The Washington herald., 1908-06-04

Special 10 The Washington Herald
Chicago, June 3-The Taft boom arrived
in Chicago to-day and the national cam
paign sprang into real life
It was day devoted 10 long-range ar
tillery practice. the leaders Of the various
Presidential booms firing preliminary
broadsides at intervals in an effort 10
feel out" the strength Of opposing
camps.
As a matter Of faet-although there are
many rivals-there are only two political
camps IN Chicago to-night-the Taft camp
and that of the allies. The Hughes. Can
non. Fairbanks. Knox, and La Toilette
followers are, by tacit consent, fighting
under q common banner-that OF opposi-
ton to Taft With Taft out Of the way,
the tacit alliance would crumble like a
house of sand. and chaos would follow
with all the uncertain probabilities wrap
ped up in a dark horse candidate.
When Frank II. Hitchcock, generals
simo OF the Taft forces. arrived to-day. he
found five formidable-looking booms lined
up for a cordial. but none the less sinister
welcome. Hitchcock at once sent shot
hurling into the camps OF the allies.
Taft viii be nominated on the first bal
lot We only claim 517 delegates in our
formal statement AS a matter. Of fact
we shall have zoo"
Bases Hope in Figures.
Mr.. Hitchcock, It Is well known, bases
his confidence in Taft's nomination on a
compilation Of delegates made UP at Taft
headquarters in Washington some time
ago. He claims there are 517 absolutely In
structed delegates for Taft. more than
enough TO nominate. as only 49l are re-
quired. He also claims 36 pledges I'm writ
ing from delegates not instructed. Fur
ther. he declares that about 100 Of the 169
unpledged delegates are for Taft. Adding
up all these, Hitchcock arrives at his con-
fident assertion that Taft will have al
least 700 delegates on the first ballot
Mr. Hitchcock and his party occupy
rooms NJ 10, p. and "A Of the new addi-
ton 10 the Auditorium Annex.
First, l wish 10 be strictly understood
that I am not here at present to open up
any campaign headquarters for Mr.. Taft, "
said Mr.. Hitchcock
The only object in my being here IS
to watch Mr.. Taft's interests In the con-
tests, and that Will take up about all my
time. have no corps Of assistants,
merely being accompanied by an attor-
ney. who has been at work upon the
contest matters, and a stenographer."
The story that Speaker Cannon had
left his automobile at Pittsburg and was
rushing to Chicago by train only brought
forth smile
Only Contests, Says Frank II.
"AI my time at present will be taken
up in the contest matter. I have seen
none Of the national committeeman or
delegates thus far, with the exception
Of Alvah Martin. of Virginia. I passed
him as 1 came into the hotel. and only
had word with him." said Mr.. Hitch
cock
Hitchcock's opening volley was answer
ed by scattering shots from various parts
of the allies camps.
The "allies" are wondering how Hitch
cock can figure 700 delegates for Taft out
of a total of $50. when there are 229 con-
tests and 81 pledged to other candidates.
according to their own figures.
A B. Humphrey, who is in charge of
the Gov Hughes headquarters, declared
that he looks for 126 20 l36 votes for
Hughes on the first ballot, and then some
more on the lther ballots. Backers OF
La Toilette are declaring that in the
Northwest there will be a bolt from Taft
to their man. No more than twenty-five
are looked for La Toilette on the frs,
ballot. Then the allies put forth few
trial volleys of musketry in the shape OF
stories, all going to show the danger
OF nominating Taft
Stories were told IN the lobby at the
Annex that the nomination Of Taft would
mean that the Republican campaign will
be an uphill fight in the fall
From Southern States come stories oi
the strong feeling against Mr.. Taft
; among the Republicans who cast the
bulk of the party vote there.
Trouble in the North.
From the Northern States which In
structed for favorite sons. come tales
about districts that cannot be carried
= for Taft If he is nominated. because OF
labor union influence.
The negro vote. according TO one story
was said to be rapidly boiling Taft
Charges that he is for the disfranchise-
ment Of the Southern negroes and his re-
= cent speech. in which he referred to the
alleged resignation OF Gen. Grant from
the army 70 save court-martiallng, has de-
tracted from his strength with the ne
, groes.
The story was that the failure of an
expected 1000 negro delegation to attend
a Taft demonstration in Chicago a few
evenings ago was declared to have fright
ened the Taft boomers. and that the re-
suit was TO be the importation Of 3,0OC