The Washington herald., 1908-06-15

\ startling discovery has just been
made by friends Of Secretary Taft, who
insist that he shall make a front porch
campaign The discovery is this: Secre-
tary Tafts Cincinnati house has no front
porch
This architectural defect has created
CONSERVATION in the ranks Of the Taft
followers, who, declaring it is bad form
for a Presidential candidate 10 swing
around the circle, had it all planned that
Mr.. Tart should deliver speeches 10 the
faithful who were expected to visit him
in Cincinnati. Either the front porch
campaign win have to be abandoned or
the Taft residence in Cincinnati will have
70 be equipped with modern, up-to-date
front porch, capable Of great endurance.
Front porch or no front porch. there
will be lot Of novelties introduced in the
coming campaign Mr.. Bryan Will not
be permitted to supply all the fireworks.
Picturesque Effects.
What Mr.. Taft lacks In oratory will be
made up In picturesque effects now being
worked out For example. Taft VIII be
featured at all the moving picture shy+ss
in the country. Some months ago NOV
ing picture man came TO Washington and
did the trick MI Taft in twenty-three
different poses was transferred TO films
that are now or soon will be running
in all the large cities. The candidate, in
animated form though not in flesh will
be brought within reach Of everybody.
] When seen last night Mr Taft had
! no news 10 give out relative 20 the
| situation az Chicago. Yesterday while
/ aboard the Maytower. Mr.. Taft received
some wireless messages from the con-
/ vcntion city, but he said they were not
/ OF special Importance
! The administration is keeping mum on
/ the Vice Presidency Secretary Taft
laughingly declines 10 make any COM
meRt on the subject. and during the last
/ few DAYS the President has been very
/ careful in discussing second place with
callers al the White House A remark
dropped here yesterday by an admnistra-
/ ton leader who shah be nameless. has
given the impression that hope is still
entertained that Jonathan p. Deliver will
be made the tail 10 the kite.
| No excitement has been created in ad-
/ ministration circles over the protests that
\ have gone up in Chicago over the an
] + !. X ] NLEl
/ up are delighted with the Hitchcock
steam roller. and it would take tremen-
/ dous pressure 10 bring about Mr.. Hitch
/ cocks defeat for the national chairman
/ ship.
/ There is good reason TO believe the
/ administration does not look with favor
upon the evident determination Of the
allies to make an effort 10 bring asout
/ a reduction Of Southern representation
\ in Republican national conventions. The
/ Southern wing Of the party has been
! loyal 20 Taft. and his supporters are
grateful. This IS a question President
! Roosevelt has had under consideration
I heretofore. but nothing ever came Of IT,
Actual Vote nt the Polls.
! The late Henry c. Payne was strong
advocate Of the idea that the South's
/ representation in conventions should be
/ based upon the actual vote cast az the
polls. Shortly after he entered the ROose-
Welt Cabinet as Postmaster General. and
\ the manager OF the Presidents cam
/ paign for denomination, Mr.. Payne looked
askance on the party in the South But
| he was not successful in inducing the
! administration 70 cUrtal the South s
strength in national conventions A fne
/ political machine has been constructed in
/ the Southern States. and it IS respon-
/ sive to the Will of the men who are in
( charge OF Tafts fortunes. They are
/ looking ahead TO 1912 II Taft is elected
/ this year the campaign for his renonu-
nation four years later viii begin
/ March {. 1909, with Hitchcock as Post
/ master General as director-in-chief. The
/ block Of 30 or more Southern delegates
! which. Of course. will be at the beck and
| call Of the dispenser Of Federal patron
! age. will be fine as starter FOR the pre-
! convention campaign Of 1912