The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-06-05
So Called Allies Trying to
Make Themselves Believe
The War Secretary Has No
Chance.
HEALING ISSUES A
FAIRBANKS STATEMENT.
Says that Proposition to Make
Indiana Man Second Place
Candidate Done to Cheap
en- His Position.

Chicago, H., June 5.-With the en-
trance of the republican presidential
contest into its second stage comes an
imposing array of battlefield rumOrs.
These differ radically from those of
the first stage. which was that of the
selection of delegates, but they have
the same trend.
The point of difference is the ad-
vancng of a new variety of reasons
why Secretary of War William II. Taft
cannot be nominated When this pre-
sent stage, that of settling the con-
tests, has been passed, and the finale
is reached. that of voting in conven-
ton, perhaps a third variety will burst
into flower.
The name of these rumors is legion
and their description battles the pen.
Whether true or false or a mixture of
both they serve a purpose. 1t is to
prove that the opposition to Secretary
Taft was not boasting when the decla-
ration was made that the fight would
be carried on until the last delegate on
the final roll call was summoned to
cast his vote. Today it is alert, active
and agile. seizing every opportunity
to detract from the reported Taft
strength and TO magnify the opposi-
ton TO his nomination.
Fight to a Finish.
1t is true that there is but little ma
terial upon which to work, the assem-
bly, politicians being in the main mem
bers of the national committee. of
lo1 60,
claimants This fact does not inter-
fere with the zeal of the allies" so
called. General direction of this dem
OnstratiOn against Taft appears to be
in the hands Of the Fairbanks adher-
ents, led by Joseph p. Healing, of
Indiana. He has flatly declared that
his candidate would not accept a NOM
inatiOn as vice president.
Il am authorized TO make this state
Then he proceeded to show that the
boom for that statesman was a clever
Taft trick to injure him as a presiden-
tial possibility by cheapening his posi-
tiOn in the contest.
we are here to fight this battle
through for the Presidency and to take
our chances with the rest of the can
didates," he said.
We believe that Secretary Taft can
not secure enough delegates to NOM
mate himself on the first ballot We
further believe that we can show the
delegates that he is not the man TO
nominate. That accomplished, we
| purpose to try and nominate Mr.. Fair
| banks"
Then the DeIuge.
This statement seems to fully cover
the situation as it is regarded apart
from the many startling and vexing
rumors. The allies intend by hook,
crook or main strength to keep a NOM
inatiOn from being made on the first
ballot. After that. the deluge. The
| vital weakness of the Taft line, they
| assert, is in different views taken of
| him in the East and West. Where
/ Roosevelt is popular delegates who
adore that leader have been chosen
! for Taft because they believe he will
carry out the administration policies
| Where the president is not popular
! delegates have been named for pre-
! cisely opposite reasons. Today Mr..
| Healing quoted from a letter written
! by a delegate from a Western state
instructed for Taft, in which the writ
er declared that he would be justified
! in breaking his instructions becaust
/ of the revelations concerning that
! candidate and the Standard Oil and
/ Steel trusts
If these two wings of the Taft ar
my should collide. they say, his ex-
/ tinction would be assured.