New-York tribune., 1908-02-16
TALK OF FORT OR,GUILD
LIKED BY TAFT ] MEN.
The Tzco Governors Considered for
Second Place on Ticket.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau ]

Washington. Feb. 15-It is learned here to-
,sr4t that J. Franklin Fort. Governor of New
Jersey and Curtis Guild. jr., Governor of Massa-
chusetts are being seriously considered in ad-
-,iuistration circles for the second place on the
ticket with Secretary Taft Heretofore the at
.e7tion Of administration Republicans has been
so strongly centred the for first place
that little thought has been given the ques-
,,on of a candidate for President, but so
frest is the confidence felt by them regard
,,r the success of Mr.. Taft in the Chicago con-
,ention that the discussion is turning to the
second place
The advocates of the Roosevelt policies have
for some time regarded Governor Fort COM
ing man in the party. The nomination of Mr..
Taft would, it is generally thought, call for
Eastern man for second place. and Governor
F,ort is declared TO be especially we'll qualified
for the place II is asserted that his eight years
service in the Supreme Court OF New Jersey has
given him experience with the law and judi
cial temperament to a degree most desirable in
the man who might be called TO the highest
o4sce in the land. while the views which Gov
e-nor Fort entertains public questions are
IN accord with those Of Secretary Taft and the
President It Will be recalled that President
roosevelt took occasion to include in his last
message TO Congress a considerable extract
from, Governor Forts inaugural address, in
7rbicb the Governor expressed his convictions
regarding the relation Of the state to corpora
tions
Or course the Presidents quotation in his
message served 10 bring the Governor or New
Iersev more prominently before the people OF
-.1e entire country than the inaugural address
could have done. and il is intimated by some
-e-sons close to the President that he is missing
no tricks in the political game. and taking no
action which has not its full significance
f.nx-e Of IL
esn that Curtis Guild, jr.. Governor Of Massa-
chuserrs be named for second place has also
been received favorably in circles friendly 10
Secretary Taft, and it is possible that there may
he Developments along that line
Governor Guild is we'll and favorably known in
The West having made extensive campaign
1rip with Mr.. Roosevelt, then candidate for Vice
President, in 1900
Governor Guild is of about the Presidents age.
and in addition TO having been a stanch sup
rorter Of President Mckinley is heartily in SYM
ra-hy with the Roosevelt policies, while his
,7onularitv would doubtless add considerably 20
the strength OF the ticket
The discussion Of candidate for second place
really dates from the day when news was re-
ceived from the Ohio primaries. which indicated
that Secretary Taft would have the solid dele
cation OF Ohio behind him in the Chicago con-
vertion. but il is directly due to that fact
known that Ohio would be solid for Taft than
news was received from Iowa that Mr.. Taft
would be supported by its solid delegation, and
the most encouraging information has also been
coming from many other sections
Another important factor in promoting conf
6ence il administration circles has been the re-
suit o. the anti-administration tactics in or
ganizing a contesting delegation in Florida
TIE course of the anti-Taft allies in Florida
served TO demonstrate TO the Republican or
ganizatiors in every Southern state that the
"allies' programme contemplated the elin1Ina-
ton Of the existing organization in each South
=rn state and men who were Heretofore fight
Ing for Taft because Of personal preference or
f.ecal,se OF the usual disposition Of Southern
Republicans 10 espouse the cause OF the admin
.sr-ation are now fighting for Taft. because on
his SUCCESS their political lives depend
notable example Of this is the case Of Arkansas,
which the administration had not heretofore
rlaced with certainty. The action OF the anti
Taft forces in Florida settled the situation IN
Arkansas. and General Powell Clayton. the ma
tioual committeeman, announced in chicago
Yesterday that his state would send a solid Tart
6elega-ion and that there would be no contest
irg delegation either