The Washington herald., 1908-02-27
ROOSEVELT OR BRYAN
Belief Grows that One or
Other Will Be Elected.
REPUBLICANS SCENT DANGER
Taft still Leads, but His Candidacy
Lacks Popular Strength-MaJority
ing the President Because of HIS
Vote-gettIng Ability with Masses.

William Howard Taft against the field
This is the Republican Presidential situa-
tien.
William Jennings Bryan without or
ganized opposition. This is the Demo-
cratic Presidential situation.
The choice OF the Chicago convention ts
problematical; that Of the Denver con-
vention a foregone conclusion.
With all the existing uncertainty as 90
the Republican standard bearer. ana with
Taft admittedly in the lead in the pre-
lininary contest. the observation most
commonly heard in political quarters is
that the next President will be Theo-
dore Roosevelt or William Jennings
Bryan. Doubt OF the ability Of any Re
publican other than Roosevelt to Sc.
cure a majority in the electoral college Is
generally entertained.
Bryan Expects to Win.
Bryan, by indorsing this administration
policies, has staked his political all upon
his conviction that Roosevelt. adhering to
his declaration of 1sO-reiterated three
months ago-wiH under no condition allow
the nomination 10 be forced upon him.
Bryan himself expects 10 be the next
President
Most Republicans are Of the oplnion
that Roosevelt would command larger
following than any other man ana that
his denomination would he equivalent 10
his triumphant reelection. A minority
element in the party believe that If he
should be chosen at Chicago and accent
the nomination. overwhelming and hu-
initiating defeat would come to him in
November. They hold that the masses
would adjudge him guilty OF breaking q
solemn pledge, and that this. coupled
with widespread anti-third-term senti-
ment. would assuredly result in party
disaster.
New York n Doubtful StateR
Can Taft be nominated at Chicago
without the support OF New York and
Pennsylvania? This is possible. but not
probable. Can these States be brought
into line for him in convention? The
assertion is freely made IN Washington
that these great States will resist his
nomination to the end New Yorkers say
that Taft cannot carry the Empire State
Gen. Stewart L. WOodford is the latest
eminent Republican TO voice this con-
viction. and no voices it in no spirit
OF personal antagonism 10 Taft. who is
his friend. lie says that powerful in
terests in the great metropolis favor
Tafts nomination, but nevertheless his
nomination would cost the Republican
party the electoral vote Of New York
State. Gen. Woodford goes further than
this. He asserts that there is but one
Republicau-Gov. Charles E. Hughes
who can this year carry the state. He
OF course. eliminates Roosevelt from the
equation.
Hughes candidacy. in the judgment
OF party men, is not growing. He IS an
parently less potent as national politi-
cal factor. than he was sixty DAYS ago.
He is neither 2 radical nor a reacuonary.
and herein. apparently. lies his weak
ness. His candidacy does not commend
itself to the conservatives of the East or
TO the ardent Roosevelt Republicans Of
the West
While Taft leads in the number of in.
structed delegates and is undoubtedIv
gaining ground from day 10 day, many
Republicans who now expect him TO he
nominated are commenting upon the lacy
of popular strength in his candidacy. He