The Washington herald., 1908-01-20

Shrewd politicians who are closely
studying the Presidential situation are a
unit in the opinion that it is more mixed
and uncertain than ever before. The out
| come Of the Chicago convention is alto
gether problematIcaI, and predictions
made at this time are mere conjectures-
/ nothing more
The claims so industriously put out by
| the managers Of Secretary Taft-s CAM
paign are regarded as highly extravagsnc,
TO say the least. A press bureau main
taiued at Columbus, Ohio, and in active
| operation, already has nominated him on
! the second ballot
Il is disseminating alleged polls which
show him decided favorite, aud it IS
clearly the purpose to create stampeds
for him, if possible, at this time. But
! there are as yet no signs OF such stam-
pede. Local committees and Federal Of
hceholders who are keeping step with the
administration do not name the delegates
TO the national convention. and The facr
| that they are so vigorously whooping IL
Up for Taft does not indicate by any
means that the masses of the party ara
determined that he is the man to nomi-
nate.
! Opposition to ROoSeveItiSm.
The most significant change in the sit
uation is the unmistaIablc reaction
against Rooseveltism. This change began
/ 10 show itself when the business depres-
| SION set in, bu- did not become fully pro-
nounced until ar. Roosevelt issued his
second announcement that he would not
/ stand for reelection.
! Up 10 that time his forces had been
/ fairly well held in ine in spite Of uupro-
Piuous material conditions. but his gp-
| poneEts began 10 make decided headU8v
from that moment and are now confident
that Roosevelt cannot control the couven-
tion.
II IS the Judgment Of many Republicans.
including his warm personal friends and
admirers. that Secretary Taft is handi-
capped by the administrations support.
especially by the tactics employed 10 fur
ther his candidacy His fitness for the
Presidency is questioned in no quarter.
but it is not easily seen how he can
expect 10 win the Presidency with his
own State torn with irreconciIabIe dissen-
sions. and a growing resentment in other
/ quarters Of Federal Interference I'm the
contest The defeat of Representative
Burton for mayor Of Cleveland IS aseribed
not wholly 10 Tom Jobns0n's popularity.
but largely TO a natural protest ON the
l d ia trsla Of
the White House attempting to dictate
who the mayor Of that city should De.
New York and the West.
The situation in New York state is
most unpromising for Taft Apparently
the politicians there are not particularly
| enthusiastic for Hughes, bat he is strong
with the rank and file Of the party. and
the accommodating evidence OF hostility
toward him on the part Of the adminis-
tration Is not only weakening Roosevelts
( hold upon the State. but doing his can
didats an infinite amount Of harm
/ The state Of affairs In the West IS far
from reassUrIng- Republicans are even
questioning whether Ohio's electoral vote
can now be safely counted upon. More
men are out Of employment thm for
many years past. The negroes are in
mood to make trouble on account of the
/ Brownsville episode The labor vote IS
/ less friendly 20 the Republican party than
/ for some Years past These elements.
which are likely 20 affect the vote Of Ohio
in a marked degree. apart from the iu-
/ ternsl party dissensons. will be felt also
! in other States unless the candidate be
most judicioUsy chosen
CanuOn's Availability,
| Cannon. Fairbanks. and Knox are fig
uring more strongly IN the Presidential
equation than heretofore. All three OF
them are championed rs conservatives. al
though their supporters earnestly de-
nounce any allusion TO them as reaction-
aries
| Cannon. picturesque figure. and. IN the
minds of the masses. the last Of the Lin
/ coin type OF public men. is looked upon as
! possessing exceptionally strong qualities
as d candidate. His age alone is against
/ him. but with such a man as Hughes or
| Cortelyou. Of New York. on the ticket
as his running mate party men think they
! see d combination that would be all but
sure Of victory. II is notable I'm this con-
nectI0n that Cortelyou appears to have
| the call over Hughes for the Vice Presi-
dency. His close association with McKin-
| ley and Mark Hanna and the confidence
felt i'm him by the business interests of the
| East would insure a requisite campaign
! fund for such ticket. and this phase or
the matter impresses the practical poll
Jicians.
Fairbanks and Knox.
Vice President Fairbanks whose ability
no one questions. is discussed with more
general favor than q few months ago.
The report that his State is not solidly
behind him is said TO lack truth. on the
contrary. il is asserted that the Indiana
delegation viii 90 TO Chicago enthuslas-
tically and heartily supporting him. and
that he is more likely than any other
aspirant to receive the ultimate vote u
Ohio of which State he is a native
Pennsylvania Will present Knox and
press his candidacy with the utmost vigor.
His Identification with the railway policy
of the administration and his fine record
as Attorney General In handling big gov
m A