The Washington times., 1908-10-13

NEW YORK, Oct. 13.-A curious ele-
ment Of duality enters into the ma
tional campaign this year, the like Of
which has never appeared in a national
campaign 10 anything like the same de-
gree.
To all practical purposes, the Republi-
can party Is fighting to control two
electoral colleges, one composed Of 4s3
men, and the other of 3S6. The mem
bers OF the larger electoral college are
chosen by States; those Of the smaller
by Congress districts.
As rule almost unbrOken. these
/ TWO electoral colleges have been con-
Jroiled by the same party. The one
controlling the larger has almost uni
/ fOrmly controlled also the smaller body.
But this year there is new COndi-
I ton. The larger electoral college will
elect the first officer Of this Govern
ment. The smaller will choose the sec
cnd most powerful officer in the Ma
Lon7l Government-the Speaker OF the
House.
I.ere is a considerable feeling that
I the Republicans are asking control Of
| the Presidential electoral college on one
/ set of issues, and of the Speakershlp
electoral college on another. Mr.. Taft
and Speaker Cannon may be equally
| able to stand squarely on the national
platform, but the people at large don't
| believe IT, Mr.. Taft stands for the
Roosevelt policies. and nobody seriously
/ doubts IT, The Speaker is accused Of
/ having stood in the way OF those pol
icies a good many times.
The national committee is seeking
votes for Taft. The Congressional cam
palgn committee is seeking election OF
the Cannon electrical college.
Harmony Lacking.
There has been allegation from the
! beginning that they were not working
In harmony. II has been charged that
the national committee IS not able TO
get money. while the Congressional
committee has plenty. Certain it is
that no particular complaint OF hard
times has emanaJed from the Congress
siOnal committee headquarters.
A number OF nominees for Congress
Republican nOminees-haVe been forced
to pledge themselves not 20 suppc Il
Speaker Cannon for another term as
Speaker. Some others have been de
teated for denomination because they
considered too Intimately related to the
Speakers controlling regime. II is plain
that there is a Republican fight on can
non, and that among ms opponents 5fe
many people whose reason for opposing
| him IS conviction that he does no. rep
resent the policies which constitute
I their reason for supporting Taft.
There are few people who believe there
is serious chance of the Republicans
( carrying one and the Democrats the
I other of these two parallel electoral col
I leges. Yet there are some, and they in
| Clude some trained observers. The
/ greatest wonder Of the campaign-sec-
cnd to the apathy-is the force OF the
unti-Ca1nOn sentiment The Speaker
has been warned of a vast territory on
the ground that he would be sure to do
more harm than good. His indOrse-
ment is the particular asset which looks
/ Ike n liability just now 10 a large
proportion OF Republican Congressional
candidates. There are literally scores OF
congressman who stand under weight OF
L Fnf - Hrrnw fnHH
rendered and prominence achieved, who
would not for the world admit as much
| before their constituents, and who
would rather have anything happen