The Owosso times., 1908-01-17
The Eighth District.
from the Saginaw Courier Herald.

that the eighth district congressional
convention, when it reassembles to
name delegates to the national Republi-
can convention, will re-affirm its pre-
vious action and again select J. w.
Fordney and E. o. Dewey. This will
mean recommending Joseph G.. Cannon
to the two district delegates as suita.
BILE candidate for president. There ap-
pears to be belief outside the district
that the first convention whose work
was rendered nugatory by the require
ments of the national committee call,
had instructed the delegates to vote for
Cannon. This is not true-the conven-
tion's action left the delegates unbound
and uninstructed. The resolutions on
the subject recommending the speaker
IS good presidential timber.
And isn't Mr.. Cannon fully that?
There are vastly more people than those
who live in the eighth Michigan dis
lrict who know him to measure well up
10 the requirements of the great office
and who favor his nomination. If the
party wants Republican of tried and
true metal, one who has stood square
npon the principles of the party for
many years without wavering and has
always exercised the courage of his con-
Victions without question from friend
or foe alike, it wouldn't make mis-
bob fha hNio oh Col tIa
Illinois man. The records prove him
abundantly qualified, as we'll as
thoroughly honest he is of and near
she people, with far longer experience
in public affairs than any man men
toned. He self.made and sterling
example of the sturdy and rugged busi-
ness man of the middle west. And he
rs absolutely staunch upon the most vi
tai principle of Republicanism-the pro-
tectiye tariff. So no one can question
his regularity or his availability.
The situation now gives no sure in
dication of who will be the nominee.
MIR. Taft is undeniab!y in the lead, but
he is yet far from majority. Twice
DIR Blaine was apparently much nearer
the goal than Mr.. Taft is now, and
saw his ambition deferred each time.
The same thing might easily happen in
the case of Mr.. Taft, especially when it
is considered that men like Cannon,
Hughes. Fairbanks, Knox, LaFollette,
Cnmmins, are going into the conven
tion with combined following of no
small proportions. In possible dead
lock. the convention might easily con-
slider the Importance of Illinois as a |
strong factor against such nominee as
Mr Bryan in the middle west, and !
surn to the speaker of the house who
has potential strength in every state
fhat the Republicans can hope to carry.
Thus the eighth district is within
reasonable scope of political tatics
when it recommends its delegates to
consider Mr.. Cannon's availability
when they get into the convention.
Those who are afraid somebody else
win be nominated and elected and thus
int off the districts influence in the
next administration need not worry
That influence cannot be any less, at
my rate, than it is with the present
me If appointments are meant 10y
influence. it's present quota may be
guickly enumerated without using
igures. But what actual influence a
district exerts is mainly
through its congressman's standing in
As house. Mr.. Fordney is on the ways
ND means committee, the most import
Mt and influential of the house COM
nittees He is in q position to be
ought rather than to seek. Whoever
, elected president, If Republican,
mder the circumstances will make no
h1srence with the congressman's work
. behalf of his district and for the
paicies that his constituents believe in. &
r.. Fordney vigorously opposed the
saban reciprocity tariff which was c
asnestIy advocated by President Roose
1T, because his district was against it. '
did not alter his relations with the {
nor his attitude toward ]
b other policies. Q
Mr.. Roosevelt likes fighter. So q
oes Mr.. Taft, and Mr.. Hughes is rath- 8
r Of the militant sort himself. If q
thor Of the latter should become pres
aeDt, Mr.. Fordney is diplomatic a
pough to take care of such a con. b
ngency. The fact that his district {
sksd it's delegates to consider the avail g
bilty of Mr.. Cannon as a presidential a
AndAJate would hardly make him per- G
pms non grata at the White House f
fter March A, 1909-especially as a
lsmher of the powerful ways and
aesns committee
Having taken the action it did last C
~. :.,e convention when it re-assem n
los can do no less than it has already y
ono without stultifying the district, a
od besides it would be unwise from an s.
,ternecine political standpoint to do
,lerwise.
Senator Burrows celebrated his list I
xthdav on tha OH and yyoa in rapaipt 1 II