Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-12
TO STOP The TAFT RAID
New England Congressman Form A
Combination 10 Defeat Him
THE PRESIDENT MAKES CLAIMS
MIR. Roosevelt Expects Taft to Be
Nominated on First eaIlot-Antl.
Tnft Men Get 10 Work and VIII
Clock Opponents Move.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1f.-Ons of
the callers at the White House today
reported that President Roosevelt
had expressed TO him the opinion that
Secretary Taft Will get more than 600
votes on the first ballot for the nomi-
nation for President at the Republi-
can National Convention at Chicago,
and Will there be nominated without
opposition.
This caller said the President told
him that for several weeks past he
has had little doubt OF the War Sec
retary's nomination. and within the
last month his strength has Increased
wonderfully
What seems to be perfect land
slide. according TO the Taft people,
has set In, and the President has
been assured that the sure votes
have passed the COO mark.
The large claims OF the Taft work.
crs have stirred up the opposition,
and especially Is this the case among
the New England Congressman. They
disagree cmphatIcally with the re.
ported opinion of the President that
TAFT will be nominated Oh the first
ballot. New England members de.
clared today that they are ready to
ropulsc the Taft raid on that sec.
ton. Tho news OF the creation of
an offensive and defensive alliance
was the talk OF the Capitol, and the
committee rooms and the corridors
buzzed with the plans of conflict.
The plan for the defeat OF Taft con.
templates the control OF Maine. New
Hampshire, Vermont Massachusetts
Rhode Island and Connecticut through
the sending of delegates without In.
structlons to the national convention
| IL has been possible 10 accomplish
this arrangement very quietly, the
anti'Taft people say. because the set
tied custom In this group of states
TO send their delegates 10 th,, con
vention unhampcred by instructions
This grows out of the belief that the
small delegations are only able Il
figure to advantage under this ar
rangement. The only time that thi.
plan has been departed from in re-
cent years was during the Mckinley
Reed contest
The plan adopted In New Englant
Is that contemplated throughout III,
country, and is in direct contrast t.
tho "brass band" and "moving.pic
lure tactics adopted by some of III,
Taft boomers. Behind the anti.Taf
movement are adroit leaders who's,
knowledge of political expediency ha,
placed them in the Senate. Durln,
the last week there has been notice
able activity on the part of Senator
Crane. of Massachusetts. TO proven
tho selection of delegates INSTRUCTED
LOT TAFT with New York for Hughes
pennsylvania for Knox. Illinois foI
cannon and Indiana for Fairbanks. ns
believes New England could lie ma
neuvered into an advantageous posi
ton. p'''
/ II delegations from any of tn,
states named are instructed for &S9
however. 1t would be impossible /,
stem the tide. They hope to get I'M
instructed delegations enough to ,holt
a conference of political leaders a
which the candidate of the part,
would be selected, and then force hi.
nomination. This candidate may h,
Hughes or Knox or Cannon. but 4
would certainly not he Taft.
Senators opposed to the selection O
iaft continue TO declare his nomina
ton "impossibIe" largely because o
the fact that he is the administrators
candidate. They are strongly agains
the President selecting his own sue
cessor. In fact, they are opposed 1,
the Presidents policies generally mr.,
nope to secure the nomination of ;
conservative candidate.