The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-04-10
OLIVER DEBATES
FIGHTING TAFT
Knoxville Man Expected to
Accept Managership
in South.
Opposition Wants to Out
wit President and NOmi-
nate Him.

Despite that he has reen subjected
to severe pressure by business associ-
ates, who don't want him TO go into
politics, W. j. Oliver. OF Knoxville,
Tenn. Is now expected by his closest
friends 10 decide Within very short
time that he will assume the manage
ment Of the Republican campaign in
the South, on behalf "f the opposition
10 Secretary Taft.
II he does so, it will in effect be the
signal for the opening Of a great Roose-
welt third-term movement. The allied
opposition TO Taft, If the whole truth
be told. has about reached the point
where all differences and personal am
billions are buried in the common desire
10 effect the overthrow Of the Taft
movement, and it is recognized that the
only course which Will accomplish this
is the demand for the nomination OF
the President
The allies realize that they have small
chance to get the country TO believe
that they are in earnest when they in
sist that they are animated by interest
in the welfare Of the party. Yet, they
snsist or this even to the extent OF
an increasing disposition TO forget their
own ambitions. in order TO cast in all
possible strength for the third-term
movement.
Would Stampede Convention.
The facts probably would not be over
stated IN d declaration that every can
didate outside Of Taft would be willing
TO Withdraw tomorrow n favor or
Roosevelt, II there was assurance that
Roosevelt would accept the nomination.
AS that assurance is not 70 be had,
the program now seems TO be 10 keep
the various favorite sons in the field.
10 gather up all possible strength for
them, and at the same time 10 use the
name OF the President more and more
as the magnet to attract support Then
when the convention Is at hand the
mask will be thrown off, and It will
. be made clear that the nomination OF
the President is the real purpose.
To believe that the favOrfte son man
ayers are sincere in their purpose to do
this it is no longer necessary 10 be
Iieve that they are all sincere ROOse-
welt men. Many of them are not, and
many admit that they are not But
they are Republicans and politicians,
and they arc largely ofhceholders- Iney
are genuinely concerned for party sue
cess the coming fall, and the impression
is growing stronger and stronger among
It it must be Roosevelt or else
I'd that Taft IS not a strong
man at the polls to be safe
ger IS any secret made of the
To stampede the convention TO
It. If Taft is able to count
first-ballot nomination, then
ounce of energy Will be devoted,
le clans gather in Chicago, to
ne the delegates at the last mo-
the unavailability of Taft, and
up every possible delegate for
1t II is pointed out that there
scores. indeed hundreds, of
IS under Taft instructions,
.se constituents will, nevertheless, be
ior Roosevelt. and will demand an &C
counting if their representatives reject
an opportunity 20 join IN great move
10 name the President.
Fear to Expose Taft.
The opposition to Taft IS. indeed.
Handicapped by its very loyalty TO the
rartv. II fears to talk too publicly and
plainly of what it considers the vote
getting weakness of Taft, lest he be
nominated later and TIE Democratic
campaiEners go abroad quoting the
words of the Republicans themselves
as proof that Taft IS weak In addition
to this. the allies are paralyzed with
fear of the political ability and audacity
OF the President. They never feel sure
what he Will do next, except that they
are sure IL will be good pohtlcs-
r.
the nerve TO risk his skin IN mlX-up
with the wielder OF the big stick NO
such anomalous situation has ever oeen
presented in the memory OF the Goes oldest
politician. The people who want Roose-
welt don't dare say 80 fo- fear Of RooSe-
Welt: don't dare to stand forth ana Dold-
Iy oppose Taft, lest they may be mace
10 appear in the light Of opponents or
Roosevelt policies Even the fact that
they are IN many cases candidates Tor
reelection, and seriously concerned
It, Fs4#a
If they can't have the President at the
head Of the ticket, doesn't inspire them
with the courage 10 say that they need
the benefit of the strongest possible
Leadership
Plan to Outwit President.
So the Roosevelt campaign of the allies
Ys going on sub rosa 1t gains momen-
tun every day. one reason for the
secrecy Of it, aside from the fact that
so many OF its leaders are afraid OF
their political lives, is that they sus'
spect that IL the movement should make
apparent and threatening Roadway. the
President would issue another state
Tment taking himself out of the field. ~
present there is a feeling that II nomi-
mated the President would accept No
body has been able to figure out how he
could do less; but II he should issue a
declaration that, even If nominated. he
would decline. that would end the whole
thing So the allies are anxious not &c
force him to such thing 1t is still
hunt for the nomination of the Presi-
dent; a still hunt 10 get him nominated
in fact. before he realizes that there is
serious chance of such a thing happen
ing.
If politics, anywhere in history. ever
developed so strange and anomalous
situation the utmost researches or tht
political historians have thus far failed
10 discover the parallel
cENAT0P TUIMAN RETEP.