Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-07-06
REVOLT AGAINST TAFT
Steam Roller Methods Anger Old
Line Republicans.
DEFEAT AT POLLS PREDICTED,

Aroused Bitter Antagonism to thu
White House Pet - Why Senator
Crane Visited the stockyards-0reat
Statesmen, Past and Present.
BY WILLIS J. ABBOT.
Out of the Republican national con-
vention have come many heartburnings
and many political antagonisms. The
heavy hand and the iron heel with
which the Taft forces in the national
committee crushed down all opposition
in the convention aroused antagonisms
that will amount to something serious
In the campaign yet to come. In Chi
cago two great mess meetings Of ne
groes, attended by all the colored dele
gates who were thrown out of the con-
vention, have already been held. and
resolutions denunciatory not merely Of
Secretary Taft, but Of President Roose
welt as we'll. were adopted. The so
called allies, Foraker. Fairbanks. Dick.
Knox, Crane and Cannon, the most
eminent names in the Republican party
today save that Of Roosevelt himself.
entered the convention with a feeling
of despair and left 1t in nowise COM
forted. To what extent this feeling Of
hostility may be mitigated or amelio-
rated during the campaign 1t Is difficult
now to estimate. The Republican party
has singular knack Of getting togeth-
er toward the end Of the campaign.
But one of the senators mentioned
above-never mind which one-in con-
versation with me admitted that he
cared as little for Roosevelt as he did
for Taft, but that he had fought for
Roosevelt because he believed that the
president could win and had fought
against Taft because he believed there
was not n single chance for the secre-
tary's victory. Said he: I'VE do not
care for Roosevelt personally. AS
matter Of fact, we dislike him. But the
Republicans in the senate, the old
guard, would rather have Roosevelt in
the White House than a Democrat,
whoever the Democrat might be. At
beast with Roosevelt there might be
some shreds Of patronage left to us.
while with Bryan We would expect
nothing whatsoever" This utterance is
typical Of the attitude of most of the
allies at Chicago. They did not believe
that Taft could by any possibility be
elected.
Senator Cranes Little Joke.
Just in the middle Of the very Wig
orous operations Of the Taft forces in
the national committee for the oblitera-
ton Of all the anti-Taft delegates who
had come as contestants Senator Muir
ray Crane delivered himself of wit.
ticism which. though not yet printed.
has caused laughter in all political cir
Giles in Chicago. Crane was one Of
the leaders Of the anti-Taft movement.
Meeting at a Chicago club the head of
the great Swift Packing company.
Crane said: Swift. l wish you would
take me out to the stockyards. l want
to go through your plant" "What
for?' asked Swift. ut isn't very
pleasant sight. and you are no ordinary
sightseer." "Oh." said Crane III his
mild and somewhat insinuating way.
al would just like to find out whether
you fellows out there can equal in
scientific butchery what has been done
to us who came to Chicago expecting
to get fair hearing before national
committee even though we did oppose
the White House and its pet" Per-
haps the story isn't literally true.
Senator Crane did not tell it to me.
But I happen to know that he did go
to the stockyards with Mr.. Swift and
returned wearing very thoughtful
air.
David 3. Hills Swan Song.
Men once great often pass into the
period Of pettiness. Twenty years ago
David Il. Hill might fairly be regarded
as big man, an able man, though not
altogether great man. He never rose
TO the point of true greatness. But If
he was rightly quoted by the New
York reporters on the eve of his sail
Sng for Europe he must have descend
ed even from the heights which he
reached to the lowlands from which
he rose. Mr.. Hill deplored the de-
cadence of the Democratic party.
which, by the way, was never more
nnited and militant than it is today.
He grieved over the disappearance Of
the giants" apparently CHASING him
self as one Of them. He attacked Mr..
Bryan bitterly, which, Of course. was
to have been expected. But he wound
up with the most remarkable encOmi-
aim upon Governor johnson that could
possibly have been imagined by any
mind. Space will not permit it's quo
tation in full. In effect. Mr.. Hill de-
cIared that it was u great thing that
Governor johnson had been brought
up in a poorhOuse and said. think
what the effect would be upon the
masses Of the people Of great torch
2ight procession bearing banners in
scribed, johnson. the Poorhouse Can
rdidatev"
TO ME it is almost incredible that
even at this day Mr.. Hill should have
been guilty OF such bad taste and
worse politics. To begin with. Governor
johnson was not brought up in poor
house, but was rather self supporting
member Of IN unfortunate family, and.
Furthermore the time has gone by