Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-16
COUNTS HIS STATE SAFE
But Declares There's No Money to
Run Campaign.
DRAG ON TAFT'S CANDIDACY
Six Gubernatorial Fights Hamper
His Race-Situation in the
Doubtful Sections.
II From a STAFF Correspondent.

NEW YORK, October Ex-senator Scott
of West Virginia was at republican ma
tional headquarters today and added to
the gayety Of politics. He made an
oasis in a dreary desert Of days doings.
That is. he would have II one could print
all he said. Senator Scott. although still
classed as a reactionary. is welcome at
national headquarters sometimes and
sometimes he is not. He is welcome when
he comes across with some West Vir-
ginia money. as he and Senator Elkins
have done. The boys could not figure out
today which side Senator Scott was TAX
ing Of the proposition ut Is more blessed
to give than to receive He started out
by saying that West Virginia would sure
~ go republican. although he added: I'VE
will have to do it with a hymnal and
prayer book, for We haven't anything
else"
This takes place, mark YOU. at the en-
trance to Treasurer Sheldon's office. 1t
was suggested to the senator that the
national committee could help the West
Virginia mountaineers out. if properly ap-
preached.
But they tell me inside said Senator
Scott that they are as poor as JOB
turkey THAT is not exactly the way
1t was put, however, .
They are holding out on you. senator.
remarked one Of the newspaper men. III
came out on the ticker today that the re-
publicans have raised SSJO,oOO In re
street within a week."
The senator's face visibly frightened
Just then along came William l.. Ward,
making for Sheldons Office. Hello.
'Scotty' he said, and the senator re-
piled. Hey, Bill l want to see you, and
the two disappeared with chorus of ad-
monitions from the newspaper men to the
senator to hold him up.
Iater-Senator SCOTS face. upon reap
pearing is inscrutable. We still don t
know whether he was held up" or
came across" Looks. however. like the
face Of a man who had four aces and did
not want to betray the fact.
Requires Consideration
Over at democratic national headouar-
tiers today Nathan Straus. the democratic
brother of the republican Secretary Of
Commerce and Labor, was telling the
boys Of the alleged haul the republicans
are making in Wall street. He said that
a kind Of 'gentleman's agreement" is the
basis by which $500 is to be contributed
by each broker. those who fall short of 1t
to be in the ''in-bad club" with the re-
publican party. Respectfully submitted
without comment.
Then they get to teasing Acting Chair
man Hudspeth about the democratic cam
paign contribution statement. as he had
been charging the republicans with being
recipients of corporation contributions.
How about that five-thousand-doilar
contribution of Hughes of Colorado. who
is declared to be attorney for corpora
lions? Are you going to return that con-
tribution on the ground that 1t might be
tainted?'
asked Judge Hudspeth.
Five thousand dollars"
''Umm. Well. that will require some
very careful consideration before decid-
ing" he replied.
Drag on Taft's Candidacy.
Judge Taft, in his steady flight toward
the presidency. is carrying some heavy
sand ballast that would make his flight
easier If 1t could be thrown overheard.
He Is hampered with six gubernatorial
and state campaigns. each Of which is
decided drag upon his progress. The
states in which these situations exist are
as follows:
Connecticut
New York.
Indiana.
Ohio
Illinois.
Minnesota.
will have to have enough canvas area
sustaining capacity and propelling and
guiding power to navigate his own presi-
Dental balloon with these weights hang
ing to IT,
Or. to put the case in another way: The
republican party in five states is at this
time depending desperately. and as a
forlorn hope. upon its presidential can
didate carrying the gubernatorial and
state ticket to success. The republicans
do not expect to carry Minnesota except
on the presidential ticket
There Is thought to be little doubt now
that Mr.. Taft will carry his part of the
doubts whether the dependent drag
weights will clear the goal
States Now Republican.
Now the significance of this is that the
five states. excluding Minnesota. are at
this time republican, in their state gov
ernments. Connecticut is republican by
10000: New York by $1,000: Indiana by
$4,000 in 1904: Illinois by $4,000 In 1905
on a by-election. and 3O5. 900 for Roose-
welt In 1904. Minnesota was 10000 for a
democratic governor. while 1t gave its
electoral vote to Roosevelt.
The doubt as to the state ticket. of
course, relates to local issues. The liquor
troubles and personal antipathies in Illi-
nois: personal popularity in Minnesot a
and personal unpopularity in Connecticut
AS to New York. the facts are familiar
to readers Of The Star.
The democratic view is that the repub-
lican national ticket will be so weighed
down by these personal. factional and
local drawbacks that 1t will fail to rise
to the necessary heights. They argue
that II there is a state Of public senti-
ment which menaces the overturn of pow
erful republican pluralities in the states
mentioned, on the state ticket. 1t BODIES i'll
for the general republican outlook
This view is not accepted by the repub-
licans. nor Is it borne out by careful and
unbiased representatives. from the states
in question. The probability is not that
the local situations will drag TAFT down:
the question is. can Taft hold them up.
and bring them along with him?
View Of the Close States.
In Connecticut there is no general re-