The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-05-15
HARMONY AT CHICAGO.
Seeking to Have all Candidates Elk
cept Taft Withdraw.
harmony az chicago =.

might disrupt party harmony anu en-
DANCE success at the polls in Novem-
Der. Conferences have been held at
both ends of the Capitol among such
men as Senators Aldrich, Hale, AL
Payne and Sherman. of New York;
Tawney, of Minnesota; jenkins, of
Wisconsin, and Smith, OF Iowa; in
fact, meetings of small groups from
this lis; have been of almost daily oc-
currence for more thar a week.
They have been directed to one end
"a nomination on the first ballot
by which they mean William H. Taft.
While no definite result has been
reached, they believe .heir efforts
will he successful.
Mos of the men figuring in this
movement were numbered against
Haft early IN the campaign, but
party policy and the necessity for
harmony, which have been manifest
in Republican ranks since the dis
astrous result of the Blaine-Conkling
feud, have awakened a demand that
personal desires be subcrdinated to
the will of.the majority. That the
efforts of the group of leaders back
of the harmony movement have not
been barren of results is indicated
by the fact that to a number of the
conferences have been called such
man IS Senators Hemenway, Pen
rose, Cullom, Hopkins and Depew
and Representatives Parsons and
Vreeland, of New York; Boutell and
Mann, of Illinois; Burke and DalZell,
of Pennsylvania; Watson and Lands
backing the candidates. Of Vice-Pres-
ident Fairbanks, Speaker Cannon,
Senator Knox and Governor Hughes.
No attempt is made to disguise the
fact fiat the real impetus to such a
movement in the interest |
of Secretary Taft is the refusal of |
Roosevelt sentiment to be snuffed |
out and the danger of such sentiment |
to an extent that might be |
difficult to control at Chicago. At
the same time it is said the move
nent is not hostile to President
who admittedly occupies
he position Of command in the Taft
orces. He has made it perfectly
,lain that nothing can come of the
enewed calls for his denomination
which have been made in Texas,
Jtah and California, as he is pre-
AIRED 70 reject any prefer of sup
ort, no matter how extended.
The uttermost limit of endeavor
f the Republican leaders who are
irving to harmonic party differ
noes is to eliminate all candidates
Dr. the nomination except Secretary
aft, but it is not expected that all of
ne Candidates readily will agree to =
MS proposition. Supporters of Sen :
tor Knox particularly are said to OPP
ose The plan, and one of the other
indicates is holding out strongly /
lat there is no immediate demand l
Or agreement. At the same time
tire are leaders in Illinois, Indiana .
nnsylvania and New York who 4
'e parties to the movement with the
now'edge OF the "fay crite son"
lndidates from those states.
The selection of Secretary Taft as
e beneficiary of the workers for
armoly is made because of the fact
at he is the only candidate who has
Ificlent instructed votes to promise
/ early nomination. The argument
the harmony people is that if
aft should fail to obtain the NOM
alton on the first ballot, and the
lilies were able to hold out against
m, it would mean convention A
ntest of many ballots. These lead
S have little doubt that in such a
the Roosevelt third
rm sentiment would threaten. a
ampcde, and, though they feel as
red that the President would not
.sitate to suppress any proposition
okilg to his denomination, they
ar the effect OF such stampede
puOlic sentiment. Tie possible
re result on the campaign for the
SCLlOu VI lIc CdHulCid(e, WuOSNSI | II
may be, is one of the arguments
ed &c draw the so-called "allies"
to :he harmony programme.
Republican leaders concede that
cir majority in the House is likely
be materially reduced at the fall
ection, and they fear that unless all
ctiors are brought together be-
re the Chicago convention they
ght lose their majority altogether.
lie os the side plans being discuss
faYorably is the denomination Of 80
:. Fairbanks as Vice-President on
Q ticket with Secretary Taft, which a
ey assert would remove Indiana N
I'm The doubtful column and make ~
safely Republican. II is believed III
30, that with the Republican forces
idly aligned Taft could easily car m
. Illinois, and the thermometers are IA
lling to concede Cannon's re-elec-
N as Speaker by a Republican N
,use There is a movement on al n
ady 10 bring about the renomina- N
N Of Mr.. Hughes as Governor of N
w York, and an effort will be made E
bring Secretary Taft and Senator 3
"a kCr tOppthar which it G fbCuoIf WI