The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-05-29
The Two Conventions

The Republicans have practically
finished their selection Of delegates to
the Chicago convention. On the sur
face it appears that the convention
will easily nominate Secretary Taft.
That nomination, if made. and think
it will be made. will be accomplished
By the power of one man. There is
no longer Republican party. There
is only a Roosevelt. who controls the
Republican party. To what extent
the president cun follow up his deter
mination to nominate Taft by fore
ing his election is yet to be determin-
ed. Recently the statement appears
that nearly 400 delegates to the Chi
cago convention are federal employ
ees, owing allegiance to Roosevelt and
doing his bidding That is a. very
good start for nomination to be
made by merely a majority of votes.
But when it comes to the election Il
different issue will be raised. The
president can control a convention, but
to control the nearly 100000 voters
of the nation requires different order
Of talent. 1t is not probable that Mr..
Roosevelt appreciates the hostility OF
public men in his own party to him.
His popularity with the voters in GER
tain parts Of the country may be ad-
mitted, but his strength with the lead
ers of his party must be questioned.
A Pennsylvania Republican congress
man told me only few days ago that
he expected Bryan's nomination and
hoped for his election. AS he turned
away he said: :T"This seems strange
thing for a Republican to say, but we
would like to get back to the system
under which congress had something
to say in regard to the government
of this country. We are tired Of
White House autocracy, and we would
willingly retire for four years in order
that the record Of the last twelve
years might be obliterated and the
precedent set during that period might
now be set aside"
It is extraordinary how strong this
feeling is. 1t is not reflected at all
adequately. in the newspapers, because
the men who will talk in this way to
4 correspondent or to political friend
will preface their remarks by saying
that they must not be quoted by name.
For example, a New England senator
never mind whom-a senator who
has been quoted for some time as be-
ing one of the ..allies" opposed to Mr..
Roosevelt, told me Sunday that the,
fight was up; that Taft would be Mons
mated, and nominated not by the con-
vention. but by the power Of Roose-
welt, He did not like the nomination.
Rather was he for Fairbanks or for
Cannon But he. said that the tre.-
mendous power Of the administration
being put back of Taft had already
accomplished the nomination and that
it was idle now to attempt further to
antagonize it. Therefore they would
accept the inevitable and Mr.. TAFT
would receive the nomination. But"
said he. "a nomination grudgingly
granted is, not equivalent to an cleo
ton. even though granted by the ma
jority party. You are likely to find
in the coming election many Republic
an public men who have ordinarily
been out fighting in the open for the
Republican candidate who this year
will look upon the campaign season as
a good time to take trips to Europe
and who will shed no tears If Mr..
Bryan is elected. There are many
who will be entirely content with four
years relief from the present domi-
nant influence in the White House.
Of course we will be back in the fight
four years hence, with q determine
ton then to keep your friend out of
power for twelve years more
Newspaper readers would be aston
ished to know how general this feel
ing is among Republican politicians in
both house and senate, and Of course
to be in either the house or the senate
means to be politician. The defeat
of the Republican ticket by Mr.. Bryan
this year, which is expected, would
cause, very few regrets among the
men who occupy desks in the two
halls of the capitol. The autocracy of
the White House, the absolute despot-
ism Of the speaker and his four allies
in the house of representatives, the
puissance of Aldrich and his steering
committee, have reduced the ordinary
Republican, senator or representative
to q position of complete impotence.
They resent it. and they would like
to substitute for the widely advertised
square deal" 4 new deal.
The Future of John Mitchell.
When John Mitchell. the former
president Of the United Mine Workers
of America, was in Washington last
week somebody started the story that
he might be the candidate for vice
president on the Democratic ticket.
The suggestion took like wildtire.
EVERYBODY was talking about it. eX-
cent John Mitchell. One of his habits
is to talk little and to do much Par
tlcularly is he diSiuclined to talk
about himself have known him
since the days Of the anthracite strike
and have admired him much as IN en-
ccutive Perhaps hr would make Il
good vice president. because the duty
of the incumbent of that o!ice Is t0
sit on the roStrum and let gentlemen
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