The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-15


f II of those instructed for their
candidate. making the number
OF pledged Taft delegates aggregate p
las, those delegates selected by con-
vention which adopted resolutions in
dorsing the Taft candidacy, without
actually instructing for him, being
regarded as pledged to the Secretary OF
War. or the thirty-four Taft delegates
chosen this week four will have to es-
tablish their right to seats in the con-s
vention. that right being contested. In
the Eleventh and Twelfth Missouri
Districts are contestinE delegations, in.s
structed for Hughes.
Probably the most interesting Incl
dent of the week in politics was the
development of strong second choice
sentiment for Taft In Illinois. evidenced .s
at the Peoria county convention. The
convention adopted resolutions indors-
ing Speaker Cannon for the presidency,
but added: "If 1t is determined by our
delegates that a citizen of Illinois cam
not be nominated for President then &
they are requested to give their support
to the Hon. William II. Taft"
Naturally enough this resolution
elated the Taft adherents. but it dill
not inject much ginger into the Cannon
campaign. Ii campaign it may be called.
Talk OF johnson by Democrats.
There has been some revival OF the
johnson boom. 1t was In bad way.
In fact. the state OF suspended anima-
zion in which 1t has been ever since
the last visit OF Mr.. Bryan to WASH
ington looked 50 much like death that
everybody thoughtful was absolute dis
solution. But recently the opponents
OF Mr.. Bryan have become quite active,
4 and they claim that there lis really Al
/ chance TO defeat him for the non,tna-
/ ton by pressing the claims OF Cover
Il nor Johnson. ~
i Democrats are not biting. It is alb
4 solutely impossible to find now man
/ who will seriously claim that there is
4 the remotest possibility OF comprising
! the nomination of any other than the
Il Nebraska statesman. and this without
| reference to the predictions Of the
/ man interviewed. Ii is regarded as
i absolutely settled that Mr.. Bryan will
/ be the next nominee. and. as stated IN
/ this correspondence a week ago. there
fare plenty of Democrats who are de-
/ cidedy more hopeful of a sweeping
| national victory this fall than ever they
\ were.
4 The President as Tariff Reforner.
/ Think of Republican convention be-
i ing asked to declare that the protective
\ tariff is the mother of trusts That is
/ what President Roosevelt, Secretary
4 Taft and Representative Theodore E.
Il BuIlOn, OIa OllO, WdlllsllI lIiS pldllOi III OF
i the recent Ohio State convention to de-
clare. There is little doubt that the
4 plank. as originally drafted came from
/ the hand OF the President himself.
4 That it was presented by Mr.. Burton.
j who has SO often acseo AS the spokes-g
/ man of the administration, Is strong
i evidence that the President gave 1t to Z
/ him in Washington before the Ohio
4 representative started for the conyen-G u
4 tion at Columbus.
Il 1t is known that the proposed plank
i created merry war in the resolutions
il committee. which finally knocked 1t
II out and substituted far less radical
declaration. with all reference to the
i Ilconnection between tariff and, trusts L
carefully eliminated.
The President's Plank.
4 This is the way the plank presented
4 by Mr.. Burton for the President and
Il liSecretary Taft read: (
I; We pledge ourselves to revts- E E
i ion OF the tariff at special ses-
4 sion OF Congress. to be convened 81
|. Immediately after the presidential
! election. to the end that the ine-
a qualities OF the present schedules Il
may be corrected, to the end that
American labor may have the ben
i fit, Of protection to an amount equal
q to the difference in wages here
and abroad, and that capital may
!. not have more protection than
such an arrangement OF schedules
!, would afford. to the end that the
,ffs further fostering of monopolles and
i trusts may be prevented,
: When Mr.. Burton proposed this Sec
attion. it is said to have set the commits
9l.tee by the ears. General warren
Keifer, former Speaker of the ational
J House OF Representatives, and now All
member OF the House, was q member
Of the Resolutions Committee, and
raised tremendous howl
II should like to know, he shouted
l"whether that plank is intended for q
Republican or Democratic PLATFORM
4 Continuing, he said that even IL 1T
. were true that the protective tariff wa s.
the mother OF trusts. 1t would III q be-s
> come Republicans to admit officially
! THAT that which their opponents had
: charged was true, and then ne entered
\ ,lupon a vigorous denial of the propost-
!. ton
!, !, Even Cussed Over IT.
) ~ want you to understand" he Is
-Ifurther quoted as saying, fright here
Z and. now, that the Republican party
!, never aas taken and never Will take
: its principles from a freas
4 trader" sgs ss
! While the Questionable feature of
"A the plank was ellnltnatsu, ~ iiuss hot-
(. be thought that a majority OF the
J. committee was not composed OF tariff
Irevisionists. They simply thought With,
a General keifer that it would be unsviseS
Ito formally declare the protect We tariff
al the mother of trusts, even thou 81
9 Ohio's "favorite som, candidate Tor the
Z presidency does think SO. and wantedf
= his State platform to say 50.
J. ~ All of which shows the wisdom oe
: (Coa;inued on Second PaEe.l