Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-12
POLITICS POPPING.
The Campaign is Opening Up Hot at
Washington.

Washington, Feb PA new poll
tical sun is rising. In this capital
city its rays already are beginning
to be felt. The environments of politi-
cal life in Washington are becoming
superheated. Politics is fairly pop
ping. The corridors of the capitol are
thronged with men who rarely are
seen in Washington except in the
midst of campaign which has its
center here The situation to-day re-
calls the days Of the preliminary CAM
paign for the presidential nomination
of 1896, when William Mckinley and
Thomas B. Reed were the leading can
didates for the republican nomina-
tion.
In the early days of that year, when
Mr. Reed was the speaker of the house
of representatives, politicians and
would be statesmen hung around him
with buzzard like persistence. They
gave him no peace. His room, at the
capitol was besieged by men who de-
sired primarily to bask in the light Of
his presence, and, secondarily, to i'm
press him with the power of their in
tluence to their eventual political pro-
fit.
Scores, even hundreds of these peo-
pie, Speaker Reed appeared to be
forced to receive and treat with civil
ity. He was ont Il particularly impress
sionable character, however, and most
of his callers experienced the blight of
a frost.
So it was. too, at Canton. Ohio.
There Mckinley received veritable
host of republicans from all parts of
the country. The callers nearly bad
gered the life out of him. Being in
the public eye, he was unable to rid
himself of the horde of inconsequen-
tial persons who desired everything
from him from Il portfolio I'm the cab
met to recommendation of a corn
cure. 1t was remarkable and char
aeteristically American situation.
In the respects noted, history is
now repeating itself in Washington.
Secretary Taft, who, for the moment
at least, seems to be the most prom
inent candidate for the republican
nomination for the presidency, is pass
ing through an experience similar to
that of Reed and Mckinley. Hun
dreds of persons desire to see him
every day. He is besieged by callers.
So great is the pressure upon his
time, that he scarcely has opportun-
ity TO sign his personal mail. In
addition TO the time consumed in re-
ceiving people who have TO be seen,
he is obliged to prepare speech after
speech to be delivered in various parts
of the country. AS weight reducing
process. the present situation Is de-
cided success. Nobody but one en-
dowed with immense physical and
mental powers could withstand the
strain which Taft Is now undergo
ing.
The secretary. in self defense, prae-
tically has abandoned his Office in the
was department. He appears there TO
attend TO some official business. but
most of his time is spent at his own
home. where he has set apart suite
Of rooms in which he transacts Off
cial and political business. He has a
corps of clerks and stenographers as
sisting him and one or two confiden-
tial men who act as buffers between
him and the general run" OF his
callers.
II is fact. remarked upon by ex-
perienced observers. that Secretary
Taft now is receiving more callers |
than the president Of the United |
Sfafaz Tho Tide Hac furnod fa,s-ay,f- |
him and he finds himself almost sub |
merged. The president is not neglect
ii. hy any means. but the politicians
are looking to the east A new poll
IicaI sun is rising.