Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-03-13
(By Walter Wellman.)
Especial to the Chicago Record
Herald.)

Washington, D. C.-The friends of
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Taft are in the majority in the ma
tional committee. The fact has been
ascertained beyond the possibility of
doubt. The significance of it is
very great. 1t means that no spur.
ious contest from the south or else
where can get before the convention
except in a minority report. 1t means
that the plot to create contests, con-
fusion and chaos cannot succeed. It
means, with little more than the
shadow of uncertainty, the nominal
ton of Taft on the first ballot. And
if any period of waiting and of per-
plexity comes to that convention the
nominee will not be an opponent of
the administration, hut the chief of
the administration himself.
The policy of the administration
Taft leaders as to contests from the
south or elsewhere is this-Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Judge Taft are
both in favor fit, and that settles
it:
To give square deal; to have sub
committees patiently hear all con-
tests, to seat the legal, regular del
egates, no matter whether they are
for the administration-Taft program
or not.
On account of the efforts of the
enemies of the president and of Taft
to stir up contests and scandals in
the south, the Taft managers recently
determined to ascertain exactly
where they stood in the national Re
publican convention. They knew the
convention was to be with them-a
Roosevelt-Taft convention. But did
they have the national committee?
Would their opponents be able to
bring in majority reports in favor of
the seating of a lot of trumped-uI
delegates from the south? Inquiries
were made as to predictions of al
the members of the national COM
mittee. Nothing was left to chance
or to luck. The facts were ascer
tanned in every case. There are
fifty-four members of the nationa
committee, one from each state anC
territory and the District of Colum
bia. Thirty-three of these are on
and out Roosevelt-Taft men and fiv,
or six more likely to be friendly thai
otherwise. Thus the Roosevelt af
forces have a safe, clear workin.
majority of the committee. Thei
strength on any square proposition
cannot be less than 33 to 81, and
is much more likely to be nearly 4
to IA. With the committee to pas
on contests and the convention to vi
hold the majority report, the Roose
velt-Taft people are not doing mucl
worrying over the southern conspi1
acy of their opponents.
At the same time, it is true tina
practically the only danger to tn
success of the Taft movement-an
it is a very small menace-lies in tn
feeling among southern republicans
for the greater part of the republi
cans of the north have gladly &C
cepted Taft as substitute for Roost
welt. The north understands Taft a
a great big man on his own accoun
one of the biggest and stronges
men we have ever had in our publ
life. It is true that in some part
Of the west they still banker fc
"Tteddy." But the vast majority {
northern republicans, even includin
goodly number of those living
states having tfavorite sons" al
heartily and warmly for Taft, becaus
they believe he will make a gres
president if elected. But all throug
the south, particularly in state
where there is real republica
party, the demand for Roosevelt
still strong, so strong that it ma
show itself in the convention despit
the plans of the leaders. Why? b
cause President Roosevelt is far an
away the most popular public ma
In the south since the war. Grove
Cleveland was never well liked in til
south. Mr.. Bryan, though still pol
u1ar, has never regained the plat
In the affections of the south he hel
few months in 1896, at the zenit
of the silver craze. and when M
Bryan appeared to be the favorits
of the fates. Now Rooseyelt's pc
u1arity in that section is, accordin
to the testimony Of democrats an
republicans alike, something anna
ing. Democrats are as enthusiast
over him as republicans; many {
them more so. It is not class fee
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