The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-05-06
TAFT PEOPLE FEAR PLOT,
no STAMPEDE THE REPUBLICAN
CONVENTION AT CHICAGO
FOR ROOSEVELT,
Claim to Have Discovered a Scheme
by "thc Allies to Beat the Secre.
tary OF War.


tary OF War.
The Taft people, says the Washing
ton Star, believe that they have made
a discovery that is one Of the most
important Of the campaign, and that
II 1t Is as accurate as it is interesting
they are unquestionably to be COM
mended for their penetration. It is
that the allies, as the anti-Taft can
didates are now called, are planning
to bring about great Roosevelt hull
labaloo In the Chicago convention,
force his nomination at the very out
set Of the convention, IL possible. and
depend upon him declining the nomi-
nation In the belief that Taft can win
II he is out. Then, having placed the
president where 1t would be absolute
ly beyond reason to again nominate
him, they would take advantage of
the confusion and the hurrah to "odds
up" the Ohio man and bring about
the nomination Of one of their own.
This supposed plan, it is today
pointed out Is the best possible ans
wer to the suggestions that Speaker
Cannon or some of the other candi-
dates may withdraw before the con-
vention in favor Of Taft. If the allies
understand each other and can null
of the coup they are credited with
having IN embroinic shape, it would
be unwise for any candidate to get out
now.
According to the scheme, as it was
doped out today by Taft man, the
allies take President Roosevelt at his
word when he says that under no
circumstances will he again be a cam
didate. They do not believe that he
could afford to accept, no matter
what conditions would arise, but they
are ever distrustful of what he might
do. They know that a great political
drama Is among the possibilities at
Chicago. They have information
from many sources in the West and
South that the men who have been
elected as Taft delegates are at heart
for Roosevelt. They have an idea that
their leaders are going to arrange
matters 60 that at the right moment
Roosevelt will be nominated in the
mightiest hurrah ever seen. The al.
lies see how easy it might be to
stampede the convention before a,
ballot is ever taken. and they are sai6
20 be willing.
President Roosevelt would be in
close touch with the work Of the con-
Vention. Before it could get through
nominating Vice President and do
Ing necessary work he could send a
telegram eliminating himself. In
fact, the allies would be careful to see
that the convention did not adjourn
until he had been communicated with.
In view Of the unheard-of proceed
ure Of nominating a man for Presi-
dent against his repeated declaration
that he could not be induced to run,
they would advise that formal noti-
fication be sent to him instead Of wait
Ing to notify him by committee.
The President would naturally be
busy pending the wait. He would be
In direct touch with intimate friends
at the other end. He will be in
Washington, with direct wire COLI
Meeting him with the convention. His
friends will tell him that Taft really
has majority Of the delegates and
can be nominted. With his telegram
OF declination. which will sew him up
SO tight he would not again be a
factor the allies will get busy. They
will spring every possible argument
against Taft's availability, and some.
body may make w. j. Bryan speech
of the cross Of gold and crown of
thorn" pattern that will sweep weak
kneed Taft people into somebody else's
column and take the candy away
from the Ohio kid.
The allies. at least one Of the prin-
cipal leaders. was authority today for
the statement that the Taft people
are intensely afraid Of the third.term
spook and that they are talking for
erect when they suggest that some
OF the other candidates are likely to
get out Of the race at any time. They
are simply trying to make sure of the
nomination now so as to prevent the
spectre Of the big stick a-d :t3 owner
looming over the convo 4 ion IT q, in
opportune moment. comchow or other
secretary Taft can now keep the third
term lid down as he has other lids
he Is supposed to have set on top