The Washington herald., 1908-03-21
He GIVES TAFT 562
Hitchcock Claims More Than
Enough to Nominate.
BREAKS A LONG SILENCE
GeneraIIssimo of Secretary of Wars
Canvass Issues First Statement,
Based on Returns from His Lieu
tenants I'm Every Congressional
District-Gives All the Figures.

The Taft political headquarters. which
occupies a large suite OF rooms in the
Union Trust Building and IS presided over
by Frank H. Hitchcock. lately First As
sistaut Postmaster General. last night
broke long silence.
Heretofore this particular Taft head
quarters has been somewhat Of mys-
tery. Unlike the Columbus headquarters.
in charge OF Arthur I. Vorys, the Wash
ington Offices nave sent out no TAFT.
Taft, Taft" post cards or other forms Of
up-to-date campaign material, and have
issued few claims, no challenges, and no
deniaIs
At O'Clock Mr.. Hitchcock announced
that he had received reports from every
Congressional district in the United States.
and that these reports Indicated sure
552 votes for William II. Taft in the Chi
cago convention This estimate, Mr..
Hitchcock declared. is conservative.
The rest OF what Mr.. Hitchcock said
may be summarized like this: There are
10 be SOi delegates from States and Ter
ritogies west Of the Mississippi River
and 20 Of these absolutely sure for Taft
This leaves only thirty-four doubtful
in that region. Fifty-two OF the
eighty-twO New England delegates are
claimed FOR Taft. The Southern States
east of the Mississippi from Virginia and
Kentucky southwark, are entitled 10 1874
votes in the convention, and Mr.. Hitch
cock claims 12S Of these as sure.
One Ballot for "FavOrite Sons"
Mr. Hitchcock assumes that the votes
in the ''favorite son" States of New York.
Pennsylvania. Indiana. Illinois. and Wis
consin will be cast on the first ballot
for the respective candidates OF those
States" He counts $50 votes out OF the
total Of $50 in the convention. 491 being
necessary TO choice.
The statement issued by Mr. Hitchcock
follows:
THE most important gains In the Taft
movement during the past month oc-
CURED west OF the Mississippi River. The
States and Territories Of that region ara
entitled 20 0Oi votes in the Republican ma
tional convention. Iowa, Missouri. Ne
braska, Kansas. ard Oklahoma have al
ready held their conventions and in
structed for Taft. giving him more than
100 votes New Mexico will hold its con-
vention tomorrow and instruct for Taft
The State committee OF North Dakota
South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Wash
ington. Arkansas. and Louisiana have
adopted resolutions indorsing his candi-
daCy- Recent reports from Western States
that have not had an opportunity thus
far to express their preference as re-
CARDS Presidential candidates indicate
such a preponderance OF Taft sentiment
rs to warrant the prediction that practi-
cally the entire region west OF the Missis-
sippi VIII be found in the Taft column
by the time the national convention
meets. According 10 the Judgment of
party leaders familiar with local con-
ditions. IL is safe 10 count for Taft at
the present time from the region west
Of the Mississippi go delegates, leaving
only thirty-fOur in doubt.
Most of New England, Too.
In the New England States also dis
tinet gains have been made for the Taft
candidacy. A careful canvass OF the sit
uation in those States warrants the claim
to-day for Taft Of hfty-two Of their
elghty-two delegates, leaving thirty still
IN doubt.
The Southern States east Of the Mis-
slssiDpi River. from Virginia and Ken
tucSy southwark. are entitled to 1S4 votes
IN the national convention. OF this num-
Der. 12S can bo safely counted in the
Taft column, leaving sixty-six stin in
doubt. While it is expected that con-
tests viii be made IN the case of certain
delegations from the South, the Taft
IL
elected and will bear credentials emitting
them to be seated in tho convention.
''The sO-called favoritc-son' States
New York. Pennsylvania. Indiana. Illi-
noiS, and WiSconsin-are together entitled
TO 25s votes in the convention. 1t is gen.
orally assumed that these votes will be
cast on the first ballot for the respective
candidates Of these States. Aside from
these States and the State Of Ohio. which
will send to the convention 46 Taft dele
gates, there are al present 20 unpledged
votes III the East and North, SIS follows:
New Jersey, "a Delaware. 6: Maryland.
IS; the District Of Columbia, .; West vir-
ginia. Il. and Michigan. % OF these &C
votes % can now be placed in the Taft
column. leaving SS in doubt
Under the call of the Republican Ma
tional Committee the outlying Territories
Of Alaska, Hawaii, Porto Rico, and the
Philippine Islands are each entitled to
delegates. OF these delegates have
been already instructed for Taft and 4
are IN doubt
Gives All the Figures.
The present strength of the Taft candi.
dacy can be summarized as follows;
Northern States cast Of the Mississippi River
New Shglaha ,.
Other Northern and Eastern Ststes-.-.-.--- 81
IS
Southern States east Of the Mississippi River - 10
States and Territories west Of the Mississippi n