The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-04-19

|. ON UNCLE JOE
Republican Politics in Ala
bana-Strong Fight is
Waged by Ants.

widely OlNlueu, DuL dI6 glowing iuI-
Their apart each day. One popularity
in this connection is the fact that,
while they will not talk for publica-
ton, the offfceholders are not solid
for Secretary Taft by any means. The
second district republicans in their
district convention a week or 80 ago
sent a split delegation TO Chicago.
The republicans of the first district,
in which Mobile county is located,
are expected to do the same thing
this month.
The county convention has been
called by the Mobile Republicans and
the first district convention will meet
the following day. National issues
and national figures are claimed to
have been lost sight of in the faction
al fights that are being waged and
the coming conventions promise to be
merely personal following cOnven-
tons Mobile county is expected TO
endorse the presidents administration
and send a delegation that Will sup
port Secretary Taft. At the same
time the so-called Davidson wing of
the party is expected to have a dele
CATION on hand at the convention in
Birmingham and to send delegates
from the first district instructed
against Secretary Taft
One particular point concerning the
party fight in Alabama that makes
the Alabama delegation of more than
ordinary interest, although the repub-
HcanS do not hope for an electoral
vote from the state, Is that in the roll
cali of states Alabama comes first.
Each and every candidate hopes to
have Alabama announce a solid vote
for him when the roll call is COM
menced From representatives of all
shades of party factiOnalism this de
sired object does not appear probable
for any of the candidates. 1t is prac
ticalIy admitted that it is the field"
against Secretary Taft. but the indI-
yidual members of the field" are
fghtng hard for the control of the
delegations.
A Split Delegation.
According 10 those republicans who
arc supposed to be in close touch
with the situation Alabama will not
present d solid front for any one can
didatc. This statement is made while
TIE people doing the talking admit
hat the national committee Is anti
Taft and the anti-Taft delegates will
nc seated. With this condition exist
n. Foraker. Fairbanks, Cannon and
Hughes are expected TO each receive
& portion Of the TWENTY-FIVE votes 70
be cast in The republican national
convention from Alabama. This ar
gument is made from the fact that
each district selects its own delegates
20 the convention and the friends of
the several candidates are known TO
re hard at work in their respective
districts. The four votes from the
tod Tx,p sNifl ,rN1.
Cannon o. Hughes, with Cannon as
the faVOritn. As a matter of fact,
there are republicans so positive in
their statements that the prediction
is made that the field will leave the
fight 10 Cannon and Hughes with
Cannon as the most likely candidate
because of the action of the New
York republicans during the recent
state convention.
On the other hand. there are the
adherents OF the administration They
do not claim the state for Secretary
Taft. They admit many contested
DELEGATIONS and are not averse to be-
lieviDg that the total voting strength
Of the state vii be divided in the ma
tiCnaI convention. Naturally. they
claim the nomination of Secretary
Taft. Neither side appears 10 be-
lieYe that President Roosevelt Will be
even 4 serious contender for the NOM
inat:on under any circumstances. The
administration and anti-administrdtiOn
republicans say that the president
has removed himself entirely from any
consideration. Secretary CortelyOu
has the friendship and confidence OF
many CT the Alabama republicans, but
mono of them believe that b looks
upcn his chances for the nomination
With any degree of seriousness. His
sole hope IS said TO be as the choice
OF the field against Secretary Taft
as the dark horse
The ore topic among the Tepubli-
cans everywhere appears to be the
inclination of tn. members Of the
nation committee Regardless OF
merit or demerit of contestiEG delega-
tiOrs. il is claimed. the personal
wishes of tie members of the national
committee viii dictate the nomination
IF the republican standard-beaTer- Ell
forts have been made continually to
poll the national committee ever
since the meeting that selected the
seat for the national convention. Il
has been well known that the selec-
ton Of Chicago was merely 10 snow
the discomfort of the national com
uitteemen with Secretary Taft and
I
the administration. even after another
city had practically been decided
upon. The efforts 10 poll the nation
al committee have proved futile
Committee Against Taft.
A republican from another section
than Mobile and Alabama is author
| ity for the suggestions that the vast
majority of the national committee
men are unalterably opposed to Sec
rotary Taft for the nomination. Ac-
cording to a statement recently made
! bv this republican. who occupies a
position in the party TO know whereof
/ he speaks. there are thirty-one mem
| hers of the national committee who
are against Secretary Taft AT all
times. Nine Of the committeeman
are quoted as being committed TO the
secretary and fourteen have declined
/ to say where they will be classed
1t is claimed that all the doubtful
l alv tAI