The Washington herald., 1908-04-10
Taft or Roosevelt.


The nomination of one or the other by
the Republican national convention
This is the judgment to-day OF wide
awake, well-informed party men-even OF
those who do not at heart favor either
Taft or Roosevelt
Fairbanks candidacy is gaining little.
If any. headway: Knox's is at stand
still; Cannon's in a state Of coma. and
Hughes undermined to the verge Of de-
struction through the insincerity Of his
support by schemlng. intriguing New
York politicians.
The opposition to Tafts nomination is
strong enough to defeat him. but it is un-
able to unite upon any other candidate.
It can keep Taft from getting a majority
Of instructed delegates, but cannot con-
troll the uninsuucted majority-not for
Fairbanks. or Knox. or Cannon. or
Hughes.
There Is but one man besides Taft who
can be nominated at Chicago, apparently,
and he-Theodore Roosevelt-is not a
candidate. He Is for Taft
Fear Election Of Bryan.
The opposition prefers Roosevelt to
Taft It loves him none the more. but it
believes he can win. 1t prefers Roose-
welt TO Bryan. It wants a candidate who
can be elected and one who can keep the
House from going Democratic. It is fast
coming 10 the conclusion that Bryan viii
be the next President. If Roosevelt is not
nominated
This is the attitude Of the anti-Taft Re
publicans to-day. Reactonaries they are
called, but better Roosevelt than Taft is
the way they feel sixty days before the
convention.
/ It is not the Democrats who are say
/ ing that Ohio cannot be carried by Taft;
not the Democrats who are giving IN
diana TO Bryan as against Taft; not the
Democrats who are talking about Illinois
| and Wisconsin being doubtful: not the
/ Democrats who scent political danger in
Massachusetts,. but Republicans-Repub-
/ Iicans Of prominence who are opposing
Taft and who predict almost openly that
If Taft is nominated Bryan win defeat
him.
Would Win with Roosevelt.
Republicans who declare thst Taft can
not carry Ohio say that that State would
be absolutely safe with Roosevelt Re
pubHoans who talk about Indiana and Il
linois being doubtful assert that Roose-
veits nomination would insure RepubH-
can success overwhelmingly. Though not
in political accord with Roosevelt, OF IN
lfuH sympathy with his policies, they cor
tend that he is the strongest man in ths
country. and. II named at Chicago, would
be elected by "a larger majority than ne
received in 1904 Moreover, they do not
believe that Bryan. whom they regard
as the strongest Democrat, would con-
sent TO run against hiIn.
Extreme bitterness exists between the
Taft and anti-Taft factions of the Repub-
/ lican party. It is not merely on the sur
face. but deep-seated and apparently ir-
Ireconcnable. It's depth and intensity IS
manifest in the willingness Of these ants
10 take Roosevelt rather than Taft
and in the growing probability that
sj7Enpede 10 Roosevelt in the convention
may be led by the so-called reactionaries.
Anti-thfrd Term Sentiment.
The popular opinion as to Roosevelt's
vote-getting strength. If lie should run
again, is not universal. Some Republicans
hold thai his nomination would invite
disaster. The President himself. who is
still stoutly determined not to run, is said
to share this feeling, to some extent at
least, and men very close to him do not
hesitate to express the doubt they feel on
the subject. Generally speaking, however,
especially in Congress, the idea IS preva-
lent that Roosevelt's nomination would
insure Republican success.
Those who question Ro0sevelt's strength
base il upon the nt-third-term sentiment.
Others. and they are in much the larger
number, declare that this sentiment would
cut no appreciable figure al the polls.