The Washington times., 1908-08-01
Party Hopes TO Garry Geor-
gia, North Carolina,
and Tennessee.
TAFT ENCOURAGED
BY MANY LETTERS
DiSaffected Democrats Promise
Support-Independence League
Regarded as Strong Ally.
Bv JAMES HAY, JR.

HOT SPRINGS, Va, Aug. LIN an
effort to capture at least one state in
the "SolId South" the Republican party
is preparing for a spectacular fight IN
those Southern States where enough dis
satisfaction with Bryan has been shown
20 warrant the hope Of victory for the
party now in power.
The Republican national committee
will put into the South more campaign
money than II ever has done II will
employ more speakers for that section
than ever has been the case. ana great
er attention viii be paid to- building up
an organization that can deliver votes
and keep up interest IN the Republican
cause until the very day of the election
From the time he arrived here until
today, Mr.. Tafts mail has contained
many letters from disanected Democrats
asserting their determination to desert
ihe Democratic standard and to vote
for the Republican ticket. Mr.. Taft has
also been informed that similar infOrma-
ton has gone to Frank H Hitchcock,
chairman Of the national committee. The
States where it is believed the Repub-
leans have a show TO win, are Georgia,
North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Leaders Encouraged.
The party leaders are encouraged. not
only by the disafection among the
Democrats. but also by the fact that
the Independence League will weaken
the Democratic vote, anG viii make no
inroads on the Republican strength As
matter of fact the Republicans recog-
nize the Independence party as their ally
in disguise. They are all the more CON
vinced of this because Bryan, in failing
to get the Presidential nomination from
Il league in Chicago, found that the
leaBue IS against him and the Demo-
cratic ticket.
1t is surprising to note the reports
of Republican strength in the South
which have reached Mr.. Taft. a visitor
here today told him that he had heard
an attorney for a prominent railroad
in the South say that the normal Demo
cratic majority of $1,000 in Virginia
would he cut down 70 10000 next Ncven-
Der, and that. with the smallest amount
OF work the city of Lynchburgs Va,
could be carried for the Republican
ticket.
News Is Significant.
This news about Lynchburg is signih-
cant. because 1t is the home or the
Democratic Representative in Congress,
Carter Glass. It is also significant be-
cause it is the richest city per capita in
the State, and this information may be
taken as an indication of how the busi-
ness men OF the South regard Taft.
This same visitor pointed out that
Georgia Is unusually prosperous, and
this prosperity may be the chief reason
that the people there regard the Repub-
lican ticket as a guartee OF continued
wealth and welfare They prefer TO
stick to what has made them prosper
Gus, instead OF trying a new regime.
Induced To Fight.
All these facts have induced Mr.. Taft
and the national committee to make a
hotter fight for Republican success in
the South than has been made since
the civil war. Mr.. Taft's speech here
to the mass meeting of Virginia Repub-
leans this month will sound the key
note of the campaign 20 break into the
solid South.
The candidate. after going through
hts mail today and finding the optimistic
predictions about the South, went out
and had a game Of golf with Senator
Jonathan Bourne, jr.p Of Oregon. This
afternoon he will 80 for a horseback
ride.
Members of the Virginia Bar Associa-
ton, which meets here August 5, are
coming in already, many OF them pre-
dieting an unusually large attendance
this year. owing to the fact that Mr..
Taft will address the association