The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-09-26
Republicans In Desperate
Need of Forceful, Deter
mined Commander.
MAN WHO CAN QUIET
FACTIONS DEMANDED
CampaignerS Bewail Fact That
President Is Not
Politician.
By WAITER ]. FAHY.

By WALTER J. FAHY.
CHICAGO, H., sept "a party lead
er- man who Is big enough to com
mand the Republican party forcetuily,
with determination, and TO exact har-
mOny between the factions. This is the
sum and substance Of tie cry which is
being heard from every section Of the
country II IS eChoing Ioudest around
the Republican Congressional Commit
tee headquarters The need Of such a
man Is being felt everywhere the alb
sence Of such a man is proving ire
mendous handicap and is serious men
ace TO party success at the polls next
November.
Take Indiana. for instance. The Re
publicans in the Hoosier State are per
sisteEtly and deliberately working at
cTCsc purposes Personal spite and per
sOnaI Jealousy are placed above party
success. Confidential reports rom Iowa
arc TO the effect that the men most
prominently identified with the Star.d-
pat element in the Republican party are
doing their utmost TO have their follow
ers vete the Democratic ticket This
campaign TO undermine the wing II rne
party controlled by Senators Doliver
ane Cummins is expected to send tho1s-
a-uS Of Republican votes to the DemO-
Gratis This state Of affairs IS known
To the Republican officials here, and il
Is so well known TO the managers o.
the. Democratic campaign committee
that they are counting on gaining sew
eral Congressman in Iowa-not because
the Democratic party in that state IS
growing stronger, but because the Dit
terness among the Republicans is be
coming SO intense that an outlet gill De
found in voting the Democratic ticket
In Many States.
These situations are not BY any means
peculiar 20 Indiana and Iowa. but they
are more acute in those States than
anywhere else with the possible excep-
ton Of New York. The Democrats had
expected TO make gains in the Congress
slOnal districts in New TOrk-that ex-
pectatiOn was based on conditions which
were in no way connected with the row
kicked Up by Colonel Roosevelt on the
one hand and the Reconnaissance
Woodruff combination on the other
The price Of that row, however. IN the
opinion OF the Democratic leaders, viii
be the loss Of more Republican seats in
Congress than they had originally
counted upon, and IN a degree at least.
this view OF the situation Is accepted
by some prominent Republicans
II is generally accepted as a fact that
President Taft Is not a good politician
No better illustration Of what is meant
BY political bIunderE emanating from the
Presidents office can be furnished than
bv referring 10 President TafJ's letter
announcing that patronage would be
restored % Insurgents There Is not
Republican OF prominence m chicago
but will declare with the utmost emDha-
sis that the letter never should have
been made public, and IL IS not difficult
20 get al the bottom Of their argument |
IN support of that statement
Boost To Democrats.
Coming as il did on the tail OF the
Democratic success in Maine. the letter
proved especially harmful 1t was inter
preted- rightly OF wrongly, as an evf- !
dence that the President was genuinely I
Trishteued about the proba biIity Of /
Democratic success next November /
The importance Of the concession to the I
insurgents has been greatly exaggerated /
and the manner Of announcing the 4
restoration Of the patronage IS r-sPcns- I
ibIe for the eXaEgeration-
The Presidents letter has given the I
matter q national aspect His decision /
TO reCeGe from his previous decision was
proclaimed beneath big headlines. and /
where the policy had heretofore been a !
subject of contention IN communities its {
rejection as TI-adv7Snd became a tonic
Of national considera ton and a a time
when discussion OF the subject was eS- /
pecislly harmful because II has given /
the impression that the President recog- /
nizes that the Republican party is in 4
desperate straits
Tt IS undoubtedly a fact that the Con 4
ETeSSiOnal fight Is 50 extremely close !
- this time that neither side Is in a 4
ROSIJlOn 10 claim the next House The I
gSonsressional situation throughout the /
country IS described by one prominent /
Republican as similar TO a great con-
vention which Is una bic to agree upon a /
candidate. but which is in prime condi-
ton for stampede. AS the situation
presents itself today the lines are tight
" drawn and the strain on the Repub-
liCan party Is greatest because II Is on .
the defensive.
Await Developments.
II there IS TO be a Democratic land
slide next November there is no visible /
evidence of such u state of affairs,
either at the Republican headquarters I
or at the Democratic headquarters. Fol
lowing out the smile of the RepubH-
cans, however. il viii not take much 10 /
break the TAFT lines. If the voters at I
large get an idea that this is q Demo
cratic year there viii be a great Scram-
bic 20 get on board the band wagon. \ /
IeW more incidents Ike the Taft inSuT- /
sent letter, say Republican leaders and /
the country viii get the idea that the
president IS adopting desperate methods
VIII begin the stampede OF the bows who (
are looking for political straEs on which /
they can float into the Il told you So
brigade.
It : believed that even at this late
cate FEeSloenL TART could go far In 4
aiding the Congressional CAMPAIGN if N
he set a bout 10 do il effectively and n
without fear OF iujGring the feelings
OF any Of the factions TO be JeaIt II
with
It is believed here that President n
Taft should at once 20 into conSu1fe
ton with the Republicans who have
an Intimate acquaintance with the N
conditions throughout the country II
Tt is more than probable that when II
the President assemblies with his Cab IN
met in Washington in few davs III
the real situation viii be presented II
10 him and that ne -iII be asked TO n
assume the leadership OF his party N
In all that the term implies That II
there Is A pitiful lack Of cooperation Il
and team work IS evident on every n
hand and unless K IS remedied al the II
earliest possible moment the neglect n
- more than likely 70 result in dis
REtar n the Rgnuhlig2u