The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19


iican candidates. At the beginning of
this week the number of delegates ac-
tualiy instructed for the several candi-
dates was as follows:
taft l69
Knox ca
Cannon Observation-Disclosures. "A
uaehes .....---.-..---..-..- 50
dirpshks .--......-.. 80
t.n'rstructed ---.-.-.....---..-- ~
contested --.........------. ..-...-....-. AZ
During the week Taft has captured
Minnesota, part of Massachusetts,, Ha-
wall and Arizona, giving him about 200
instructed votes.
The most important feature of the
preliminary campaign is the collapse of
the Hughes boom in New York. The
state convention of last Saturday not
only failed to enthuse over Hughes,
but gave President Roosevelt such a
ringing Endorsement as TO prove con-
clusively that he was the most popular
man in his native state, as he is every
where else. The New Workers "di-
rected" their four delegates at large to
use all honorable means TO secure
Hughes nomination. but the manner OF
the Endorsement left no doubt that
Taft. and not Hughes, was the choice
of the convention.
say HUGHES IS TO BLAME
1t was charged in the New York
papers antagonistic to Roosevelt that
this contamination was planned and ex-
ecuted by Roosevelt from Washington.
partly as a means OF keeping himself
before the country and partly to de-
stroy Hughes as competitor of Taft.
New Workers who have returned from
the convention are emphatic, however
in the assertion that Hughes. and not
Roosevelt, is to blame for the outcome.
They say that Hughes has proved to be
such cold proposition" that his sup
pofters are disheartened and cannot
find good reasons for bringing in other
helpers. Taft expressly directed his
friends to keep their hands off New
York, and it is reasonable to suppose
that the president did likewise. Indeed,
1t is an open secret that Taft wrote his
letter al the presidents suggestion. The
president has not only been careful but
prescriptions. in his effort to disarm
criticism of his interference in behalf
OF TAFT. He foresaw tha. he would be
charged with trying to Kill of Hughes
in his home state. and in order to dis
prove this charge he has gone out of
his way TO help Hughes. in spite of
Hughes very shabby treatment of him
in the Sanders affair.
Hughes could have had the solid New
York delegation so far as. the presi-
dent and Taft were concerned. They
ing for Hughes to do. but to say the
word and to inspire his followers with
enthusiasm He did neither. e.would
not Indicate his choice for delegates
at large, nor would he unbend suffi-
GENTLY to show that he would be graft
fed IL supported by his state Natur-
ally, republicans do not cling TO q
leader who will not lead. They dropped
away from Hughes and turned to
Taft.
DELEGATES TURN TO TAFT
Hughes had less than half of the
New York delegation at the beginning
of the week. Two delegates had been
instructed for Taft and two others had
declared for him. OF the ii delegates
chosen but not instructed. all were
counted for Taft in preference to
hughes. At the rate New York is
splitting up Ii is predicted that Taft
viii get at least third, IL not half,
of the rs delegates from that state.
This surprising showing has done more
than any one thing to start the cry,
1T will all be over by May l."
The Taft movement could not be
kept out of Wisconsin, either. In spite
Of La Follette's mastery, which is far
more complete than Hughes mastery of
New York, Taft won one delegate.
Massachusetts was proclaimed by the
allies" as the anti-Taft people call
themselves, to be a stronghold against
Taft. Great things were promised
when Senator Murray Crane got in his
fine work. But the result showed very
clearly that Roosevelt sentiment there
is as strong as els where: that Senator
Lodge has not lost his cunning as a
practical politician. and that the anti.
Taft managers have no real reason
for hanging together. The Massachu-
sets state convention was the scena.
of a brilliant piece of work, in which
Senators Lodge and Crane were the
leading figures. Lodge rather worsted
Crane in the encounter, although Crane
can boast that Massachusetts did not
declare for Taft. The convention did
however, adopt resolution stating that
we all recognize that majority of
the delegates to this convention desire
Tafts nomination" That was a clear
enough announcement of Massachu-
setts position to suit Senator Lodge,
and he left to his colleague the empty
honor of saying that Massachusetts did
not join the Taft column.
DELEGATES INSTRUCTED
Two OF the Massachusetts delegates
at large are strong Taft men, one of
them being Senator Lodge himself. Sew
erai Massachusetts districts have Sc
lected Taft, men and instructed them to
vote for him. Others came into line
this week The uninstructed delegates
are likely to climb on the band wagon
before the convention meets. So it
may all be over by May /, after all, so
far as Massachusetts is concerned IL
this occurs it will have a powerful in
fiuence on other New England states
that have been hanging out Vermont's
delegates will be uninstructed, but If
Massachusetts goes for Taft SO will
Vermont Taft will get half of the
Maine delegation, If not all of Ii.
The Massachusetts situation indicates
to some extent how the waning popu-
larity of Hughes has demoralized the
anti-Taft forces. 1t is only by uniting
that the antl-Taft people can hope to
prevent Taft from being nominated on
the first ballot. Senator Crane was sup
cubic yards of material. The purpose
of this earthwork which is undoubted-
~ of an artificial character. was to inn
pound water for irrigation. and the
work is comparable to that found in
the irrigation systems of the ancient