The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-05-03

WASHINGTON, May 2-The allies"
as the field against Taft is called, do
not seem to be getting together very
fast. They are holding out against the
cordial invitation OF the Taft managers
to get on his band wagon, but they
have not rugged up a big band wagon
of their own. Compared with the bulky
Taft vehicle the string of little wagons
following along looks pitiful indeed.
And still. when their total strength is
Inquired up, it is more than Tafts. One
OF the questions that will become a
burning issue soon is: Will the field
get together on one man.? And, of
course, the next question instantly
arises: Who will he be?
A few weeks ago three expert polit-
zeal observers expressed tho. opinion
through the Washington Post that Gov
ernor Hughes would be nominated at
Chicago. They gave four ballots in de-
tail, showing how Hughes would be-
come the choice of the allies after it
had been demonstrated that Taft could
be beaten. Since that time several inn
portant changes have occurred. the
most important being Hughes failure
to get his entire state delegation and a
disposition in other states to consider
him a waning star. Nevertheless
Hughes is by no means out OF the race
mentioned may be fulfilled.
Hughes has all but six of the New
York delegation. He has strength in
Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hamp-
shire, and elsewhere. The New York
Herald gives Hughes these votes to
start with:
New York OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
........... II
New Hampshire Observation-Disclosures. 5
4
iotai .-.--...---....--....- .92
Hughes has two elements of strength
which are conceded by the allies. First.
he is progressive who cannot be
charged with standing in with 'preda-
tory interests; second, he is a New
Yorker who may be depended upon to
carry his state il nominated. The weak
ness OF Taft in New York is widely
recognized, and if the Chicago conven-
ton should decide that victory in New
York is requisite to any nominee,
Hughes chances of drawing the sup
port Of the allies may be very good.
The vice presidential nomination is
an important factor when Hughes is
considered. A western man would be
chosen for vice president, doubtless, If
Hughes should head the ticket 1t is
conceivable that the allies might rally
centive of beating Taft and securing the
running mate they want. Fairbanks
has been suggested as the f1ttest run
ming mate of Hughes. because of his
geographical availability and the
strength he could throw to Hughes in
the convention.
KNOX A BETTER CHANCE
Many good politicians think Senator
Knox of Pennsylvania stands a better
chance than any other candidate to
draw the allies together He is in
peculiarly advantageo position as a
compromise choice. He enjoys the
warm friendship OF the president and
Secretary Taft and is commonly sup
posed 10 be the presidents second
choice. That is, IL Taft cannot win at
and IL the nomination of Roose-
Welt himself does not follow, IL Is not
improbable that a quick lineup for Knox
Will be made by both the Taft and
antiTaft forces.
Knox does not believe that Taft will,
be nominated, and he clings to the be-
lief that the allies will unite upon one
man, possibly himself At present Knox
is credited with the 6s votes of Penn
sylvania and the 6 of Delaware But
he is entitled to be credited with sup
pert from New England. notably Mas
sachusetts. He may also be the choice
of Rhode Island and part of New Jer-
sey. New Hampshire is in a position
to support him His home strength is
practically as large as Hughes, and he
enjoys greater acquaintance among the
strong men of other states Manysof the
senator's who control their respective
states organizations are close friends
OF Senator Knox. These senators will
be at Chicago. When the smashup
comes, as the allies predict it will, they
would be in a position to swing many
to Knox. Then, If the presidents
supporters should conclude that Taft
could not be nominated. they might get