The Washington herald., 1908-06-23
POLITICAL GOSSIP.


Why was there no attempt to stam-
pede the Chicago convention for Roose-
welt? Because the allies were no less
alert than the steam-roller crowd 10 pre-
vent il.
There were men in that convention un-
alterably opposed TO Tart, who went TO
Chicago determined that, whatever hap
pened. the denomination Of Roosevelt
should be circumventcd at all hazards.
They would take Taft. If compelled to
take him. and run the risk of Bryan
rather than permit the possibility of four
years more of Roosevelt. Their hostility
10 Roosevelt was deep-roOted; they we're
immovable, impacable. They were in
mood for compromises: ready 10 make
any sort Of terms 70 preserve their party
status-anything that did not contemplate
the denomination of Roosevelt There
was but one Republican they hated more
La Toilette, and they classed Roosevelt
and La Toilette together II they had felt
that RoosevelCs nomination meant his
undoing at 1he polls, they would have
assented to stampede in a minute. but
they knew he would win. Dead set upon
his complete elimination. they made "A
show OF resisting the steam roller 20 the
last ditch, and then accepted the lesser OF
two evils-Taft
A national committeeman who
was ever vigilant 70 prevent a stampede.
while combating Taft, was interrogated,
after the struggle was over. as to the
chairmanship. Either Vorys or Hitch
cock viii do" said he. brusquely ANY
body will do. But no man who values his
political reputation is going 70 take il
with the present prospect Of a repetition
OF the 1892 campaign"
Halt a dozen men Of nOte-cle
from Georgia. one from the Middle West.
two from the far West. one from New
York, and one from New England. had
Roosevelt speeches in readiness to fire
Of If the opportunity offered. But con-
ditions never got ripe. Lodge had his
hand on the lever; Murray Crane was
/ onto HIS job" and administration men
and anu-administration men generally
were in accord as 70 the absolute neces-
sity Of preventing a stampede. no friend
OF mine will undertake 70 stampede the
convention, was the alleged White
House word constantly given out.
Whether II was so or not so. Il served its
purpose.
Many Of the Republican leaders,
the stalwarts and lately numbered with
the allies, would be tickled half to death
| II Henry Cabot Lodge would take the
campaign management. He IS very popu-
lar with them. II not Lodge, they would
/ Ike L see Beveridge made chairman. lie.
/ too IL very popular with them. II not
/ Beveridge, tbon Loeb would suit them TO
@ nicely. He is their Joy forever.
Ardent Roosevelt men-many Of
| them. at any rate-who stand for all he
has done. who believe in his policies. and
who credit him with greater achievements
than any other President since Lincoln.
are to-day freely expressing the opinion
that he made a monumental mistake IN
forcing the nomination Of Taft They de-
plore II on the party's account, on ROOse-
velt's account. and particularly and pri-
marily on Taft's account. II defeat should
come IN November, they believe Il Will be
attributable directly 10 popular resent
ment OF the Presidents attempt TO name
his successor. Then that would mean the
end OF Roosevelt and RoOseveltism. In
deed. many of these ardent Roosevelt Re
pubIlcans already are regretfully forced
70 believe that even now he IS undone.
Certain newspapers that are not
well Informed are insisting that Jim"
sherman IS a .reactlonary and that he
has been one OF the Presidents bitterest
foes in Congress. This IS not so. Sher-
man came out unQualifedly for Roose-
veIts denomination months ago. He ad-
vocated II. II not as eloQuentIy and per
slstently. certainly as earnestly and per-
sstently. as did Hon. Jonathan Bourne.
He appraised Roosevelt as the party's
biggest asset, His denomination, Sherman
argued. would insure success at the polls
beyond peradventure and prolong Repub-
lican control OF Congress. Maybe there
was something Of the reactiouary IN the
Utica man when II came 10 dealing with
administration policies, but politically he
was "A Roosevelt Republican through and
through. lie wanted him because he
could win.
Speaking of Sherman, sneering
illusions are made TO him as "a practical
politician" He IS such. That is the Sc
cret OF his popularity and his strength.
Only in cases Of upheavals beyond human
control can any party get along without
the practical politician" Sentiment
counts for much, but not for everything.
OF itself It seldom carries an election.
Sentiment was with Bryan In 1896 But
the practical politician was with Nc
Kinley. Mckinley won. Of course. Sheer
as much as you like at the practical
politician" but he is an essential part Of
the political game, and ever will be. The
tide Is running Brysnward these days. but
Bryan will need the practical politician"
before the contest is settled AS far as
Taft-welL if he can only set more Of the
practical politicians" behind his candi-
dacy-men like his running-mate. Jim"
Sherman-his chances will brighten Won
derfully
Taft needs the practical politician" in
his business.
The steel Trust.
From the Philadelphia Record