Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-22
Especial Washington Correspondence Of
The Argus.l

The Argus.)
The split in the Republican party
over the nomination for the presidency
is by no means closing up In the
United States senate the other day
Senator Hale made an attack upon
Secretary Taft for neglect of his Off
cial duties in order to advance his per
sonal political ambitions. While the
name of the secretary of war was not
mentioned, the senator from Maine
pointed out that the real head of the
army was never at his post and the
chief of staff was, in fact, performing
the duties of the secretary of war.
Curiously enough, the only senator's
who came to the defense of Mr.. Taft
were men of slight acquaintance and
short service in the senate.
1t seems to be Il fair prophecy now
that Taft will be nominated. Yet if he
is the scandal of it will become u very
material issue in the campaign. He is
secretary of war, and yet not for six
months has he been ut his desk in the
war department for, three consecutive
days.
He is member of the administra-
ton of president who made his en-
trance upon politics as civil service
reformer. and yet every branch of the
federal service today is being employed
to compel the nomination of Taft
He is the political pet and legatee of
president who has talked much
about the influence of predatory wealth
upon politics. and yet the expenditures
made in behalf of Taft in this prelimi.
nary campaign have exceeded any
thing known to American politics and
are estimated by the New Yorll World
as amounting to easily 100000. Most
of this money has come from his Broth
er, who is the largest owner of public
utility corporations in Cincinnati Mr..
Charles p Taft owns gas and electric
companies and newspaper. George
b. Cox. the notorious boss of Repub-
lican politics in Cincinnati, has found
1t to his interest to form an alliance
with the Taft family Notwithstanding
the fact that Secretary Taft bitterly
denounced him on the stump less than
two years ago. TO secure the Cox sup
port for the Taft presidential ambition
the nominations for state offices in
Ohio were practically turned over to
Cox. AS result the most prominent
Republican newspapers in the state
save those owned by Charles p. Taft
have openly bolted the state ticket.
Yet in all probability Nh. Taft will
receive the Republican nomination for
the presidency. Thus far there has
been no serious setback to his ambi-
lions, and only a few days ago the
Republican convention In New York
while mildly commencing Governor
Hughes, selected a delegation which
will be in effect for Taft The only
state which has definitely instructed
against him within the last week is
Wisconsin, which gave it's delegation to
La Toilette, who is the best Democrat
in the Republican party. but who has
no chance of nomination and Under
stands that fact.
The anti-Taft people are banking
upon the great number of contested
: delegations from southern states. This
is putting much trust upon very slen
der reed. The probabilities are always
against the seating of a contesting del
egation. 1t is true that this was donC
I'm the cases of Michigan and Nebraska
I'm the Democratic convention of 1S9t
and thereby resulted in the nomination
of Mr.. Bryan. but the evidence in favor