The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-06
..PrnNrCroua AcrrvrrY.v

A few days ago. Mir. wardman. edi- tor of The New York Press, made speech in Utica, N. T., in which he spoke very plainly about the way the present administration Is trying to dominate Republican politics. He re- ferred to Mir. Roosevelt's denial that he is trying to force Taft on the party. but added:
 But the facts remain. whether it be by his command or against his de- is exerting all the power of the United states government to compel the Re- publican voters to take the nomination of MT. Taft. whether they want him or not.
 You will find a collector of the port, or internal revenue official. or a land agent. or a postmaster, or some other holder of government office. in state. North or South. East or West. You will find the Taft delegations headed by and composed of these Federal officeholders."
 The Press Is a Republican newspaper, and under ordinary conditions would probably support the Roosevelt-Taft combination. but it is a supporter of Governor Hughes and naturally resents the Presidents course. even though the latter refuses to admit that he is boosting his big Secretary.
 But while this might account for the opposition of the New York editor 1t does not apply to The Kansas City Journal. which is also a sound Repub- lican paper. It says there is nothing new in what Mir. Wardman says, so far as the West and Southwest are concerned. It calls attention to the fact that the Republican convention of Missouri was "an office -hoIdsrs' con vention," and that the same is true of most of the other States which have charges that the splits which have oc- cured in various Southern States were caused by the efforts of Federal of fice-holders to control the masses. Then it adds this comment, which is interesting. considering it's Republican source
 There can be no question but that the interference of the Federal office holders comes under the head of the "pernicious activity" which President Cleveland denounced and endeavored to prevent while he held the reins of government. There Is no question also but that this interference is inirnical to the best interests of the American people as we'll as to the welfare of the Republican party. It smacks too much unorganized masses of the party evidently felt that they hadn't much chance to overcome such an organized effort and so yielded in silence to the coercion of influence and authority exerted by the office-holding element. In the beginning of the campaign there was considerable diversity of choice as to the presidential candidates, but when the officeholders' machine. pre- sumably representing the wishes of the Federal administration, got fairly in motion those who preferred some other candidate than MT Taft, quickly the Taft bandwagon. evidently fearing punishment fin the future if they pur- sued any other course. Two promi- nent instances in point. here in Ms souri. were the chairman of the Re- publican State committee and the Mayor of Kansas City, who were orIgi- nally open and aVowed Fairbanks adherentS put WnO experienced a sud den change of heart when the Taft of- ficeholders' machine threatened to crush their future political aspirations. Before the canvass was over one of them at least became the loudest shouter in the Taft bandwagon. What was true of these men was also un- doubtedly true of many other Repub licans who entertained various prefer ences as to the presidential campaign.
 Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dweI together in