The Washington herald., 1908-03-02
ALIGNMENT OF DELEGATES.
Fair Unin- Con-
Taft. banks. stlucted- test
State Conventions This Week.
OhiO--At Columbus tomorrow.
Kansas-At Topeka. wednesday.

William H. Taft made material gains |
last week in the contest for delegates 10 |
the Republican national convention. Since |
the publication February "a of the table |
OF delegates and their alignment, there !
have been twenty-eight additional dele |
gates elected, Of which twentysix We're |
instructed for Taft, and two. in the Sixth
Ohio. for Foraker. The latter are con-
tesrsd by Taft delegates
There are now 106 delegates elected. Of |
which Mr. Taft has sixty-fOur without a
contest. or considerably more than one
half
It is now certain that the claims that |
Taft will have the solid vote Of the |
States Of Ohio and Kansas will be justi- |
fed. 1t is not believed possible that the |
one district carried by Foraker in Ohio |
will stand out against the rest OF the |
State. particularly as the State conven- |
ton. 10 be held at Columbus tomorrow.
will enthusiastically indorse Mr. Taft In
Missouri the districts supposed to be
friendly 10 Speaker Cannon have declared
for Mr.. Taft, and the latter now has
twenty-eight OF the thirty-six votes OF
that State safely corralled.
Two important State conventions will
be held-the first in Columbus Ohio, to-
morrow. and the second in Topeka, Kans.
on Wednesday They viii both indorse
Mr.. Taft and instruct their delegates-at- !
large 20 vote for him.
Interest I'm Ohio.
The Ohio convention will be of special
significance because of the platform TO
be adopted The friends of Secretary
Taft met here a few days ago and formu-
lated the platform. which was submitted
TO President Roosevelt and received his
approval.
IL will, in a way. be forerunner Of the
Chicago platform, il the Taft people con-
troll that convention. It. Of course in
dorses in the highest terms the admins
.tration of President Roosevelt, and de-
Iclares for the policies that have made
that administration SO significant and
conspicuous. 1t declares for the pro-
tective principle. but not for any particu-
lar schedules. holding that the latter are
not sacred and immune from revision.
What will attract more attention than
anything else will be the omission Of any
mention of the two Senators from Ohio
1t will then declare in ringing terms for
Mr.. Taft for the Presidency and pledge
Ohio's vote for him. The Taft wave has
apparently swept over Ohio. and the two
Senators, who stood in its way, must
take the consequences.
Has "a of the 40 Now.
II Senator Foraker should persist in
his plan TO put UP contesting delegations
IN all the districts, or IN any number of
them. it is not believed here that the
NATIONAL committee would consider them
for a moment Mr.. Taft has already
twenty-four of the forty-six delegates
from the Buckeye State instructed for
him.
The Kansas State convention is ex-
pected to follow the example of that of
Missouri. held on Thursday last. and in /
dorse Taft for the Presidency. Kansas |
has been conceded 10 Mr. Taft ever since /
the latter entered the field. In addition
10 the Ohio and Kansas State conventions
there VIII be others held in the month OF |
March that will indicate the sentiment
or territory that has been somewhat in !
dispute. and in that respect will be more /
significant than any yet held
Iowa will hold her convention on March |
is. The Taft managers are claiming
that State now. despite the efforts of /
the old friends OF ex-Secretary of the
Treasury Shaw 10 have II declare for .5e ]
latter, or else send uninstructed dele
gates to Chicago. Should the State con- |
vention indcrse Mr.. Taft, the latter would |
be given great boom, as the Dakotas /
and Minnesota would follow suit.
Nebraska Date March II.
Nebraska will hold her convention on
March Il. and If reports from there are
reliable. she will declare for Taft. Louis
lana. Tennessee. Oklahoma, and Rhode
Island will have conventions in the same
month. There has been some question as
10 conditions in Louisiana. and while The
Taft people will doubtless control the
regular convention, it is expected that a
contesting delegation similar 10 that In
Florida will be chosen by the nonofice-
holders, and the national committee be
compelled TO choose between the delega-
tlons.
According 70 reports that come TO mem
bers OF the House and Senate from Iowa.
Nebraska and other Western States. the
sentiment is not unanimously for Mr.
Taft in that section
IL is assured that while Kansas will be
for Taft on the first ballot, the strength
will then go TO Fairbanks, whose cause
has been greatly strengthened as the re-
suit of the election Of former Gov Brad
ley. of Kentucky. to the United States
Senate.
During tho past week there have been
expressions from newspapers and organi- !
cations OF citizens that indicate that Sen
Rtor Knox. OF Pennsylvania, Is growing |
in favor west of the Mississippi His |
speeches delivered in Kalamazoo, Mich |
and Pittsburg. particularly the latter, are |
being widely disseminated, and his posi- |
tion as TO the relations of the govern /
ment 20 railroads and as 10 the neces-
sity for great waterway improvements is \
arousing much interest
1t cannot be said. however. that any |
practical results in the way OF Instructed |
delegates have been accomplished. but
the Pennsylvania Senator. too. is being
placed in an excellent position for second |
choice OF many OF the delegates from the
West in case Mr.. Taft should fail Of the !
nomination