Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-18
OUT FOR 1912 NOMINATION
Issue Between Republican Factions
Clean Cut, Is New York Opinion.
CLASH TO COME AT SARATOGA
Party Leaders Convinced That Bat
tie Is Shaping Between Taft and
the Ex-President.
Special From q Stan Correspondent.

tion conveyed in, these dispatches last
week OF the likelihood of Col. Roosevelt
jumping the reservation and taking the
insurgent war trail seems probable OF
earlier fulfllment than was predicted
The turning down of Roosevelt by the
state committee probably has served te
precipitate the crisis.
1t is very clear now that Roosevelt
invited the defeat he suffered. His mo-
tive was the same which impelled Pincho'
to force President Taft to remove him
from office. Roosevelt now taunts the
old guard with the high cards played
into his hand.
Every republican politician Of promi-
nence in New York is convinced that
Roosevelt is out for the nomination In
1912, and you cannot argue them out
Of that conviction. They expect him
to begin his campaign practically on
his first trip west, next month.
Republicans of prominence here be-
lieve there is to be clean cut hght
between the progressive-insurgen fac
ton on one hand and the conservative
element of the party on the other, with
Roosevelt leading the progressives and
the administration standing for con.
servatism.
First Blood at Saratoga.
First blood will be drawn in the New
York state republican convention
There can be no mistaking the align
ment, for it has been stated withir
twenty-four hours by two men speak
ing authoritatively.
Col. Roosevelt yesterday in a formal
statement declared for "clean-cut
progressive platform"
Vice President Sherman, after his
visit to Beverly yesterday, announced
with decision that 1t would be
..cIean-cut republican platform.
There is the word with the bark on
it, The veriest child in politics knows
the difference between Vice President
Sherman's views and Theodore Roose-
velt's.
Tne actual difference, as expressed in
the English Language. will be set forth
in the majority and minority reports OF
the committee on resolutic>s al the
convention.
Already there is a noticeable stiffenine
up OF courage among the conservatives
and renewed spirit OF aggressiveness
among the progresEives. Vice President
Sherman's visit TO Beverly Is TO De toi-
lowed by letter from the President 70
some member OF the House in the nature
or an argument for the election OF : re-
publican House of Representatives.
Taft Letter to Be Conciliatory.
/ have reason to believe that the letter
to be written by the President will be
conciliatory toward all factions Of the
party, cannot be termed reactionary In
any respect, will point out that the ad-
ministration and Congress nave acted
along progressive lines, out Will make II
clear tnat endorsement of the admlnistra-
tion and the Congress is expected.
This letter will outline the policy upon
fought. Col. koosevelts hearty co-opera-
ton in the election of a republican House
would be gladly welcomed, but II 1t can
not be obtained-why, the campaign will
nave to worry along as best 1t may with
out him.
An Interesting report was published here
today that Roosevelt thinks President
TAFT has made plans to capture the New
York delegation in 1912, through some
kind of understanding with woodruff, the
present state chairman. A great many re-
publicans here think that there may be
some foundation for that report.
You may recall a dispatcn l sent last
week, stating that Woodruff's retention
of the Craftsmanship was agreeable to
President Taft, notwithstanding the fact
that the President had been party to the
effort last winter to oust Woodruff. wnen
Senator Root was sent upon his famous
futile mission to that end.
Anyhow, President Taft and Chairman
Woodruff are in entire accord at present
and, deal or no deal. il can be set down as
a certainty that as between Roosevelt and
Taft In 1872, If Woodruff has any in
fiuence, ii will be thrown to Taft.
Progressiveness VS.. Insurgency.
One effort Of the conservative re-
publican leaders from now on will be
to point out that the Taft program is
progressive and not reactionary, that
the administration indorsers must not
be separated from the well wishers of
the progressive movement. The diff
ference between progressiveness and
insurgency. however. will be sharply
outlined and persistently kept in view.
president Taft and his friends in
dienantly resent insinuations which.
whether authoritatfvely or not. seem to
emanate from Oyster Bay, that the ad-
ministration has lined up with the re-
That charge will be refuted. 1 am told
IN the satisfaction of any fair-minded
man in the letter which President Taft
will write for the congressional campaign
book
The opinion is firmly held by many
leading republicans here that the repub-
iican presidential battle of 1912 Is now
commencing and that. as at present shap-
ing. IL is a battle between Theodore
Roosevelt and William IL. Taft and be-
tween the insurgent-progressive element
of the party and the conservative-pro-
gressive element. n. y. M.
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