The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-15

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marshal OF the Eastern District OF
Oklahoma. Charges Of immortality sc
gross were brought against Porter
that, at the request OF the Senate. the
nomination was withdrawn. The TAFT
people jumped at this opportunity to
land one Of their men, and Frank Fl.
Hitchcock. the manager OF the Taft
forces, selected Grant Victor, of Vinitn
for the job. Victor had all along been
the leader OF the anti-Taft forces down
there, but he and Hitchcock arranged
deal whereby, IN return for the
marshalship, Victor was to deliver the
delegates from the Third Oklahomn
District to Taft. 1t is said that Cash
Cade and Pliny soper, the members
Of the Republican National Committee
from Indian Territory and Oklahoma
assisted in arranging the terms OF the
deal.
Hitchcock helped Victor in getting
the proper people to 1ndorse him, and
1t is asserted that his papers were ac-
tually prepared in the Office of the Taft
manager In the Union Trust Building.
in this city, and sent by Mr.. Hitchcock
to the President. with the Recommended
tion that Victor be appointed ut once.
He Got the job.
On Tuesday the nomination went to
the Senate On Wednesday the district
convention in the Third Oklahoma was
held. and the delegates selected were
bound by instructions for Taft. Victor,
one-time leader of the anti-Taft forces,
led the convention into the Taft fold.
He made good his promise to change
his coat in return for a Job. The SEN
ate is holding up victor's nomination.
Innumerable instances of this char
acter might be noted. The Big Stick,
originally drawn in defense OF the ma
tional honor and in the cause OF ma
tional righteousness" is used now only
to crack the heads of those who will
not slip their necks into the Taft yoke.
Republicans Talk Third Term.
Those persons who took President
Roosevelt precisely at his word when
he reiterated in December his declara-
ton that he would not allow his name
to be used in connection with the nor1i-
nation 10 the presidency this summer.
would be surprised and probably some
OF the good souls would be shocked as
| we'll, could they hear the way in which
some of the leading Republicans in
this country discuss the probability OF
Mr.. Roosevelts being nominated again.
II Is no eXaggeration to say that
some of the leaders OF the Republicans
of both houses of Congress believe that
the nomination of Mr.. Roosevelt Is as
Erertain as the assembling Of the Chi
Icago convention. 1t is only recently
that they have expressed themselves.
possibly only recently that they have
been of that way of thinking. But cer-
~ = To- AZ, ~,
estly-even Observation-Disclosures that
there is nothing else to do than to re-.
nominate Mr. Roosevelt.
Doubt of the ability of any candi-
date. not excepting Secretary Taft. to
defeat Mr.. Bryan. whose nomination by
the Democrats is believed to be beyond
doubt. makes the nomination of Mr..
Roosevelt necessity. Few Republic
cans express doubt that Mr.. Bryan
would meet defeat a third time were
he to be pitted against Mr.. Roosevelt.
An Eastern Republican, who Is close
to the leadership of the House OF Rep
resentativts. Of which body he has
been member over decade, believes
the denomination Of Mr.. Roosevelt is
absolutely essential TO Republican sue
cess.
About the nomination OF Secretary
Taft he said to the writer to-day,
there's nothing to it. In the hrst
place. there is doubt whether he can
be nominated. And In the second place,
there is doubt, very grave doubt.
whether he could be elected were he
to be nominated His defeat would
mean not only the loss OF the presi-
dency, but. In addition to a Demo-
crat in the White House we should
have Democrat in the Speakers chair
and the House OF Representatives In
control OF the Democratic party. ] do
not believe, and there are many Re-
pubicans who do not believe, that Sec
l-retary Taft could win If nominated. I
believe President Roosevelt could be
reelected. believe he will be. for I
believe the Chicago convention will
take the view taken by so many Re.
/ publicans that he Is the only man with
| whom we can VIM"
This Republican has never professed
to be anything OF cuckoo. His
| friendliness for the administration has
not been questioned, but 1t has never
been SO inststent and assertive as that
! Of many Others, who have cooled in
their feelings for the strenuous one
since he reiterated his resolution not
| to be candidate again, and also his
resolution not to cease belaboring
capital and corporations and business
6eHeialty.
Taft to Have Control.
The, manner in which Secretary Taft
| is to be eliminated. effaced, abolished
and wiped out Is not indicated IT he
should have majority of the dele
gates when the convention assemblies,
and 1t looks as though he would have.
| 1t would be impossible TO nominate
anybody else without the voluntary re-
tirement OF the big secretary He has
always obeyed the President most
lscrupulously, but 1t is conceivable that
even Fairbanks would not volun-
tarily efface himself at such a mo-
ment, though ordered TO do SO by Mr..
Roosevelt himself
However that may be, have only
stated fact In saying that many OF
the leading. best-intormed. and most
Influential Republicans In Congress- be.
lieve Mr. Roosevelt Will be the candi-
date this fall. II may be permitted to