Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-08
Reports From Middle West Are Not
Encouraging.
INTEREST IN TAFT'S TALK TOUR
He'll Have a Hard Job in Handling
Some of the Questions That'u
Be Hurled at Him.

that his presence on the musings is IN de-
mand. Urgent letters from state chair
men and other local managers from all
over the country testify to the necessity
for his going before the people and allow
ing them to look him over.
The reports which come to New York
from the middle west are far from reas-
surfing to the republicans. The situation
in the vast and restless territory between
the Wabash and the plains, as reported
by watchful observers, is not of charac-
ter to warrant any to l odds on Iaft,
such as Wall street is blindly offering.
But then Wall street never looks beyond
the Jersey flats.
A sood-sized, husky Bryan scare is
pretty good representation for the near
future unless Candidate Taft manages 10
start some fires in the middle west right
at the jump off.
Taft Has Hard Job.
Candidate Taft is not going to have alto
gether an easy task, either, in handling
some of the questions he will have to dis
cuss on his western trip. Take for ex-
ample, the mooted subject of guarantee
of bank deposits. Mr.. Taft and the ma
tional organization are opposed to that
Bryan plan. BlT. the republican state
platform or Kansas Has ucCldI GU III iel W.
of it. The republican literature going into
Kansas is discreetly silent on the sub
ject.
There is tariff revision; 1t is a certainty
he will have to make some big talk on
revision that is reduction-not 1rev1lson
alone. The middle west, republican and
democratic alike, is crazy TO get aIter
the tariff schedules with an ak. IhaI Is
what revision means out there. But tha'
is not the kind of revision demanded in
Fnplan nd. PennSVlV ANA
and protectionist Ohio. 1t does not sound
good in West Virginia, which state, since
it swung into the republican column IN
1894. has been as rock-ribbed protectlonist
as Pennsylvania. go,
1t is feared that Candidate Taft will
have to do some very agile side stepping
and cut some fancy figures on mighty
thin ice when he takes the stump In those
want him to go, confident that his per-
sonality, geniality and his great. honest
American manliness will make thousands
Of votes for him.
The Tail With the Hide?
Trustworthy. information from republic
can sources indicates an interesting situa-
ton in Minnesota. The republicans are
in bad shape there and the democrats are
jubilant My republican information is
that Minnesota is at this time showing
decided tendency toward re-electing GOV.
Johnson, the democratic candidate TOT
governor. 1t Is not admitted that the
presidential ticket is in any danger, but
there is the old political axiom of the pos
sibility Of the tail gong with the hide
The republican congressional ticket is
not all safe, it is represented. Ihere
are some ugly features of the contests
for nominations. 1t is said that Repre-
sentative Tawney chairman Of the ap-
propriations committee of the House ana
holder Of the purse strings for the Dis
trict of Columbia, is threatened. An OPP
posing candidate for the nomination Is
making a fight on him on the score Of
his alleged participation in the House
oligarchy," which is charged with hav-
ing hampered the President in his radical
recommendations to Congress. The tenn
perance people are after him, also. 1t is
feared that the agitation connected with
the nomination, If he wins out there. may
be used to his disadvantage at the polls
in November. ssf..
Funny Man in Trouble.
There is said to be trouble in Adam
Bedes' district, and in the old McCleary
district the latter now represented by a
democrat. Assistant Postmaster General
McCleary is DESTROYS of getting back into
Congress, but an ambitious republican
constituent is contending that Mr.. Nc
Cleary should not deprive the postal
service of his talents.
Gov. Johnson is making a campaign on
his personality. 1t is stated upon reliable
authority that the democrats have state
campaign fund of 100000 and the re-
publicans claim to be "broke." In the
seventh and ninth districts, represented
by republicans-Volstead and STEVENSON.
both Scandinavians-Gov. Johnson has adj
vised the democrats not to run opposing
candidates for Congress. That indicates
an attempt to swing the foreign vote of
those republican districts to the demo-
cratic state ticket, and inferentially to
Bryan.
A Macedonian cry for help from Mime
sofa has come to the national managers,
cognizance of the Minnesota situation
from now on. Undoubtedly Candidate
Taft will enter the state.
The news from Minnesota is of piece
with the information gathered during a
visit to Minnesota right after the Chi
cago convention. 1t was evident at that
time that the state was honeycombed with
radicalism, the result of the teaching of
Roosevelt, Bryan and La Toilette. This
had been intensified by the resentment of
| the two radicals over the nomination of
Mr.. Sherman for Vice President which
they considered victory for the ''con-
sentative element in Congress, and it
was predicted at that time that the re-
publicans would have to attend to their
knitting in Minnesota in this campaign
or the enemy would get away with their
ball of yarn.
People Seem Sullen.
Ugly rumors come from several states
of that section Of the country concerning
the sullen attitude of the people toward
| the republican Congress. Except in the
| case of Mr.. Tawney it is not being gen.
orally voiced in the primaries for the
nominations, but is being held for express
sion at the polls. The national manage
| ment will be called upon before the cam
paign is over to say some plain words to
the republicans of that region of the
necessity of supporting republican candi-
dates for Congress we'll as the repub-
| lican national ticket.
Ex-Gov. hill of Maine. now committee
man for that state. called on Chairman
| Hitchcock today. He did not bring any
| rainbows. Gov. Hill frankly admits that
the republican vote in Maine will show
falling off from the vote of four years
ago, although he does not admit the prob
| ability of Bryan carrying the state. Gov.
Hill thinks that the republican plurality
Will run from 1900 to 5000, as against
| 2S,OOO in 1904
Connecticut is worrying the republicans,
| and State Chairman Kennedy came to
| headquarters today to tell his troubles
| 10 Chairman Hitchcock. The candidacy
| for governor of Representative Lilley the
subject OF the congressional Investigation
| of the submarine scandal last session is
not aiding the republican prospects, it is
said.