The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-09-25
Even Now Wise Ones Are
Thinking About PreSi-
dental Timber.
ROOSEVELT STILL
LOOMING UP BIG
Much Is Expected From Republican
Insurgents at Next Session
of Congress.
By JOHN SNURE.


sort Is getting every day to be more
and more apparent.
Every politician knows that the choice
Of a Presidential nominee doesn't walt
on the coming of Presidential election
year. 1t Is settled far in advance as
rule. At least. the lines begin TO shape
themselves long before the year OF nomi-
nation. And next winter and spring
and summer there is going to be lot
Of shaping up I'm progress. Some OF it
has already begun.
There Is a surprising lot OF discussion
of the question who is to be the nominee
OF the Republican party four years
hence. President Taft wants the nomj-
nation and expects It. His friends be-
lieve he will get it. and that he is going
TO have another four years after this
term has ended in the White House.
The present Western trip or the Presi-
dent. his 12.o90-mile swing around the
circle, is pretty generally understood to
be a fOrerunner of the campaign that
will he made to insure his denomination.
And, as things go in politics. there is no
question the man in the White House
las a distinct advantage in getting a
denomination. and the chances undOubt-
edly are I'm his favor.
Insurgent Republicans.
At the same time there are certain
other factors IN the situation, and it
is these factors that viii make the COM
ing session of Congress interesting, and
The next eight or ten months replete
4 with important political developments
one OF these developments is the in
surgent Republican move in the Senate
and House. This element was attacked
by President Taft in his WinOna, Mimi,
speech, and practically read out of the
party and now the word comes 10
washington that this element will be
extremely active during the next ses-
sion. and that its members, or some of
them, are doing some figuring on the
question OF developing a Republican
candidate Of their own In the middle
West
II is pretty clear that the insurgents
are not going 10 maintain particularly
close relations with the White House
next season, though they doubtless VIII
support a good many OF The things Mr.
Taft advocates. especially in the way
OF stronger railroad regulation and thc
regulation Of corporations. 1t is equally
clear tEat they will cast about for
some man who represents the insurgent
Republican view Already there Is
tax OF Beverage. Cummins, DolIiver,
and La Toilette II is not at all un-
likely the coming regular session will
! witness a movement toward centering
81 on some one Of these men, or one who
holds the same views as they on tariff,
railroad and corporation questions, as
81 the person 10 be pushed forward Tor
the 1872 nomination.
The Roosevelt Scare.
Then there is Theodore Roosevelt. The
ever-present question IN Republican
Presidential politics is what about him
IL is well understood here that the poll
teal leaders who are close 10 Mr.. Taft
are apprehensive over the return Of
Roosevelt He will come back 10 this
country next summer The question IS
whether he viii approve the aominlstra-
riou OF Mr.. Taft or disapprOVe II, and
whether he will after his return permit
his friends TO use him as Presidential
on this, one can get from wise men
offering views. II IS perfectly clear
that AIr. Roosevelt is going to get a
great reception on his return TO Ameri-
ca His old admirers are already plan
ming that. And some Of them are going
% urge him to let his name be used
for the 1912 nomination. What is he
going 10 do about it2 The friends OF
Sir. raft would like to know. SO would
the insurgents IN Congress. Some Of
the Western Republicans who are alOOf
i from President Taft ere not well dis
posed 10 the idea Of another term for
Roosevelt What they want ls "a man
from out Of the middle West. In &C
cordance with the advanced ideas Of
Repubicanism Is they see them.
Trouble for Taft.
A. things are shaping up now. they
are likely TO be found uufrendly to
the denomination of President taft and
also unwilling 20 see Roosevelt be made
tie nominee. IN other words an inter
estfng three-cornered situation Is likely
10 be brought about by the political
leaders who favor SIR. Taft another set
who want e. restore Roosevelt To- pow
er and a third set who feel that a new
man OF The progressive type from the
West should be picked.
II Is hardly 60 be believed that, iu
view OF the past relations OF Taft and
Roosevelt The latter VIII ever allow his
name 20 be used as a candidate against
fne present occupant or the White
House. But the Roosevelt admirers are
talking so freely about contingency or
that sort that the matter is being a
good deal discussed among the long
j headed politicians. II such a thing
should happen. there would be some
amazing lines drawn.
President Taft never has had the con-
fidenCe OF the standpat element Of his
party 20 any great extent, but that
element. Of course would support him
iu preference 10 Roosevelt AS for the
biz financial interests they would fight
Roosevelt tooth and nail and ~ 10 al
most any lengths 30 keep him from
being nominated, or. IL nominated. from
being elected on the other hand
Roosevelt would draw powerful radical
support from his party and outside OF il.
Everybody Kept Guessing.
As the situation now IS. II looks as If
everybody would be kept guessing until
the results Of Mr.. Tafrs Western trip
are more gully understood. until it is
demonstrated what the next session OF
congress viii do, until the country has
Lad chance more fully so pass judg-
rrent on tho workings or the tariff bill
and until the return Of Roosevelt from
Africa.