The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-08
Count of Delegates
Shows TaftStrength

The Presidential situation is summar-
feed to date i'm the accompanying ig-
ares They are neither Taft nor anti
Taft but the best statement Of the
situation that can be made at this time,
on the basis OF reports received since
abe election of delegates began.
The statement as made up by the
Taft people, however, reads thus;
For Taft, 10. of which sixteen are
contested. leaving ninety-four surely
Tor Taft
For Fairbanks. twenty-siz instructed,
SDeing the Indiana votes.
For Cannon, two in South Carolina,
(Which are contested.
Uninstructed, four in Alabama; con-
tested. eight in Florida, two in Ohio.
ana two in Missouri.
The discrepancies are accounted for
by the anti-Taft people-On the claim
that the Taft people are claiming as a
certainty for their candidate number
of votes which will be cast by delegates
named IN conventions that adopted
friendly resolutions. but did not instruct
1t is insisted that a number Of delegates
in this position are known TO be at this
time opposed 10 Taft
The discrepancies are not important
however; rather. they suggest that the
opposing interests are keeping tabs
closely, and that differences are not
great.
Only two OF the "favorite son" States
lhave held their conventions thus far
Ohio and Indiana. Illinois for Cannon,
New York for Hughes. Pennsylvania for
Knox. and Wisconsin for La Toilette,
are still to come in and to place their
favOrites in the tabulatiOn.
Fight in New England.
whereas week ago Taft looked
much ike the winner, and the oppOsi-
ton was discourag ed and disconnected,
today there is at least a strong argu-
neut as to the outcome. Two impOr-
tant things have happened during The
last few days. The opposition has
pulled itself together as a result of
developments in New England, and still
has hope of making an effective fight.
Senator Crane has squarely come
out IN Massachusetts against instrUc-
lions for Taft, and explained that ne
doesn't believe the present conditions
Justify the state in departing from
its traditional attitude of hostility 20
instructions. This has given the oppo-
siticn more heart for q fight In New
England,
The situation IN the South. according
to the opposition. has been brighter for
that interest since the selection OF
Governor Bradley as Senator from Ken
lucky. He is expected 10 have power
fuI influence in determining the lineup
Of the kentucky delegation; and as
the only Southern Republican Senator,
he will also be very influential in de-
termiuing the Anal course OF delegates
rraT4fff oh aFs G1eaHHfn .s9sF
States.
New England and the South are be-
coming manifestly the seats Of the real
struggle. Secretary TAFT has invaded
Massachusetts and made an excellent
impression. Senator Crane viii have
the dght of his life from all accounts to
keen his state from instructing for
Taft. and in any case a Iayge proper
tjon of its delegates Will be friendly to
the Ohioan as first choice.
The Hughes boom has disappointed its
friends In the last month. II has failed
10 gather strength in any important
Quarter. II is conceded New York and
NAV get New Jersey. Some strength
e boned for IL New England. but what
ever Is kept away from Taft there Is
expected TO be rather uninstructed and
of independent force, instead Of Hughes
support In Vermont the death OF Sen
ator Proctor and the injection of con
test for the Senatorial succession has
come as a factor 10 add conflicting am
billions, Vermont commonly goes witt
New York.
Power in Middle West.
Secretary Taft has been proving his
claim 10 paramount strength in thu
Middle West In Missouri he has done
all that his friends had hoped. and ha.
overcome the contest which the oppo-
sition long insisted would divide the
State pretty equally. In Kansas he has
swept everything in sight thus far. an5
in Nebraska he has not only secured
an four of the delegates thus far named
but carried the first district, in which
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