the elation Of these
military men was that, while at Middle
Bass Island. they had maneuyered and
talked and hanked and retreated and
charged until they had persuaded Fora
ker to meet Taft in To1edO at the G. A
r. encampment and swear loyalty tC
him and the entire national ticket. Taft
Of course, having been put in the EN-.
barrassing position. had to accent tho
friendship and the alliance Of Foraker
News Heralded Abroad.
The news was heralded through thi.
country and parts of Canada that For
aker was the true friend Of Taft. al
though he had hated him until ne had
heard the sweet and unctuous talk o.
I the martial men, Generals Corbin ant
Keifer. Moreover. the praise Of Corbir
and Keifer for bringing about this change
OF heart in OhiO-s senior Senator was
Unrestrained, not to say reckless and
wicked.
It was but nan raj. therefore, that
these two now raised TO the dawn OF
what looked like an endless day OF
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