The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-05-08
LOOKS MORE AND
MORE LIKE TAFT
CNan Special to the Advertiser.)

WASHINGTON, April 2O.-Every
passing Jay Is adding some definite
knowledge 10 the Presidential nomina-
tion campaign conditions. Men are be-
coming wiser politically every time the
sun goes down The table makers have
some new figures TO put down nearly
every TweRiy-fcur hours, and besides
there are significant signs here and
there which maze representations
easier
some people think there will be
nothing but shouting to do after two
weeks have passed. These are not all
the adherents Of Secretary of War
William Howard Taft. There is a
growing readiness TO eoneede his nomi-
walton IN all the fortified camps of
Presidential candidates. The import
s-nce that attaches TO a probable Pres
ideutisl nominee and to a possible pros
rective President is attaching to the
Secretary Of War. The campaign is
plainly entering upon a new era The
VEatchful politicians almost uneon-
sciously indicate il by their attitude of
increasing Difference to the genial, good
uatured. Industrious head of the War
Department.
The throngs at the War Department
evidence Il by their more reverential
bearing in the Seeretary's presence.
The throngs elsewhere in Washington,
where the Secretary permeates, evil
deuee II. The workers begin to talk
about "Bin Taft which, if he is
nominated, viii be his campaign name
with the masses. The Democrats are
beginning 70 level their guns at him,
which is not without significance. Mr..
BRAN has begun paving his respects
20 him. the while he ignores the other
Republican aspirants. The other day,
q is worth noting, Mr.. Taft went to
Chicago. where the convention is to
a,e held. and fraternized with the eiti-
zons for a season. Look out for howl
iug. reiterating, insistent Taft gal
le-es Al that convention: for the Sec
ret4ry Is popular II the windy City
and more popular there since his re-
cent VISIT
Then he pushed on into Nebraska,
where the probable Democratic nOmi-
nee resides, and very probably he did
not make that pilgrimage without
terminating on the helpful effects it
might have with the people a few
months later on when he could not
vast the state without II being very
apparent that he was on vote getting
tour And as soon as the Secretary
eo- Our into the Western country he
took a I0uC-distance shot at the Peer
less one. and the Peerless One return
ed the compliment.
Frankly the Washington observers,
who are generally pretty keen about
such things. think 1t viii be about all
ever br the end Of April. The Taft
l.oam Is unquestionably growing, grow
f-r daily in different sections of the
country This growth presages a very
tame convention at Chicago, although
= few months ago it was generally ex-
rectea tLat II would be the liveliest,
se-arries-. most interesting convention
iu twenty-five years The telegraph
companies are eurtailing their prepare
lions for handling hundreds of thou
sands ~ words Of newspaper copy every
-vreutv-four hours that the convention
lasts The newspaper managers are
clrtaiIing their plans for sending large
forces Of correspondents, who would be
necessary 10 follow every detail and de-
ve-1ument. If the contest was to be I'M
certain right up TO the moment of the
l.auotng. There viii be spectators
enough anyway. Chicago will have
plenty % do 10 care for their comfort,
whether the convention means a love
feast and a cut-and-dried program, or
q fight 20 the finish. None the less, ae-
cordins 20 reports Of recent date from
tie Windy City, the hotels are no
longer expecting the tremendous crush
that was for a time promised. From
the popular. spectacular standpoint the
Chicago convention may be quite as
hacking IN dramatic performance and in
the shrewd maneuvering of tacticians,
as the Denver convention has promised
q be.
And vet, with April half gone and
the Chicago convention quite two
months away, there are still Opportun-
ities for important convention develop
neuts- From all appearances Seere-
ta-v Taft VIII 20 into the convention
fa- in the lead Of all his rivals in in
s.-ucted delegates. 1t can not be con-
coaled. however, that it is almost a
,..--------- half of the delepates which /,