The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1908-01-01
TAFT's FATE
IS IN HANDS OF
C0RTELY0u

Washington, Jan. 1.--Sccretary Tafts
friends have gone very carefully over the
delegate outlook. and they are much In
clined to agree that just as Secretary
Cortelyou's friends controlled the balance
Of power IN the national committee at its
meeting here In December. so are they
likely TO control the balance of power in
the national convention at Chicago next
June
With that end In view all the energies
OF the secretary OF war have been bent
toward placating not only Secretary Cor
telyou, but also his loyal friends who
were previously engaged In well con-
Quoted effort 10 make the South solid for
Mr.. Roosevelt and another term
At this writing Mr. Tart has good
chance of holding about three hundred
delegates from the states west OF the Mis-
sssippi. but he has little prospect or solid
delegations from the "favorito SON
states OF New York. Pennsylvania, Him
oils, Indiana. Wisconsin or from the New
England Middle or Eastern states. Like
wise is there great doirbt about his ability
TO get any considerable support from the
South. without which he will probably be
beaten Here is tho problem In figures;
SOUTHERN DELEGATES NEEDED.
Delegates required 90 nomnate...,.... 49l
Taft delegates in the West. ............ 200
Delegates needed by Tatt............',,.l9l .l9l
Delegates in the South. h..........,..,...... go
Efforts are being made TO bring about
better relations between Secretary Cor
telyou. Assistant Postmaster General
Hitchcock and Commissioners OF Internal
Revenue Capers All these officials were
so bitterly attacked ty Mr.. Norys, Secre-
tary Tafts manager that they were fuii
of resentment The attacks were not con-
fined 10 Mr.. Vorys. but were made by oth-
ers ana were carried to the White House.
where they were believed. in consequence
OF which Secretary Cortelyou was treated
as disloyal. Mr.. Capers threatened with
decapitation by the president, and AS
sistant Postmaster General Hitchcock
was Inundated 10 an unprecedented ex-
tent I'm having his powers curtailcd.
No one but a man schooled 10 conceai
his feelings would have continued in Of
flee after what had happened TO Mr..
Hitchcock, but he has bottled his discom-
future and still holds on. pointed out In
Washington as a dscredited official.
But the fact remains that whatever
may be said of Messrs. Cortelyou. Capers
and Hitchcock they made good job OF
fixing" the South. when they proceeded
on tho assumption that Mr.. Roosevelt
would be the candidate II the nomination
were given hirp unanimously. More than
that, not only was the South fixed but
IL is likely to remain fixed for the can
didate who suits Messrs. Cortelyou. Ca,
pers and Hitchcock. All the Southern
leaders who were I'm the scheme TO NOM
inate the president are standing together
Secretary Taft is still unable to get any
assurances from that section. The men
who can deliver the delegates believed
that Messrs. Cortelyou. Capers ana
Hitchcock have been badly treated, have
been held up as doing something discred-
table, and are disposed to resent IT.
OUTCOME is STILL UNCERTAIN.
Secretary Taft. whole-souled and gem
erous, does not like the idea of being on
unfriendly terms with the secretary or
the treasury. and with the purpose OF
telling Mr.. Cortelyou that he did not be-
lieve the stories that had been circulat-
ed. he called on him week ago. Moe
than that. Secretary Taft wants those
Southern delegates and he is good enough
politician TO see that Mr. Cortelyou and
his friends can get them for him.
There have been premature stories that
all has been arranged. Nothing has been
arranged as yet. Aspersions have been
cast not only on the secretary of the
treasury but on two of his principal lieu
tenants. I'm the most public way. and II
is said that Ii will he necessary for some
things TO be recanted before they Will
willingly take q hand i'm the Taft boom.
There was a long conference between
Commissioner Capers and Assistant
Postmaster General Hitchcock yesterday.
but nothing WAS agreed to. Mr.. Capers,
however. intmated that he might sup
port Secretary Taft. Meanwhile. IL Is
represented here that the South Is
anti-Taft until a peace has been signed.