The National tribune., 1908-05-28

ing of wires, much talk about the neces-
sity of placating the allies, much talk
about Fairbanks having been a very
competent Vice President, much talk
about all the other allies-Cannon,
Knox, La Toilette ct al, having a mat
tress to fall on. All of them are hold
ing offices which will hardly terminate
with the end of this Administration.
Not SO with the Vice President, who
will retire to Indianapolis and resume
his law practice if he is not taken care
of on the ticket this year.
But lately there have been whisper
ings up White House way and around
the big granite building on Fifteenth
street, where the Taft headquarters are.
Taft and Cortelyou," Taft and Cor
telyou," one hears in faint undertones.
How does that sound?' they are ask
ing.
Somebody has glided down to the 81
lent man in the southwest corner room
on the second floor of the Treasury De-
partment, pOked head inside the door
and whispered, Taft and Cortelyou.'
The silent Mr.. Cortelyou has nodded his
head approvingly. Yes he has said
in the quietest kind of a way, Il would
accept it. 1t certainly sounds well to
me-"
1t may develop into a nice little con-
test at Chicago-the East against the
West. The Taft folks. some of them,
have been saying that the fight would
be in the West. Therefore, they must
have Fairbanks to carry Indiana. 1t
would be strong ticket, they have
been reitcrating-Taft and Fairbanks
equally strong at either end. Fair
banks is a fine stumper, not the flashy
sort, but the steady, courteous, pleasing
and convincing sort. They think he
would be a tower of strength for the
ticket ON the stump.
But some of the Taftites are likewise
assertive that Secretary Cortelyou is in
high favor with organized labor, al
ways was for some reason. Nominate
him." they say, land you will do some
thing to offset the unpopularity of the
Secretary of War with the labor
, masses" But Secretary Cortelyou is
a Wall Street man." some one says in
opposition. THAT would never do. Taft s
opponents are already declaring that
he has made Dirsain With The inter
ests by which ali The corporations are
to support him by which Morgan and
Rockefeller are to be with him and help
finance his campaign. Nominate Cor
telyou, of New York. and you will make
thai anti-Taft argument a clincher."
So it goes The President has said
that he would approve OF the nomina-
ton of COrtelyou, and while he has not
spoken with any emphasis, the politi-
clans are taking note of the Presidents
favorable attitude in the matter. The
controversy for the nomination to the
tail of the ticket promises to become
quite brisk, but it cannot continue long.
for the convention is only three weeks
away.
The solicitude for the nomination of
some Vice Presidential candidate on
the Republican ticket who will be
strong with labor, is enhanced by ru-
rnors that John Mitchell may be put
on the ticket with Bryan at Denver.
John Mitchell is now out of a job, and
when he came down here few days
ago to participate in the White House
Conference on the Natural Resources,
he was flirting with the Democratic
politicians, and appeared willing, yes,
eager, for some political nomination
this year. He is a great power with the
coal miners, who have tens of thou
sands of votes in the three big States of
Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Some say
ne would be a vulnerable candidate be-
cause Of his labor utterances. None
the less, the Republicans are little
uneasy about what he might be able
to do in the way of vote getting, IL he
gets on the National ticket at Denver.
In some quarters, on the other hand,
one hears ii said that it makes little
UtHeTcUCe dDOul the vice
nomination. II is the Presidential NOM
ination that counts with the voters,
some people say, and they may be right.
Still the Republicans have been trying
of late years to nominate good men for
Vice President, and they have succeed
ed. 1t has made good impression with
the thoughtful voters.
With the adjournment of Congress
the Congressional campaigns actually
Il hi ,I.ap f,f
States and Congressional Districts. For
some reason these struggles for mastery
between the two parties are starting off
earlier this year than usual. The Presi-
Dental campaign Will, of course, loom
into greater Importance speedily, but
for the time being these minor cam
paigns are going 10 have big local at
| tention.
Congressional aad s:-tc CzIupaIgns.
OF course. tt,e Cog -essrocn w:ro are
seeking rc-electior, ana IN Senators, of
whom there are about 4 core, working
| to secure Il majority &C In Il next State
Legislatures, cG"a't .usfair the popu-
lar interest frorn rcy. till November.
The campaigns VIII ha:c TO quiet down
during the hot w@a'h p Now, how
ever, there IS much activity to get things
started right. The wcrI; OF Congress;
this Winter has giveH -,'any Republican
members concern. Tn are alert 70
get the record straigh. 'fany of them
have left clerks in was 'Tgton to send
out speeches and to distribute other
! literature, calculated to be of use when
! the time for stumpiag comes. Several
| of the Western States now designate
| their United States Senators by pri-
maries, and the work for these pri-
uiaries is occupying q number of SEN
ators and their lieutcnants. Illinois
holds 2 Senatorial primary on Aug 8.
/ Kansas, too, desgnatcs a Senator by
| primary this Summer, and 50 on thru
quite a list OF States.
A goodly number of Western Con-
| gressmen are now nominated by the
! primary system, which virtually means
F., two campaigns, the first of which, of
course, must be waged in the late Sum
mer or early Autumn. a very large
portion of the 46 States elect Governors,
State officers and Legislatures this Sum-
mcr. which will enhance the political
| interest, even FOR the Senators and
Representatives, who are always more
or less prominent as party leaders in
their own localities.
| The early State campaigns like those
| in Oregon, Vermont and Maine, will
still further occupy the attention of
| politicians concerned about the drift
of things this Fall All are regarded
as sure Republican States. but in Ore
] gon, where the State elections are held
in early June, there is some probability
of electing a Democratic United States
Senator. The result of that election
VIII be Known by the time the Republi-
can National Convention meets in Chi
cayo.
Altho the nominees of the two par
| President "a