The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-03-05

: tic friends, and he realizes that
nowhere could he SO effectively block
a movement OF that sort as he could
right there on the ground. However,
that is not the chief motive that
will actual, the president II he ue-
cides to 60 to Chicago.
In national convention there are
great opportunities for playing cor
rupt politics; perhaps not so much In
the convention as In the preliminary
work OF the national committee. 1t
has been demonstrated that there are
TO be many contesting delegations at
Chicago; and from the present lineup
these contests will be between Taft
delegates and anti TAFT delegates.
The determination Of these contests
rests with the national committee,
and it is believed bY not few exper-
fenced politicians that the republic
can national committee, will have IL
in its power at Chicago to actually
swing the convention by deciding
these contests fairly or unfairly.
There will be. no lack Of inducement
Of a financial sort, for the ''in-
which are opposed TO Roose-
welt and to any man committed TO
his policies, will be on hand with
big barrel, aid any committeem
who Is willing to sell out will no
doubt be able TO get the price.
President Roosevelt is not such a
novice at politics as TO be unmindful
of the true situation, and IL he goes
to Chicago, 1t will be his main aim
to prevent the buying up OF a major.
ity OF the national committee for the
sole purpose OF gaining control of the
Any such deal as this
would have to be put through hur.
rledly, and the price of votes would
be high, but the 'reactionaries"
would not stop at cost II they could
only get control Of the committee
aud thereby get control OF the con-
vention.
To block any such game would re.
quire a strong man and an alert one.
Probably there Is no man but Roose
welt who could expose aud block such
a deal, IL 1t should be attempted.
The presidents attendenance at the
convention Is dependent almost en-
tirely upon whether or not the situa-
tion is such Us to make possible the
OF such gigantic po.
liuical fraud as has been outlined.
1t may be that before convention
time Taft, or some other safe candi-
date, one beyond the reach Of the re-
will have enough pledged
votes to nominate him. The presi-
dent has all along favored Taft, and
still favors him. and hopes that be-
fore the convention assemblies Taft
will be safe beyond the reach Of the
opposition, so that 1t will he useless
to quarrel over the contesting dele
cation, but If Taft Is lacking in
votes, and the balance of power rests
with the contesting delegations,
fraudent means are undertaken TO
seat the anti.Taft delegates, the
country may expect to see the presi'
dent on the scene. III he goes he
will not In any sense undertake TO
dictate to the nationasl convention
nor will he oppose the seating OF hon
estiy elected delegates. but he will
make his presence felt II the reac'
tionary leaders undertake to buy Out
the committee, and then seat thu
anti-Taft delegates, regardless OF thu
merits OF the varions contests. Tit
president is aware that there will b.
some contests bought on Legitimate
grounds, and such contests he is will
ing shall be decided on their merits
but he does not propose to hay'
wholesale contests brought before TIL
committee for the sole purpose o
unseating honestly chosen delegate
who happen to be favorable TO or In
structed for Taft. 1t is not recalled
that any president ever before at
tended rational convention, but /
has been shown so many times tina
Mr.. Roosevelt cares little or nothing
for precedent. He began breakinl
over unwritten rules In the preiden
tial Office soon after he entered tn
White House, and 1t would not b
surprising TO establish a new preee
dent before the couventino. Tb
fact that other presidents did not at
tend conventions is not, In his mind
sufficient reason why he should at
sent himself II he believes scanda
Gus deal Is to be perpetrated In th
republican party, and the countri
when he knows full well that by a
tending the contention In person
and making a red-bot speech at tf
proper moment, he could overtui
such a game as Is contemplated
the corporation crowd.
The president has suspicion tn
Senator Bourne, Of Oregon, and son
of his followers will probably after
the convention In some capacity. al
undertake to stampede the delegat
OF the Roosevelt banner. The chan
OF such a move Is another reas
Why the president thinks 1t may
| aa.csrarv for him IN on tn Chieap