Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1908-03-12
Washington Letter.

publican side it is William Howard
Taft against the field, while on the
democratic side it is William Jen-
nings Bryan against unoiganized
opposition. The Chicago convention
has much to decide. The Denver
convention appears to have little to
contend with, although there is al
ways the possibility Of the unex-
pected happening. The republican
party never had so many stalwart
sons so well backed up by their re-
spective states, to contend for the
highest honors as they have now
and the wcalth of material makes
it rather problematical as to who
will actually be the chosen one.
Capzion, with Illinois at his back;
<Nnox with Pennsylvania at his
beck and call; Hughes confident of
New York statc-all and each are
assured that there will be no back
ing down; that there state will
support them to the last. Under
the circumstances many prominent
republicans honestly believe that
the conflict of interests in the COM
ing convention will lead to but one
thing, and that is the denomination
of Roosevelt, against his expressed
wish, which, they insist, Will be
equivalent to his triumphal re-
election.
A minority of the party belives
that if he is really nominated, it
will result in his complete defeat
at the polls, basing their belief that
the masses will hold him guilty of
breaking solemn pledge, which,
together with widely spread anti
third term sentiment, will result in
party disaster. To offset this ar
gument the majority claim that a
man who has achieved such wide
spread popularity, so endeared him
self to the people by his resolute
STAND in their Behalf, and who, I'M
der the circumstances stated, would
be nominated in spite of himself,
has nothing to fear from the people,
and that his declination of the re-
possibilities thrust upon him,
would be little short of a crime. 1t
is very doubtful whether Taft can
be nominated without the support
of Pennsylvania and Illinois, or
without New York and Illinois, or
New York and Pennsylvania.
Hughes in New York is believed to
be complete obstruction to Taft's
hopes in that direction, and Knox
in Pennsylvania, the same, so far
as the state is concerned. Gen.
Woodford in New York, who is a
personal friend of Taft will not be
able to overcome the Taft opposi-
tion in New York and he is only
one of many eminent republicans
view. In addition, it is said, that
many delegates from other states
have been ostensibly instructed for
Taft, but in reality for Roos evelt,
to whom they are t. turn at the op-
perfume time. 1t is alleged in some
quarters that Hughes has not the
popular strength of the nation that
he was supposed to have. Be this |
as it may, he seems to be able to
dictate the nomination. AS the
thing stands Roosevelt is considered
by thinking republicans as the
greatest vote gettcr of their party,
and a common remark here is that
be is the only man who can beat
Bryan.
Whether Bryan has actually the
strength that is claimed for him,
he is in reality bogy-
man kept to the fl ont by the friends
Of Roosevelt to scare the oppo sition
into compliance, is thing that re-
mains to be seen. The danger
lies in the fact that Bryan las adj
yocated consistently many policies
with the president has endorsed, l
a nd which have proved TO be cx-
tremely acceptable to the general
public. il was pointed out some
time ago that organizations would
not have to show this time, that
they have had in the past, as the
people, deeply stirred have been
thinking and thinking deeply.
Leaving aside the question of civic
morality, the best barometer is the
selfishncss of the people them
selves so far as concerning their
pockets. In the past they have
locked to Wall street and have not
objected to being called '1ambs."
But when the publicity and sandals
in finance of late years has SO moved
hem as to cause the withdrawal
If their support from investment