The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-24
BITTER WAR BEING
MADE ON SECRETARY
Q'irst Intimation Of Agreemen,
With Wall Street Given Out
by Anti-Taft Forces-still
Declare He Will Be
Beaten-Gossip as to
Running-Mates.
Times-Dispatch Bureau,
WashIn1fnn II r \


]. Bryan and William n
Taft as the Democratic and
Republican presidential nominees. re-
specttvely. is a certainty. the politi-
clans at the head OF the opposition to
both OF these candidates profess not to
4 have given up the fight. The John
hon boomers are working just as hard
MS ever Bryan and johnson had a
ttand-up fight for the Alabama dele
cation. and though Mr.. Bryan got 49,
600 Democratic votes and Governor
Johnson got $4,000. the Johnson people
claim the result was practically vic
tory for the Minnesota man. since the
fight for him in that State was only
conducted for eighteen days.
1t must be confessed that TO the
"wayfaring man" 1t is difficult to see
e. victory for anybody in the Alabama
nffair save for William j. Bryan. This
is good place to say also that habit
Itua1 observers OF the political game
cannot see anybody but William j.
Bryan IN the contest for the Democra-
tic nomination. II contest 1t may be
called.
Tic Result In Pennsylynnin..
II there be anything at all in the
claims OF the Bryan people the action
OF the Pennsylvania Democrats In State
convention this week. in not instruct
ling the four deiegates-at large from
the keystone State. was not OF much
!significance. 1t is claimed. and the
! claim has been made for weeks now.
that fifty one or flfty-three OF the dis
trict delegates from Pennsylvania have
either been instructed for Mr.. Bryan or
have announced that they Will vote for
his nomination. Pennsylvania will have
sixty-eight delegates In the Denver
convention. II the claims OF the Bryan
supporters be we'll founded. the fifty
odd Bryan men will put the rule on the
delegation and Colonel Jim. Guffey,
who has always led the auti-Bryan
forces of Pennsylvania. will be COM
PEELED to vote for Bryan's nomination.
Allie. sill Fighting Tnft.
The allies continue to make strong
statements In the effort to show that
the nomination OF Secretary Taft is not
yet assured. A statement from the AL
lied headquarters in this city takes the
figures made public by the Taft manag-
ers. and from them proceeds to show
that the nomination OF the Ohio man
not only is not a certainty, but that 1t
S. Impossible. The Taft people claim
5si yotes-ninety three more than a
majority. The Allies call attention to
the fact that Included in this number
are 1-p contested NoltS. Accounting 10
the tatements OF the Taft managers
themselves. The Allies claim the num-
her will be nearer 200. The Allies also
claim that in addition to including the
! contested votes as being for Tot. his
managers also included eighty unin-
structed votes.
The ant!-Taft manag gers declare that
every unnstructed delegate signifies
the failure of an effort to instruct for
Taft, and that such failure implied
that even back of an Endorsement was
doubt as to whether his nomination
would be possible when the convention
meets in Chicago.
Bitterness of Fnctions.
The bitterness Of the Republican op-
position to Secretary Taft is distinct
and most striking feature Of the cam
paign. The first information that De-
1nocratic correspondents had concern
ing the agreement reached betwee.
Secretary Taft and Wall Street came
from the Allied mana gers. A statement
cmanating this weeK from anti-Taft
headquarters in this city. said to be
from the pen OF former Senator Will
liam E. Chandler, of New Hampshire,
who wrested the presidency from Sa M
uel j. Tilden In 1876, emphasizes tho
charge that the Taft managers have
"procured the assistance of the cap
tains OF predatory wealth" in the effort
ITO push their candidate over the line
The statement says. and it should be
borne in mind. that this comes from,
mon who will have to support the nom
lnee of the Chicago conventions:
History will repea Itself at Chicago
No pre- convention favorite ever won q
nomination for President in Republi-
can convention since the founding OF
the party. excepting William Mckinley
and back of him was a tidal wave OF
popular sentiment which is not surging
for Secretary Taft, and Harrison In
1s92-nominated by the otisceholders
and beaten by the people. Seward had
thirds OF the delegates to the con
vention in 1860 pledged Blaine was
within twenty-siS votes of nomina.
tion on the first ballot In 1S76-n earor
than Secretary Taft will be,
Mnchine-Nlndc Product,
"The fatal weakness of the Taft can
didacy is that it is an absolutely ma
chine-made product, not Vitalized by
popular sentiment. Its band-was on IS
loaded down with men who will JUMP
over the wheel the moment the vehicle
shows q sign of stalling and the sigr
is in sight.
THE Chicago convention will make {
nomination not product Of intimida'
ton, not a result of c.owardice on the
part of party leadership, not involving
the surrender OF party prospects In 10t
congressional districts and q dozen
Northern and Border States, and no.
imposing upon the Republican party
: the necessity of proving that the sup
port Of predatory wealth has not beer
secured for the Taft candidacy Mt the
sacrifice of the policies which the pro
gressive wing of the Republican part,
has been led to believe 1T represents"
While It must be admitted that TIL
anti-Taft people are able to make
strong showing Of reasons Why Secre
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