Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-27
Confident Predictions of the
Taft Boomers.
DECLARE SUCCESS CERTAIN
Look for Early Withdrawal Of Some
of the Candidates.
Senator Piles Says Sentiment In
Senate in Favor Of -Four
Is Growing.

II the Taft boomers who make thu
White House mecca are good prophets
some Of the republican preeidential candi
dates now in the field will soon be with
drawing in favor OF Taft. They looi
for that as one Of the early develop
ments of a situation that IL gratifying
to them. They claim. each day more
emphatically. that there is now no posi-
bility of the Taft swing throughout the
country being stopped; that his nomina'
ton is as good as made; that the Other
candidates in the field are sensible men
politicians enough to know what thu
handwriting on the wall Is; that 1t II
probable one or more Of them will &C.
knowledge the claims Of the Taftites and
man a still greater lead in the con.
vention, in view of the probability that
any withdrawal would mean turning
over votes to him.
The Taft people seem to base their pre-
diction wholly upon an analysis OF the
existing situation and not from any direc'
information from the camps Of the oppo.
sition candidates. When asked their
views as to which Of the candidates
may get out first they do not pretend tc
be any better at guessing than any mar
who studies politics.
Inc BREAK 1or TAU.
Rather strangely. though, the inclina.
ton is toward the belief that Speaker
Cannon might be the first man to start
the uocess Of making Taft the unani.
nous choice Of the convention. Their
reasoning is that the Speaker IL one OF
the big cogs in the republican machine
that 1t is somewhat incumbent upon him
to stand in with the powers that promise
he. hot Ia 1oo Tn II In
to start the harmony bail rolling: that II
he expects to be Speaker again It 10 ad-
visable for him to get out OF tho way OF
the swiftly moving band wagon by climb.
ing on and shouting good words to the
driver.
Vice President Fairbanks. although q
stanch republican. will not have to ask
republicans for their support for q con-
gressional Office IL he loses the nomina-
ton. and 1t 10 said that he will probably
20 into the convention with q more solid
delegation back Of him than the Illinois
man. Gov. Hughes Is somewhat indie
pendent. too. while Senator Knox il SINH
larly fixed. After Cannon the belief
seems to prevail that Senator Knox may
be the man to withdraw first. in the
event that anybody does so. He and Sec
rotary Taft are warm personal friends.
He halls from a state which would stand
little or no chance OF getting the nomina-
ton anyhow. and be Is Q supporter OF
the administration In many Of its policies.
II ne should see At to retire before the
would put the Taft people under many
obligations. az that would certainly be the
beginning OF the end Of all opposition,
probably the immediate end.
that the Taft people are going to be dis
appointed in their predictions, certainly
as to Withdrawals prior to the national
convention. It 10 admitted they may be
right as to one or more Of the opposi-
ton candidates getting out directly after
the first ballot in the convention and aft
erward aiding Taft. 1t is pointed out they
do not consider that the honor Of being
voted for In q national convention IL not
to be overlooked. When that honor has
easily.
Senator Cullom at Convention.
Senator Cullom Of Illinois. who will
soon be seventy-ntne years old, called on
the President today. The Illinois senator
ia one of the delegates at large to Chica-
90. He will be a historic figure there.
He has been in public life since 1855, when
he became a member Of the Illinois legis-
iature The same year he was a presi-
Dental elector on the Fillmore ticket. He
was In the House Of Representatives in
1885. was in the legislature later and AFT
erward governor Of his state He has
been going to every national convention
for the last forty years and made the
shortest speech nominating q President
Of the United States in the history Of the
country.
This was at Philadelphia in 1872. when
he nominated Grant. His speech was
about 200 words. but when it had been
finished an immense nag containing a
picture of Gen. Grant was quickly low
cred from the ceiling over the stage and
the convention. went wild. Senator Gull
lom Is q hearty supporter and dear friend
OF Speaker Cannon Illinois has frequent
for the same nomination, but he now
turns to his old friend and attempts to
aid him.
Talking Of Battleships.
Several senators who are interested In
the battleship proposition now before the
Senate saw the President today Senator
Allison. chairman OF the appropriations
committee. and Senator Nixon. chairman
OF the committee on coast defenses. con-
ferred with the President, and Senator
to the naval bill for four battleships, was
likewise visitor. Senator Piles thinks
that the sentiment for four ships IL grow
ing in the Senate, but he does not ex.
press the belief that four ships will be
provided for.
Representative Adamson of GeorSia saw
the President with Lieut.. Orr Of the Ma
rine Corps.
At $40 o'clock this afternoon the Presi-
dent received the delegates to the Flor.
ence Crittenton Home convention.
Mr.. Cary Makes Some Inquiries.
Representative Cary of Wisconsin talked
with the President today about the bill
early In the present session
asking an investigation Of the methods Of
the telegraph companies during the strike
Of telegraphers last year. Mr.. Cary claims
that the action Of the telegraph COM
panies was outrageous In receiving tele-
grams and then forwarding them BY mail
or express. 1T was pure robbery" said
Mr.. Cary. receiving money under false
pretenses. and 1t seems to me that some
thing ought to be done. The committees
of the House to which my resolution was
referred has pigeon-holed the BILL l
wanted to ask the President IL the admin
Istration intended to do anything. He
referred me to Commissioner NELL OF the