New-York tribune., 1910-12-03
Mr.. TAFT CONFRONTED
BY CRAVE SITUATION
Will Be Asked to Decide with
Which Element in Party
He Will Stand.
ALL TO APPEAL TO HIM
"old Guard" Extremists VIII
Urge Him to Denounce Roose-
welt, While Progressives VIII
Give Opposite Advice
From The Tribune Bureau J


washington. Dec "A political situa-
ton Of the gravest import confronts me
F7en,h1icar rarrv and President Taft as
is titular head Within the next few
6avs A1r Taft will be called upon 10
make g decision which viii have mo-
rnenrous effect on the elections Of 191Z'
and probably on the future of the party
Tor many years 10 come. on these facts
practically all the influential members OF
the PARTY in Washington are agreed but
f,evond them the divergence Of opinion
Is wide
Republican politicians are returning
II Washington divided into three camps
tie members OF each OF which are con-
adent that on the adoption OF their
views derends the future welfare Of the
party. Two. ar least. Of the factions
look q the President for leadership
They recognize that their differences in
the past have led only n defeat. and
they. recognize the necessity Of a strong
and firm hand at the hahn Practically
al are dispirited and downhearted. and
would welcome militant leadership even
along lines which did not wholly con-
form 20 their views.
Within the next few days President
Taft viii receive advice from TWO Of the
factions and doubtless from the third
= he gives Il the slightest encourage
r7ent Or indicates that advice from that
source would be even patiently received.
The Plea of TIE "old Guard"
The frs: of these factions is composed
of the extreme stand -patters. popular
Y known IS the Cannon Aldrich
crowd" These men have already ar
ranged for a conference with the Presi-
dent. They win assure him that future
success for thc party can be achieved only
icy returning to the policies and methods
which preceded the first term Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt: that the Republican
party must resume its former place IS
the conservative force in the affairs OF
the nation. must make evident It's de-
termination to turn resoluteIy against the
new natIonaIisnl' and everything in
harmony Herewith. must retrace its
steps. make clear its intolerance Of in
Surgencv and al that il represents and
depend en- tie same forces ard elensn-S
which rallied 50 strongly TO the support
Of senator Hanna in the campaign Of
7SaS. and which. they assert, under such
conditions vou3d aeai1 render equally
1ov2I and substantial support 10 the Re
publican party
To this end II viii be urged by these
representa- tives of the old guard that
tie President should select as chairman
or the Republican National Committee
2 politician ef the old school, one whose
cuisines. relations and affiliations viii IN
themselves constitute IN assurance 10 the
solid business interests of the country
that they have nothing 10 fear from
economic vs2aries in the Republican
marty and that. on the contrary. their
interests VIII be Ear safer If intrusted to
the Republicans than + left 10 the tender
uarries of the Democrats
Thrz- viii seek 20 impress on the Pres
1dent The inpossibility Of looking To the
Insurgents for anything approaching
-osal support. VIII endeavor 70 play on
Mr. Taft's distaste for certain of the
personal characteristics of the insur-
gents. and win assure him that in re-
turn for the adoption OF their views ne
can depend on their loyal support for
aU of has legislative programme which
il * possible to enact at the coming ses-
SION. although they viii be compelled to
acknowledge that at best little of i'm
r7ortance car he enacted. That these
-5-zy= are received at least with consid-
,ration i5- some members of the Cabinet
i- confidently asserted 10y those who es-
rouse them.
The more extreme members Of this
faction viii urge on Mr.. Taft the ad-
visibility Of openly denouncing Mr..
Foose II as a dangerous force in the
Tzeur7l.ljcan rarty. one who is subveT-
eive of all that the party has stood for
in the uast and who. II permitted TO
exert further influence in the party
councils. viii cause a defeat even more
serious than that of November :
Procrcseives Take Opposite View
The second faction which viii seek 70
irl1rees lis views on the President takes
: ros5ti,,n almost diametricaIly opposed
70 thai az the old guard II is com
I..se,i- Of the moderate Insurgents, the
more progressive Of the --oId guard" and
- rorlsiders. ble number OF Senators ana
REPRESENTATIVES who have in the past re-
trained SO far as practicable from ally
inc themselves with either faction, al /
.housh they have generally voted with /
TIE majority.
Tie 1Iew taken by this faction, which /
may he properly Styled The Progressive
clement. Is that the future welfare of the /
Irarty depends on its following along the /
lfncs Of the last administration. aDpro- /
jriating ali that is best in the new ma
1ionalisn and accepting for the party /
the place of ihe Progressive force IN the /
affa5rs Of the nation. Thus. they argue, I
the administration can compel the sup /
por1 of al sincere insurgents. whether or I
rot il feels warranted in going 70 the /
lengths they advocate. Thus they in /
sist the Democratic party viii be forced /
20 accept the alternative position, 20 /
align Itself with the business interests. /
a2d By SO doing to ALLEVIATE the support /
If & great number Of voters who are to- |
ca sincere. if misguided. followers Of
she Democracy
These Would-be advisers Of the party
chieftain viii contend that Colonel
Roosevelt is an asset rather than a
liability: that il would be the height of