The Washington times., 1908-03-22
Field Will Join Forces
to Point Out War Sec
retary'S Weakness
as Candidate.
Stampede in Convention,
to Roosevelt Said to
Be Part of Their
Plan.

When Frank Il. Hitchcock, former
First Assistant Postmaster General
and now manager of the Taft cam
paign, issued "a statement Friday
night claiming 552 delegates for
Taft, and an assured nomination on
the first ballot, he stirred I'D the
opposition TO the first real nantes
tation of fighting quality it has
shown.
The anti-Taft campaign has been
thus far pussy-footed. scft-handed
sort Of affair. 1t has been speaking
IN whispers, preferring 10 take
folks down a dark alley, and under
the shadow of an outside stairway
before confding that were going.
70 beat 'em, but don't mention it,
1t has been afraid 10 speak out
loud; it wouldn't for the world have
permitted the public 10 recognize il
IN its true light as an auti-Taft cam
paign. 1t has posed as a patriotic
movement, and been regarded by
the public as a confidence game.
II has assumed especial horror at
the raw" political methods of the
Taft folks, and at the same time
has not had courage enough 10
mention them. 1t has been afraid
of the Big Stick, and terrorized
with the contemplation of Brother
Charley's bank roll.
Opposition Gets to Work.
After perusing the jubilaut MANI
festo issued from the TAFT headquar-
tiers, the opposition pinched itself yes
terday and woke up. It decided TO do
something. There were consultations
and conferences. Senators Hemenway
OF Indiana, Hopkins OF Illinois, Foraker
Of Ohio. Crane Of Massachusetts. and
various others busted themselves. with
the result that last evening sundry
anonymous statements were handed out
from high places. in refutation OF the
Hitchcock claims.
can your name be given as SPONSOR /
for this statement was the repeated
question asked by the correspondents
when they received their copies of thel
statements.
NO: not yet" was the reply. But
wait"
The opposition gives assurance that it
IS going, before 4Ohg, TO say sonnet hing
with names attached. There will be
announcements on authority OF men OF
national reputation; men, too. some OF
whom are known as associated with
the favOTite son campaigns, and some
Of whom. Ike Senator Crane and
Senator Bourne. have no interest IN
favOrite son politics. but are Just inter-
ested in defeating TAFT
Point Out Taft's Weak Places.
The opposition is going to get into.
the game II admits that 1t has Iefsi
the field 10 the Taft folks thus far.
But it Opines that this is Il good times
TO start the real night. Il is pointed
out, by the anti-Taft forces. that Mr..
Hitchcock's claims are quite TidicUIOuss
that the Ohio belt is showing the men-
ace which the party Will confront IL
Taft is nominated; that the forthcom~
ing convention Of negroes in PhnadeE--
phia to protest against Taft. will scare
the people In close Northern Statest
yesterday by organized labor VIII have
a tremendous effect in convincing prac<
teal party men that the party IS puts
ting its head into a moose.
No confidence win be violated BIZ tina
statement that the action of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor. in issuing the
vigorous statement which was given Ouu
yesterday, was construed as a great
blow at the TAFT campaign. The name
of the War Secretary was not men-
toned; neither was that Of any other
man. but none the less the manifesto
came as a shock TO Taft people and as
huge satisfaction to their opponents.
II was construed everywhere as directIyf
hostile to Taft.
THE manifesto doesn't mention any,
names" said one public man. "bue
1t does call on labor and labor's friends
all over the country to hold great mass
meetings on April 19 and % TO adopt
resolutions on labor's demands. You
will be safe in expecting that those
meetings will give voice TO the protest
against a particular candidate whom
Taft Tries to Head Of Labor.
The Taft people fully expect this
and are already at work to bring press
sure 10 bear in the right places TO pres
vent the labor mass meetings giving
the Secretary's boom a black eye. Iu
is expected that the utmost resources
of authority, influence and campaign
funds will be put forth TO overcome tbs
effect of this series Of meetings. Labor
Is 70 be lined up if it is a possible thing.
The tight fOr labor. TO be conducted in
the next few weeks, is likely TO be ths
Iron4inned On Slrth ParaA