The Washington times., 1908-02-18
SCENT TAFT TRICK
IN GUILDS BOON
Scheme to Smoke Crane
Out, Say Massachu-
sets Men.
But They Believe the Gov
ernor viii Have a Hard
Problem.

MeHloefs OF the Massachusetts delega-
ton IN Congress profess TO see in tho
boom for Governor Guild as the Vice
Presidential nominee on the Republican
1cket, clever political trick to smoke
out Senator Crane and compel him 10
withdraw his opposition 70 Secretary
Taft.
Thus far every effort has been made
TO have him aid the candidacy Of Sec
rotary Taft, but without success. In
fact. he is the most active man in the
United states Senate in his efforts 10
retard the progress Of the Taft cam.
paign.
should Governor Guild prove 10 be an
Out-an-oUt candidate. his candidacy
being coupled with a pledge 10 deliver
the Massachusetts delegates to Taft,
Senator Crane viii be placed in the po-
sition OF opposing q favorite son for
secnd place on the ticket Whether he
VIII have the courage 10 offer such op-
position remains to be seen. but If the
opinions Of his close friends count for
anything, such opposition may be
looked for.
Little Interest Shown.
The boom 70 place Governor Guild on /
the ticket with Secretary Taft has
aroused little. If any. interest among /
the politicians who arc in close touch I
with the various campaigns which are /
now being waged for the Republican /
nomination for the Presidency.
Until Governor Guild arrives in Wash /
ington tonight. it viii be impossible to !
learn Just where he stands IN the mat /
ter. If. however, his candidacy IS based /
on a pledge TO deliver the Massachusetts /
delegates in a body TO the TAFT forces, |
he win undoubtedly md many obstacles !
in his path.
He viii have to reckon with Senator |
w Murray Crane, in the first place. for /
the reason that the solid vote OF the /
Massachusetts delegates cannot be de- /
livered to any one candidate without i
the cOnAent of the junior Senator from I
Massachusetts. Senator Crane has only 1
recently won his battle with the Presl- |
dent and Senator Lodge 10 prevent an !
instructed delegation being sent from
the Bay state.
Think Crane Adamant.
His friends declare that, under no cir |
cuuastances. will he lend his influence 20 |
the support Of Secretary Taft. II, there |
fore. Governor Guilds alliance with /
Taft is based on a promise 10 deliver /
delegates. it would appear that he has /
failed to take into consideration the /
present attitude Of Senator Crane in the
Presidential campaign.
No one familiar with RepuDhcah
notifies in M4ssache.--Its VIII LOt . -
n7fnt believe that Governor Gulid --as !
influence enough in his own state 70 /
override Senator Crane. FefgapS az ~ ~ I
other State in the Union DO CHIlSu
States Senators Weld 50 IluSil - N,
in local politics. Even munlclpai cam
pa!ens are not too small 70 aIlIacL lI Is
attention and secure the service ul
Senators Lodge and Crane IhSy -
lie oues who have the deciding Wofd i
,,,ben the state ticket is made up eac.' /
Zear- Because of the power thus Wlelo-
81 their influence is as great, II hot i
greater. than that Of the governor OF
'it SboSId the latest boom come to an 1
issIIe therefore, the best that Governor \
C,1ud could do for Taft would De 70 i
deliver a part or the MassacIG s.e =
,-otes the entire vote could be deliver
cd only with the consent OF senator
Crane.
Guild Is Ambitious.
Governor Guild is known to have po-
iiticaI ambitions beyond the governors /
chair. He has been in public life Tor /
many years, and because Of his ability |
as a speaker his reputation has extend 1
ed beyond the borders OF his own State. /
When President Roosevelt was a candi- /
date for Vice President, Governor Guild, 4
then lieutenant governor in Massachu- /
sets, accompanied him on his Western |
tour. /
Governor Guild now has served three |
terms as the chief executive of Massa-
Chusetts, and IL is believed that cJndi- /
lions there are such that ne would will /
ingly forego another contest. provided /
he could find a place ia a higher sphere |
or political life.
The House Of Representatives has no /
attractions for him. He cannot come
10 the Senate for two reasons. one is /
Crane, and the other is Lodge. The only /
opening, therefore. which would seem 20 |
give him the necessary opportunity is /
the nomination for Vice President
Governor Guild will arrive in Wash
ingtOn tonight, and Will see President
Roosevelt before he returns to Boston
Friday. It is possible, also, that he will
see Frank II Hitchcock, who is Mr.
Tafts Eastern manager