The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-05-14
| lining UP FOR TAFT
T Republican Leaders Plan TO
Name Him on First Ballot.
WORKING FOR HARMONY
Fear the Contest at Chicago May
Disrupt the Patty and Cause Defeat
at the Polls-RoOsevelt Sentiment
Won't Down.

Won't Down.
Washington. May 12.-Republi an
leaders in congress are now working
earnestly ON a plan to prevent any
/ break at the Chicago convention that
might disrupt party harmony and en-
danger defeat at the polls in Noyem.
/ ber Conferences have been held
among such men as Senators Aldrich.
/ Hale. Allison and Crane and Repre-.
| seutatiyes Payne and sherman. OF
New York; Tawney of Minnesota.
/ Jenkins. of Wisconsin. and Smith. OF
Iowa. in fact. meetings of small groups
from this list have been OF almost
daily occurrence for more than "a
week. They have been directed TO one
end-a nomination on the first ballot
by which they mean William H. Taft.
While no definite result has been
reached. they believe their Efforts will
be successful.
Most of the men figuring prominent.
/ iy In this movement were numbered
against TAFT early in the campaign.
but party policy and the necessity for
harmony which have been manifest
in the Republican ranks since the dis
astruus results OF the Blaine Conklin
teud. has awakened demand that
personal desires be subordiuated o.
the will OF the majority That the ef
forts OF tine group of leaders back or
the harmony movement have not been
barren of results Is indicated by the
;act that 10 "a number of the confer.
ences have been called such men as
Senators Hemenway. Pcnrose. Cullom
Hopkins and Depew and Representa-
lives Parsons aud Nrceland. of New
York boutelle and Mann. OF Illinois.
Burke and Dalzcu of Pennsylvania.
Watson ANA lands. OF Indiana. and
others who are backing the candida
cics Of Vice President Fairbanks.
Speaker Cannon Senator Knox or
Governor Hughes.
No attempt is made 10 disguise the
fact that the real impetus 10 such 4
concerted movement i'm the interest of
Secretary Tart is the refusal of the
Roosevelt sentiment to be snuffed out.
and the danger OF such sentiment
spreading 10 an extent that might be
difficult of control at Chicago. At the
same time it is said. the movement is
not hostile 90 President Roosevelt. who.
admittedly. occupies the position of
command in the Tart forces. lie has
made il perfectly plain that nothing
can come of the renewed calls for his
denomination. which have been made
In Texas. Utah and California. as he
is prepared to reject any proffer Of
support. no matter how extended.
n 81
Republican leaders who are striving
to harmonize party differences is to
eliminate all candidates for tae nomi.
nation except Secretary Taft. but il ia
not anticipated that all OF the candi
dates readily will agree 20 this prop
osition. Supporters OF Seantor Knox
particularly are said to oppose the
plan, and one of the other candidates
is holding out strongly that there is
no immediate demand for agreement.
AZ the same time. there are leaders in
illinois. Indiana Pennsylvania and
New York who are parties To the
movement.
The selection of Secretary Taft as
the beneficiary OF the harmony fac
ton Is made because OF the fact that
he is the only candidate who has suf-
hcient instructed votes to promise an
early nomination.
Republican leaders conccde that
their majority in the house is likely
to be materially reduced at the fall
election. and they fear that unless all
factions are brought together before
the Chicago convention they might
lose their majority altogether.