The Topeka state journal., 1908-05-11
Washington Information Makes
1t Apparent That the Secretary
Is Sure to Be Chosen on the
First Ballot at
CHICAGO CONVENTION
Meaning of the Talk OF Stam'
pede to Roosevelt.
Inner History of Presidents
EspOusal of Taft's Cause.


Number for Taft. 44o
Number for Fairbanks. ......... ~
Number for Cannon. o.
Number for Hughes. %
Number for LaENOllette. 20
Number for Knox. %
Uninstructed .................. 1o1
Undecided. but friendly to Taft. SO
Contested .......... oo
Washington May 11.-Within a few
days there will be added to the delega-
tions accredited to Secretary Taft
supplementary strength that will make
his nomination on the first ballot at
the Chicago convention assured beyond
the point of successful attack by the
opposition critics of the returns. Today
the opposition is busying itself more
strenuously than before in a last at
tempt to make it appear that President
Roosevelt. to his own discrediting,
must be given place at the head of the
ticket. 1t is the last resort of beaten
foe
In view of the certainty of the NOM
ination of the secretary of war, it may
not be out of place to say a word of
the reasons for the unconcealed cham
pionship by the president of the secre-
tary's cause.
Mr.. Roosevelt knew at the outset
that If he gave so much as an intima-
ton that it was his desire Mr.. Taft
should be nominated, he would at once
be criticised by the followers of oppos-
ing candidates on the ground that as
president of the United States he had
absolutely no right even by suggestion
to influence the choice of his successor
Moved to Act in Self Defense.
1t is known by the friends of the
president that he thought over this
matter seriously, and that he did not.
as the critics of the opposition held
that he did, go to the Taft support with
a characteristic disregard for presi-
Dental precedents and for political
amenities Mr.. Roosevelt has smashed
some precedents in his time and has
been applauded by the people for so
doing. but in this matter of the sup
port of the secretary he gave due
thought to the course which finally he
concluded to follow.
The president liked the secretary; he
believed that his cabinet officer was
more nearly in sympathy with his own
policies than was any other candidate
who had been mentioned for the presi-
Dental office. 1t was not this, how
ever that induced Mr.. Roosevelt to let
the country know indirectly that he
hoped for the nomination of Mr.. Taft
The president did not want to run
for office again himself He had told
the people so, but they did not seem
inclined to take him at his word. Their
Discrimination to accept his first and
also his second negative as final made
him see a danger. The president final
ly came to the conclusion that for self
defense, the law governing which is
higher than any law of office precedent
he must let it be known that he was
in sympathy with the candidacy of an
other man in order to check the tide
which he feared he could not check in
any other way.
Shows No Lack of Modesty.
The fact that the president felt that
his own nomination might be brought
about against his will unless he took
means to guard against it cannot be
regarded as an evidence of a lack of
modesty. Probably the people know
this, for they constituted the force that
was making itself felt in the third-term
movement. Neither must it be taken
to mean that Mr.. Roosevelt was at all
sorry that he had a good and ample
personal excuse to make known his
preference for secretary Taft. He would
not have made it known, in all human
probability, if he had not felt that he
must do so as a matter of self-protec-
ton.
Everything that the president has
said privately in favor of the secre-
tary of war has been said from the
heart He had yielded to the Taft per-
sonality and the Taft politics early in
his administration, yielded as other
men have yielded who have come to
know the secretary and to understand
his governmental views.
The secretary OF war nomination on
the first ballot is in sight. The tide has
turned to him strongly and resistlessly
His opponents said that he could hope
for nothing in New England. Today
the opposition is looking in wonder at
Connecticut, which has broken New
England tradition, smashed a preced-
ont as easily as Mr.. Roosevelt could
smash one, and has instructed it's dele
gates to vote for the nomination of the
secretary of war, and has done this
thing despite the protests of the states
two senators in Washington, who are
not to be allowed to follow the previous
senatorial path to the delegate hall in
Chicago.
Maine and Massachusetts, because of
the towering strength of Mr. Hale and
Mr.. Crane. were certain, it was said, to
set their faces against the Taft candi-
dacy. The majority of the delegates
from both these states will be found in
line with the Taft guidons in the con-
vention hall. Other New England dele
gates. showing no trace of sorrow over
precedent trampled on, will be found
casting their votes for the man from
Ohio when the day of the roll call
comes.
One week more and the delegates all
will be chosen. and seemingly it is as
sured that the secretary of war will
need none of the delegations under con.
test to make certain his nomination
He is sure to get his share of the rep
TeS6nldiiou Tie contested districts
and with it there will come to him a
victory so pronounced that the day OF
carping will have its end.
Needs Only Fifty More Votes.
With the selection last week of more
than 100 delegates to the Republicar r
national convention, Secretary Taft an.
preached to within fifty votes of the
number he will need to secure the pres.
idential nomination on the first ballot
With the holding of the state conven.
tons in California, Georgia, Louisiana