The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-04-13

With the Republican convention about
two months away. the contest in the
party for the control Of delegates is be-
coming red hot.
The progress made by the Taft forces
IS attracting attention, and already the
leaders Of the Secretary Of Wars faction
are beginning to be more vociferous in
their claims Of ultimate victory
President Roosevelt, whose slogan. IF
you don't take Taft, youH have to take
me- has had a marked effect in the
party struggle. is telling people that
Taft's selection is already assured and
that his nomination will be conceded BY
everybody by May ].
But there is a cloud on the brigbtnss.
of the Taft sky.
The methods used TO obtain sunnor. o.
the Secretary Of War have angered and
ehagrined old warhorses of the nartv
who' while willing TO admit Mr. Tafrs
qualifications for the Presidency. object
seriously TO the attempt Of Mr. Rocse.
welt to name his own successor the al
legged misuse Of the power Of appoin,-
ment to that end, and the campaigning
methods Of the Secretary to the dA,-,
ment OF the business Of the War Depsrt-
ment. 'io' :
Senator Hale. Of Maine. voiced tbe fos,
ing on this last count when he spoke in
the Senate last week on the sfraogent
pro'racted and necessary absence of the
Secretary OF War"
Think Huge Expense Tmnron..
Then there are those who sea a. -.
ment OF improperly in the expenditure =,
large sums OF money bv the Tat, ma.
asefheht for the maintenance OF expsn-
sive headquarters, the distribution of I,t-
erature. and the travel Of TAFT ennis
saries.
VI the other Republican candidates
Vice President Fairbanks. Sneaker c.
non, Senator Knox. Senator Foraker an5
Senator La Toilette are sticking close -
their legislative duties. wbna Co,
Hughes journeys are neither freopen+
nor protracted, whether they are ne,ss-
sary or not
1t is the opinion OF many prominent Re-
publieans that Mr.. Taft would strengtba,
his own position by resigning from tba
Cabinet and thus obviate the criticism,
that he remains nominally in the Presl-
dents official family mainly on account
| or the party prestige which comes from
this association with Mr.. Roosevelt
10 <.fF FaF-
to Mr.. Taft is giving his managers
more concern. however. than anything
else. and they are now beginning 70
disseminate literature 10 show that the Sec
retary Of War viii have the support
of both elements. They gave out a
statement last night to show that in
two Chicago Congressional districts
which have d large population OF negroes.
one district instructed its national con-
vention delegates for Taft and the other
left its delegates free TO vote for Taft
If they saw fit to do so. Editorials
from negro newspapers favorable to Mr..
Taft are cited also.
Chandler Makes Appeal.
William E. Chandler. former Secretary
Of the Navy. and former Senator from
New Hampshire. was out last night with
an Appeal for Senator La Folletts's
Nomination for President" Copies OF this
appeal were sent by Mr.. Chandler TO
candidates for the Republican nomlna-
ton To some OF these ne sent also. =
personal letter, not intended TO be made
public
In his appeal" which IS addressed
ITO the Republicans OF Wisconsin and
the West" Mr. Chandler asks support
of Senator La Toilette, "as the best
representative OF the radical railroad re-
form policy Of the Republican party,
which the present administration has de-
cided to abandon The adoption OF this
policy he says, viii be. in history, the
only great achievement Of that admin
istration-made even more prominent by
! the surrender thereof"
| Mr. Chandler then enters into a review
of interstate commerce legislation since
1857. He declares that the initial aban-
donment of the cause Of the people IN
volYed in the railroad-rate bill" has be-
come - complete abandonment in con-
nection with the Presidential contest Of
/ 1858.
Promise to Railroads.
The promise Is made, he asserts, that
| both the railroad-rate law and the sher-
man antitrust law shall be amended,
and thereby destroyed, in the hope TO
induce the railroads and the monopolies
to allow or advocate the election Of the
administration candidate for President"
Mr. Chandler quotes from the Presi-
| dents recent special message advocating
amending the antitrust law so as TO
allow combinations Of railroads. and in
| the course of his comment speaks of SIR.
Taft as the "ofHceholders' candidate"
and says that the administration has
surrendered completely 80 Senator For
akers argument. and if this new policy
Is to prevail. he (Foraker) should be the
! President to execute Il"
! Mr.. Chandler says. also:
THE Republican party organization IN
the South is 10 continue to be destroyed:
the eolored voters are to be excluded from
the polls ana from Republican caucuses
and conventions; the rampant labor
unions are to be eoncHiated upon their
own terms IS to the legislation and kind