The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-16
WIDF0RROOSEVELT
WESTERN FARMERS ENTHUSIASTIC
 ABOUT PRESIDENT.
They Would Like To See Him Nomi- mated And Taft is Secomd ChOiee--COmvehfion Will
 Be Divided,

the district conventions held out West for the election of delegates to the Chicago Convention the sentiment for Roosevelt and Taft is very strong, and that the Republican masses seem dis posed to stand by them almost to the
 A well known Republican who hap pened to be. in a Missouri town when convention was held says that the delegateh sand speetators were chiefly
 T neyer saw, anything like the faith these people have in President Roosevelt and Secretary Taft" said this Republican. s They do not seem to take any stock whatever in the other Republican candidates for the presidency. Apparently they believe that If Taft is not nominated the poli- cies of this administration are to be cast aside, and the ombinations favor able to Wall Street will get the upper hand in national affairs.
 Their real choice for President is Roosevelt himself While most of the men I talked with seem to take Roose- welt at his word and have about reach ed the conclusion that he cannot be in- duced to accept another nomination quite percentage cling to the hope that some contingency may arise at Chicago to force his nomination, and that would suit them better than the placing of Taft at the head of the ticket. But If they cannot get Roose- welt they surely prefer Taft over Can non. Fairbanks, sKnox. Foraker or La Toilette.
 'eThat Missouri convention adopted iron-clad instructions for the guidance of the delegates they are to send to Chicago. Their orders are virtually to vote first, last and all the time for Taft. Apparently they will not be satisfied with any other man"
 Information similar to this comes from Michigan. Minnesota and Western States. But in all those named 1t is known that attempts are being made to prevent instructed delegates from being elected.
 2 Taft sentiment Is so strong that the conventions organized for the selection of delegates at large will be con- trolled by the administration forces. and if any delegates are secured by the opposition they will be in districts not gagged by the unit rule. q. 5 Although the leaders of both factions in Tennessee are credited with being in favor of Secretary Taft's nomination the prediction is made here by poli- -ticans who belong to the Fairbanks Cannon-Knox combination that there is no certainty that the Secretary will have a solid delgation from that state. Of course, they will not explain how this ia to be accomplished if the Ten nessee Republicans in their State Con- vention adopt the unit rule and i'm struct the delegation to vote solidiy for Taft
 Tn figuring on what Is likely to hap pen in the South the politicians regard Tennessee as less likely to have double delgation at Chicago than any cJ1.. oNl Ii. .a- coincide, however. with the view of Ex-Congressman John c. Houck who was recently here. His idea is that the capers of the Federal officeholders and the Republican bosses will certainly result in two delegations.
 It seems to be generally conceded now that the Republican National Com mittee is antf-Taft by a comfortable working majority. At any rate this sort of news has been sent South by those who are trying to encourage eontesting delegations in every instance where the State conventions are domi- mated by the referees and Federal of- ficeholdeHs. This will be a mighty ad- vantage for the anti-Taft crowd at Chicago for the committee will make up the temporary roll, and unless the big Secretary can muster 401 undis- puted votes in that gathering at the start his managers are going to have a terribly stormy time in the Windy City.
 The Taft supporters laugh at this writing at the statement that there is the slightest prospect of tangling up their man. Their claim Is that he is going to have a clear majority that cannot be disturbed by any possible manipulation on the part of hostile national committee.
 Rather a good one is being told in political and legislative circles on Secretary Taft and his Southern man. ager, young Mir. Hitchcock, who is to quit the government service to whoop 1t up for Taft
 Hitchcock did not know until ten days ago that the National Committee had the power to make up the tenn poraTy roll of the convention. Secre- tary Taft is reported to have been under the delusion that the new com mittee to be named at Chicago would attend to that business.
 Some lively work is understood to be going on with a view of having the negroes turn out all over the South and demand their right to vote at primaries or conventions called for the purpose of choosing delegates to Chicago. This is regarded as a direct move against Taft.
 Although the Taft boomers claim that Foraker and Dick have been squelched in Ohio the fellows do not admit 1t, and the latest rumor is that even from Buckeyedom there may be two delega- tions to Chicago. It is at least known in Washington that the Foraker- Dick combination is ready for trouble, and they may yet have the excuse to or- ganize a bolt. especially if too many officeholders take part In the coming state convention.
 Senator Foraker does not concede that he has been cleaned out in Ohio, but most people who have looked into the situation out there say it eer- tainly looks that way to them.