The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-05-12
REPUBLICANS
BADLY SCARED
BY ROOSEVELT
Scheme to Nominate Taft on
the First Ballot to Head
Off the President.
FORMER OPPONENTS OF
THE SECRETARY IN LINE
FAIRBANKS TO BE THE TAIL
ENDER AND CANNON PROM
ISED SPEAKERSHIP,

Washington, May 11.-Republican
leaders in congress are now working
earnestly on a plan to prevent any
break at the Chicago convention that
might disrupt party harmony and en-
danger success at the polls in Novem-
Der. Conferences have been held at
both ends of the capitol among such
men as Senators Aldrich, Hale, Allison
and Crane and Representatives Payne
and Sherman of New York, Tawney OF
Minnesota, Jenkins of Wisconsin, and
sYnlith of Iowa; i'm fact, meetings of
Small groups from this list have been
or almost daily occurrence for more
than a week. They have been directed
10 one end-a nomination on the first
ballot, by which they mean William H.
Taft. While no definite result has been
reached, they believe their efforts win
be successful.
Why They Switched.
Most of the men figuring prominently
in this movement were numbered
against Taft early in the campaign but
party policy and the necessity for har-
mony. which have been manifest in the
Republican ranks since the disastrous
results of the Blaine Conkling feud. has
awakened a demand that personal de-
sires be Subordinated to the will of the
majority. That the efforts of the group
of leaders back of the harmony move
sAent have not been barren of results
i indicated by the fact that to num-
Der of the conferences have been called
such men as Senators Hemenway, PEN
rose, Cullom, Hopkins and Depew, and
Representatives Parsons and Vreeland
of New York, Bouten and Mann of IL
linOis, Burke and DalzeH of Pennsyl- |
vania, Watson and Lands of Indiana !
and others who are backing the can |
didacies of Vice President Fairbanks. /
Speaker Cannon, Senator Knox or /
Governor Hughes.
Fear of Roosevelt.
No attempt is made to disguise the
fact that the real impetus to such /
concerted movement i'm the interest of /
Secretary Taft is the refusal of ROose- 1
welt sentiment 10 be snuffed out and 4
The danger of such sentiment spreadint, |
TO an extent that might be difficult to |
control at Chicago. At theasame tinle /
IL Is said the movement is not hostile |
TO President Roosevelt, who admittedly |
occupies the position of command in /
the Taft forces. He has made it per- /
fsfuy plain that nothing can come of |
the renewed calls for his denomination /
which have been made in Texas, Utah /
and California. as he is prepared to /
reject any prOffer of support no mat |
ter how extended.
Two Candidates Kicking.
The uttermost limit of endeavor of !
the Republican leaders who are striving |
to harmonic party differences is to |
eliminate all candidates for the nominal |
ton except Secretary Taft but it is not |
anticipated that all of the candidates
readily will agree to this proposition.
Supporters of Senator Knox particular
ly are said to oppose the plan and one
of the other candidates is holding out
so strongly that there is no immediate
prospect of agreement. At the same
time, there are leaders in Illinois. IndI-
ana, Pennsylvania and New York who
are parties to the movement with the
knowledge of the favOfite son candi-
oates from those states.
> Why Taft Is Selected.
The selection of Secretary Taft as
the beneficiary of harmony action is
made because of the fact that he is
the only candidate who has sufficient
instructed votes TO promise an early
nomination The argument of the har-
mony faction is that if Taft should fail
to secure the nomination on the first
ballot and the allies were able to hold
out dSdlSI MIN II WOULD mean a con- |
vention contest of many ballots These II
leaders have little doubt that in such
contingency the Roosevelt third term
sentiment would threaten a stampede
and though they have little doubt that
the president would not hesitate to
souelch any proposition looking to his
e-nomination. the effect of such a I
stampede can only be surmised. The
possible dire results upon the cam
paign for the election of the candidate,
Continued on PAGE 2,