Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-07
CAPITAL CHAT.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

spectacular stunt for the Secretary to |
perform knowing that that will make
the Secretary more solid than ever |
with the people who do not object to
some theatrical performances in their
politics. Anyhow the Secretary is
keeping his counsel He seems to
think he can safely leave his presi- |
Dental boom alone for a few weeks, |
with such trusted friends as Presi- |
dent Theodore Roosevelt, Brother
Charles P. Taft and number of lesser
lights in charge.
And right at this juncture the
croakers are coming in from every !
quarter with doleful stories about the
Secretary's running qualities. Wash
ington has become hardened to that
sort Of thing in this six months
campaign for the Republican nominal
ton for the Presidency. But the dole
full brethren are now making the most
vouminOuS doleful reports ever. Bat
MasterSon, the ex-marshal of Doust
City Kansas and the terror of bad
men, who is now a Deputy Marshal in
New York but spends considerable
time travelling about to gain informa
ton for President Roosevelt, mis-
personal friend anchored in port a
day or two ago. Bat fine sport that
he is, was almost weeping because of
the gloomy outlook for the Republican
party, unless one Theodore Roosevelt
should run again. He has been
travelling in Kansas, which he says
Bryan will carry by 100000 over Taft,
and in Missouri the Dakotas. Illinois
and so on.
Although he is very loyal Roose
welt man Bat. eX-gun fighter and
terror of bad men, is not Taftite
He made some of the oldSterS smile
at his dOleful yarns and some of
them were disposed to ask Bat if he
could not fix it some way to hold his
deputy marshaship if Bin Taft
takes up a residence in the White
House Bat went up to the White
House to report to the President on
the results of his western travels and
came away feeling a little more
cheerful But the doleful crowd in
Washington found his talk about the
western situation Il luscious morSel.
1t is quite surprising how gloomy
the Republican prospects are in q
sons. Indiana is going to the bow
vows. OF course Fairbanks as d
Presidential nominee, could carry it.
Illinois, great. staunch Republican
state, is sloughng off No telling
what the enormous army of unem- |
ployed in Chicago will do when ii
comes to the voting day. But, to be
sure, Uncle ! Joe" Cannon as the |
certain. With him as the party's |
choice for President there would be |
absolutely no likelihood that the. re- |
suit of 1892, when Illinois for the first |
time supported a Democratic Presi- |
dent, would be repeated.
Then. there's New York biggest of |
states and very necessary to the
winning party. Everything going to
the bow vows. there, too although the
Democratic factions are fighting like
cats and dogs. Nominate Hughes,
however. and everything would be
lovely There would be no question
about his ability to carry the Empire
State and that would prevent the
possibility of Bryan becoming Presi-
dent.
Senator Philander Chase Knox, on
the other hand, can not make that plea
about Pennsylvania. 1t is the one
favOrite son state that is not going to
the bow vows. AS matter of fact
if a yellow dog We're running on the
ticket he would be elected
in Pennsylvania. Accordingly the
friends of Senator Knox have no dole
full stories of the kind that the Fair
banks, Cannon, and Hughes managers
hand out.
Then there's a whole lot of talk just
now about the impOssibilty of Secre-
tary Taft carrying Ohio and about the
forces that are lined up
against him. 1t is not the first time
these things have been heard but they
are being forced home now as. never
before here in Washington, just when
Bill" Taft is starting off placidly for
his trip to Panama, whether it be for
restful purposes or to do some
theatrical stunt. He does not appear
to be worrying much because of the
loleful talk. In fact there is not
loleful thing in the genial Secretary's
makeup.