Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-05-30
NO TAFT SENTIMENT
IN THIS STATE
woodward Agrees With Curtin
and Teter
CHOICE FOR THE PRESIDENCY
Landslide To Roosevelt. To Defeat
War Secretary Expected BY Some
In Washington.
CHOICE FOR THE PRESIDENCY

Washington, May 2S- I'm declaring
that there Is no real Taft sentiment In
West Virginia separate and distinct
from the Roosevelt sentiment, General
Curtin is but stating the obvious
truth said Congressman Harry G.
woodward. OF Parkersburg, chairman
of,the state committee. one Of the men
who opposed Taft instructions. 4
told you months ago and | repeat 1t
now that the feeling in the state Is for
Roosevelt. The Taft sentiment Is ar
tificial. as the general said, skillfully
worked up and made successful by the
fact that no effort was made by the
| friends of other candidates to organ
lie opposition until It was roo late.
ut may be indiscreet for General
Curtin and Mr.. Teter to say that there
/ is no Taft sentiment in the state
worth mentioning, separate from that
for Roosevelt's denomination and elec.
ton. 1t may be indiscreet for me to
make a declaration OF that kind, but
why should not we tell the truth
about presidential politics as well as
about other matters?'
Wonder II II Means LandsIide7
washington Is wondering whether
these scattering announcements In IA
vor OF Roosevelt indicate the begin
ming Of the end so far as Taft Is con
cerned and the commencement of the
landslide to Roosevelt, which many
have been expecting, and to prevent
which there have been astonishing
conversions to Taft among the men In
the classes denounced by President
Roosevelt in many Of his speeches.
There Is no question about the &C.
curacy OF the assertion, often made
during the last two weeks that Nor
gan and the men he controls have
come out for Taft because they be-
| lieye that by doing that they will
make the denomination OF the presi.
dent impossible. 1t Is equally cer<ain
that Senator Aldrich, supposed to be
the political representative OF the
Rockefeller group Of financiers, Is sup
porting Taft to prevent the possibil
lily Of Roosevelt's nomination.
Cannon Resented Change.
| II is also true that Speaker Can
non, when he learned that Aldrich
had Topped into the Taft camp, re-
marked that he would rather have
four years more or Roosevelt than
eight OF Taft, II the eight OF Taft were
! to be assured by such sacrifice OF
! Cannon and other anti-Taft presiden-
tial candidates. When Aldrich did
that and tried to stampede everybody
into agreeing to Taft, Speaker Can
non terminate the agreement between
himself and the Rhode Island senator
providing for the passage of the Aid
rich currency bill through the house
and practically went over to the side
of those who had been fighting the
bill. incidentally he thereby helped
to create situation from the clutches
OF which he is now trying to escape
by forcing the senate conferees to
agree to compromise currency bill
The Taft people claim that the
West Virginia delegates are under un.
breakable instructions and cannot with
out violating their words Of honor
supposed to have been given when
they accepted election as delegates,
vote for any other than the war sec
rotary. They deny that the assertion
that there is no Taft sentiment in the
state other than that which is coupled
with admiration for President Roose-
welt.