Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-02-28
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BY WALTER WELLMAN

BY WALTER WELLMAN.
Chicago Record Herald, Feb. 49,
Washington, D. c., Feb. 2G.-So
great is the probability of Judge
Taft's nomination for president by
the Chicago convention that we are
almost, if not quit, justified in re-
garding it as foregone conclusion.
There is also great probability that
the nomination will be made on the
first ballot. The one element of ser
ious doubt as to the outcome lies
in the possibility of an upheavel for
President Roosevelt for second
elective term.
Fairly full and accurate informa
ton as to the political situation in all
parts of the country, secured during
my recent western tour and since re-
turning to Washington, strengthens
the belief formed two months ago
that Taft is to win, but that if Taft
for any. reason is not nominated the
president will be. Ignoring for the
present the latter as one of those
vague possibilities which it is impos
sible to measure, the situation as it
has developed and as it is rapidly de-
veloping along certain lines, points
Enthusiastically to the nomination Of
Judge Taft.
That there is opposition to Taft
and to the president we all know.
/ have made diligent inquiries as to
the facts which led the opponents of
the leading candidates to believe he
can be beaten, and the result is not
reassuring from their standpoint.
Their generalizations are strong but
their. details are weak. When we
come down to the practical question
of votes which are to defeat Taft,
these opponents cannot make a sat
isfactory showing. 1t is not my bust
ness to boom anyone for president.
am not doing so. It is my business
to ascertain the facts the best I can
, and give them to my readers, no mat
ter what sort Of outcome they may
) indicate. When I ask the men who
are opposing Taft for statement in
detail OF the base Of their hope that
Taft can be beaten, they reply: "It
. is too early to give figures
But in my judgment it is not too
early for figures. Public sentiment
and political action have already
gone so far that in. great part of the
country we know how the votes are
to be aligned almost as weel as we
shall know month or two months
hence. President-making is our great
national game, and every four years
we all delight to to take hand ir
it. We read with avidity all news
that tends to foreshadow the out
come. Having pretty good opportun
ity to learn what is going on in tbs
country, I give the readers of the
), Record Herald summary of mos
trustworthy information gathered VI
. to this time.
For clear understanding of tht
situation as it is seen today, let u!
- look at the country geographically
We have certain we'll defined polit
!. ical areas.
n 1. New England, six states, with
80 votes in the republican national
convention.
+ 2. The states with "favorite sons,
e five in number (New York, Pennsyl
vania, Indiana, Illinois and Wiscon
SIM, with 256 votes in the conven
5 tion
5 8. The south, or states almos
certainly democratic at the election
: (omitting Maryland and Missouri)
) twelve in number, with 266 votes il
. the convention.
: 4. The remainder of the north
west and coast states and the terri
) tories, twenty-three states in all, in
Guiding Maryland and Missouri, witt
, 1888 votes in the convention.
Total number of states, 46; tota
:. number of votes in the convention
. 992; necessary to nominate, 497.
Now it is remarkable fact that il
all this great sweep of country elias
. sified under the fourth clause, onl
, one candidate appears to have an
5 considerable strength. He is Tai
the one aspirant whose following u
s to this time has assumed a trul
: national aspect.
: Information of Trustworthy charat
: ter as to the choice Of the delegate
: from the states in this great bel
sweeping from ocean to ocean. an
beyond the two oceans, sums up q
? follows:
a