The Washington herald., 1908-03-22

Campaign managers Of the field
against-Tsft. got together last night and
issued a statement which sharply ques-
tions the Hitchcock forecast Of Taft sue
cess, printed yesterday morning. in which
Il was claimed the Secretary would have
552 votes on the frst ballot
'Coneeding to Secretary Taft every
delegate Of which he has even the most
remote prospect" the statement read.
there cannot be mustered for Mr.. Taft
in excess Of 80 Of the 4sl votes necessary
TO nomination II was claimed that
this represents the high-water mark OF
the Taft boom
The Taft forces from now on must
fight for much Of what they get" It
was added and II is predicted that the
next thirty days VIII find the band wagon
unable 10 maintain its momentum. and.
therefore. in serious danger OF being
stalled
One month hence. it is predicted. the
field VIII have lead Of more than 10
votes and with 40 more it can control
the convention In reply to the claim,
that after the ''favOrite SON vote IS
given Taft viii be strengthened. the op-
position state that soft spots" In the
Taft column OF instructed delegates will
likewise give way.
Gives Him I2O Only.
The anti-Taft statement follows.
~Conceding TO Secretary Taft every del
egate OF which he has even the most re-
mote prospect. there cannot be mustered
votes necessary 10 q nomination The
campaign methods employed by the
friends Of Secretary Taft are so soiidify-
ing the opposition and 50 widely dissemi-
mating the belief that Mr. Taft. as can
didate. would be lacking in the elements
essential 70 a harmonious condition in
the party and the polling of all the avail
able party strength that this figure would.
under the most favorable conditions, rep
resent the hish-water mark Of the Taft
strength
THE figures Of the opposition show
that the largest number Of votes Il -
possible 70 claim as certain for Secre-
tary Taft az this time * f2e. more than
one-fOurth OF this number being from
Secretary Taft's own State. The opposi-
tiOn credits Secretary Taft with the FOL
lowing instructed delegates: Iowa. Il:
Kansas. IS: Oklahoma s: Missouri. =;
Ohio. q; the Philippines >; Tennessee. .:
Maryland. 4; Nebraska. "a; Virginia =:
New Mexico. >: total I26 The delegates
claimed for Fairbanks. Foraker. Cannon.
and Hughes number 80. with only one
favOTfte-sOn SIae heard from in largo
part-Indisna-and that not complete BY
four votes
His Best Foot Foremost.
The plans Of the Taft forces included
the early assembling OF conventions IN
States where Taft instructions we're a
certainty. The Taft forces from now on
must fight for much Of what they get.
and it is predicted that the next thirty
days wiz ind the band wagon unable 20
maintain its momentum. and therefore IN
serious danger Of being stalled
-'Of the conventions 10 be held during
the next thirty DAYS. the Taft managers
have reason 10 expect favorable results
in Arkansas. Rhode Island. Minnesota.
South Dakota. and Virginia. From these
States total Of fifty votes may. under
favorable circumstances. be rallied for the
Taft candidacy. bringing the Taft total
up TO approximately Is votes
During the same period Indiana will
add fou- delegates-at-large and the
States Endorsement 10 the Fairbanks
total The big vote or New York and
Illinois viii be- Joined 10 the fields total
Other States likely 10 resist Taft instrric-
tons during this period are Delaware
Massachusetts. Tennessee. and Nevada
One month hence. II IS confidently claim
ed the field viii have a lead OF more
than loo votes over the Taft forces. ami
in the States and Territories from which
delegates are 10 be selected during the
four weeks which viii intervene before
the close Of the period for the election OF
delegates on May ls. with the momentum
OF this majority and the favorable condI-
tiOns prevailing In the territory from
which delegates are to be elected. the
Taft candidacy viii suffer a serious and
probably fatal check.
Need Only 40 More.
The figures show that in addition 10
the votes now aligned with the field and
those from the favorite-sons' States. it
viii be necessary for the field 10 secure
only ia delegate votes in order 70 main
tain control Of the convention. In re-
spouse 70 the statement that there will be
many second-ehoice Taft votes in the
favOrite- son States. il is pointed out
that there are many soft spots in the
column of instructed Taft delegates-that
is to say. anti-Taft delegates with TAFT
Instructions.