The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-06-05
Special to The Washington Herald.

chicago. Ill. June 4-The battle be-
tween the Taft and anti-Taft forces Is
fairly on. Tomorrow the Republican Ma
tional Committee win begin hearing the
contests. and the contest mill is expected
to grind almost night and day. Sundays
included. up to almost the moment the
convention itself is called TO order.
Already. twelve days before the con-
vention is TO meet the line Of battle is
clearly drawn. It is Taft against the
field.
Charles P. Taft. brother OF the secre-
tary Of War. arrived to-day-to remain
until the big show is over. as he put it.
He alighted from the train at the
Union Station to-day with a prediction
upon his lips.
Secretary William Il Taft will be
nominated on the first ballot There IS
no doubt Of it. IN my mind Everything
looks fine"
Mr.. Taft smiled all over his good
natured face as he spoke the words. He
! cautioned everybody TO remember that
he was a 'prejudiced witness" where
Secretary Taft was concerned. but IN
sisted that his prediction on the out
come OF the contest was correct.
Allies Not Fully Organized.
The anti-Taft allies are only partly or
ganized. They are sticking together by
mutual necessity. and they stlu have 20
be organized into a compact, adhesive
force. under the direction OF one ex-
perienced general.
The commander OF the allies IS ex-
pected TO be Senator Murray Crane. OF
Massachusetts. He is expected 10 arrive
tomorrow anu assume control Of all the
forces opposed 10 the nomination OF
Secretary Taft. He will have as his as
sistants. naturally, the managers Of the
other candidates. His chief lieutenant
is expected to be Senator James A.
Hemenway. Of Indiana
James B. Healing. the Fairbanks man.
ager, is looked upon as the chief OF stan
Of the anti-Taft forces. There are q
score or more Of subordinates. including
Charles +. KUrtz, of Columbus. Ohio. and
Congressman BOuteIl. OF Illinois.
The notable accession 10 the antl-Taft
forces to-day was the arrival Of the For
aker corps from Ohio. Foraker head
quarters were opened during the day AT
the Great Northern Hotel. where nine
rooms have been set apart for the boom
ers Of the Ohio Senator. Charles 2.
Kurtz. Of Columbus. is in charge. Mr..
KurtZ has been Foraker's chief lieutenant
in politics for thirty years. The opening
OF the Foraker headquarters was hailed
by the allies as OF great significance. for
up 10 to-day Senator Foraker had not
openly declared himself in the race for
the Presidency. Ee has made several
ambiguous statements with strings tied 10
them, which left the inference that he
might be a candidate.
Foraker I'm the Race.
The establishment OF headquarters.
however, seems 10 cllnch the matter. and
put the Ohio Senator definitely IN the
race The Foraker men claim two dele
gates from Ohio. with six more con-
tested In the same State. They claim
they viii gain in the settlement Of the
contests from the South.
There was more activity around the
Cannon headquarters to-day than in anv
part OF the allied camps. The Cannon
nen are organizing a campaign commit
Zee Of 1000 or Illinois Republicans. who
Will descend upon the convention week
rom Monday and endeavor TO spread
cannon gospel among the delegates.
1t was announced to-day that Congress
nan Boutell of Illinois. would pIace
Speaker Cannon in nomination before tbe
The secondlng speeches will
'e made by Congressman Rodenberg. OF
Illinois, and Congressman Forney. OF St.
-ouis
Fairbanks for Second PInce.
The opinion is growing that in the
vent Of Tafts nomination. Vice Presi-
ent Fairbanks viii again be found on
he ticket While Mr. Fairbanks does not
eek the place. It is believed he VIII not
ecline If named
Supporters of President Roosevelt who
efuse to accept his twice repeated
eclaration that under no circumstances
I'LL he accept the nomination. are num-
cred among the politicians who already
ave arrived in the city, and they ara
he most active Of the anti-Taft lobbyists.
Though they have no organization. and
T course no headquarters They are
laking much Of the claim that TAFT has
ecome menace to the success Of tba
arty at the polls next November because
the powerful enemies he has made
mong large classes OF voters. Among
iese they claim are thousands Of mem
ers OF the Grand Army CT the Republc
no have been alienated from the Re-
lblican party because Of the Secretary's
unit reference to Gen. L. S. Grant =,
s Memorial Day address in New York
hen he declared Grant had resigned
ON the army to escape court-martiaI
r drunkenness.
Contests to BE Heard To-day.
Practically all Of the members OF tba
ltional committee have arrived in -eadl-
SIS for to-morrow's session. In all 229
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