The National tribune., 1908-06-25
{ CAMPAIGN PLANS.
Delay in Selecting d Republican Mana.
ger-Party FinanCes-The Spell.Bind-
ers Who will 60 on the elstump-WiII
the President Be Among Them?- Cab.
met Orators. tm
@S.~

When the new Chairman of the Re-
publican National Committee takes hold
of his work he will have to do some tall
hustling. The unexpected delay in nam
ing the man, probably due in consider
able part to quarrels among the Taft
managers, means that the, organization
for the conduct of the campaign will be
two or three weeks, if not a month, be-
hind.
Secretary Taft's caution about not go
ing too rapidly, that he may be able to
get the right Chairman, however, is in
terpreted here as showing that he is
fully acquainted with conditions in the
West, of which Eastern people generally
seem thus far to have little idea. The
statement given out at Cincinnati by the
special committee, that the matter is "of
such Importance and required such con-
sultation with various persons suggested
as available for the place. as to neces-
state delay till July 1, furnishes some
inkling of the serious work supposed to
be ahead. 1t is already well understood
here that in spite of chances generally
favoring the Secretary's election to the
Presidency. nothing can be taken for
granted.
chosen the day after the convention adj
journs. President Roosevelt, four years
ago, had selected George b. Cortelyou
many weeks ahead to manage his cam
paign. The late President Mckinley
had his manager selected in advance of
the conventions that nominated him.
During the last three Presidential cam
paigns it had been pretty well deter
mined before the conventions met where
the Grief headquarters would be.
Secretary Taft is supposed to have
this decided in his own mind. but moth
ing definite about it has reached the
public. As it is already certain that
will ha for CT IN, In
than in the East and that if it should
become possible for him to win he must
have the electoral vote of Republican
States in the West, rather than in the
East, the heavy work of the National
Committee will naturally be done from
Chicago. But if New York City is not
designated for chief headquarters big
branch headquarters will undoubtedly
be located there. The financing of a
Republican National campaign always
proceeds from there. More money is
contributed from New York City than
from all the rest of the country.
Educational Work From Chicago.
The general educational work will be
done from Chicago. because from there
it will be easier to reach the big States,
now conceded to be affected with very
progressive, not to say radical, ideas about
National politics. 1t is believed here
that this work will be started very early
and pressed very vigorously during July
and August, preliminary to the appear
ance of the heavy oratorical guns. Prob
ably vast amount of literature will be
put into circulation in the West, not in
such large quantities as in. 1896, when
the late Senator Hanna conducted the
greatest educational. campaign ever
known in American politics, but along
the same general lines. Heretofore it
has been customary TO maintain a small
Republican bureau in this city from
which are furnished such documents as
are frankable and can be turned out at
the Government Printing Office.
According to the best information OBJ
tainable the two great parties will start
off on about an equal financial footing
Some months ago Secretary Cortelyou
told friend that he had succeeded in
saving about $40. coo from the campaign
fund of 1904. 1t has been represented
that the surplus was vastly more than
this, but it has not been conceded by
the former National Chairman. Mr.
Cortelyou has been reported as saying
that he put by this nest egg because he
knew from experience how very difficult
1t is till along in September to secure
contributions to meet the necessary ex-
penses of clerk hire and postage. Bust
ness is dull in Summer. Loyal partisans
will not shell OUT as readily then as
in September.
Democratic Finances.
The Democratic exchequer was as
empty as Mother Hubbard's coupboard
when the last Presidential campaign
closed. There was nothing left over.
But Mr.. Bryan's new National Chair
man., whoever he may be, will have
some funds to start with, because there
will certainly be a nice surplus from the
100000 fund raised in Denver to Sc
cure the Democratic National Conven-