New-York tribune., 1908-03-21
TAFT DELEGATES, 552.
HITCHCOCK MAKES CLAIM.
First Official Estimate of SecretaryS
Political Strength.
fFrom The Tribune Rurssu.I

Washington. March 2O-The first official states
ment of Secretary Tafts political Strength was
issued to-day By Frank H. Hitchcock. in charge
of the Taft headquarters in this city. Ii is as
serted that this statement Is based on absolute
knowledge. In fact. such delegates as those TO
be elected by Porto Rico and Alaska. believed
to be certain for Taft. not counted for him.
The statement is follows:
The most important gains in the Taft move
nIent during the last month have occurred west
of the Mississippi River. The states and terri
tories of that region are entitled 10 3o4 votes IN
the Republican National Convention Iowa.
Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma nave
already held their conventions and instructed
for Taft. giving him more than one hundred
votes. New Mexico will hold its convention to-
morrow and instruct for Taft. The state COM
mittees OF North Dakota, south Dakota. Wyo-
ming Colorado Washington. Arkansas and Lou
isiana have adopted resolutions 1ndorsing ms
candidacy Recent reports from Western states
that have not had al opportunity thus Tar ID
express their preference indicate such a pre-
ponderance of Taft sentiment TO warrant the
prediction that practically the entire region west
of the Mississippi will be found in the Taft
column by the time the national convention
meets According to the Judgment of party
leaders familiar with local conditions. II IS sara
to count for Taft at the present time from tile
region west of the Mississippi go delegates,
leaving only 81 in doubt
In the New England states also distinct gains
have been made for the Taft candldacy- \
warrants the claim for Taft to-day OF o. OF their
81 delegates. leaving 80 still IN doubt
The Southern states east of the Mississippi
River are entitled 1914 votes OF this number
I2s can be safely counted in the Taft column.
leaving So still in doubt While IT IS expected
that certain Southern delegations will be con-
tested the Taft delegates here counted VIII De
regularly elected and will bear credentials which
will insure their being seated in the conventlon-
The "faVOrite SON SIateS-NeW
York Pennsylvania Indiana, illinois and WIS
consin-represent 256 votes Aside from these
states and the State Of Ohio. which VIII give
Taft 46 delegates there are at present 80 ur-
pIedred votes in the East and North, as foiloWS-
New Jersey. "a; Delaware. S; Maryland 10 the
District of Columbia 2; West Virginia IL anu
Michigan, Is of these. % can be now placed
in the Taft column. leaving IS in DOUBT
Alaska Hawaii Porto Rico and the Philippine
Islands are each entitled TO two delegates or
these eight delegates. four have oeen aIreduJ
instructed for Taft and four are IN douot
The present strength of the Tart caIdlodcy
can be summarized follows
Northern states east of the MISSISSIPPI RlVer:
New England So Ohio. IS: other Northern
and Eastern states, %. total OF loo delegates
Southern states east of the MISSISSIPPI River
12s delegates .,.
states and territories west of the Mississippi
River 270 delegates
Outlying territories, delegates
Total, $50.
The national convention will be composed OF
$50 delegates. requiring 491 votes for a cnolce-