The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-14
Days Dispatches Confirm Re-
port That President Will
Change Tactics.
DETERMINED TO GET RID
OF HIS OLD ADVISERS
Action Is Expected to Harmon
ize the WideIy-Separated
Party Factions.
BY Leased Wire to The Tribune.

NEW YORK, Aug. 13.-From man
high in the councils of the Republican
party, an intimate friend of both Pres
ident Taft and Colonel Roosevelt, it
WAS learned today that the report Of
the president s intention to get rid Of
his old advisers, Senator Aldrich, Sen
ator Halo and Speaker Cannon and
practically to dismiss Secretary Bal
hnger, was true.
The news is important said this
man, ''but it is not as surprising to me
as to the public. l have been expect.
ing it''
That President Taft had decided
finally to get rid of his old standbys
was tidings so sensational that the ma
jority Of the politicians who could be
found to discuss the matter today were
almost too surprised to talk about it at
oil. 1T was generally agreed that 1T was
one OF the most momentous moves in re-
cent history of the party and an aston
ismng change of front,
May Bring Harmony.
The effects, it was agreed. would be
far reaching. While there was no doubt
tuaL AldIlcn, llalc, cannon ana Dbl
hnger and their friends would not give
up without a struggle. such action on
the part of the president would tend
TO bring the two wings Of the party,
rapidly growing apart of late. into har-
monious relations 1t would mean, fur
ther, that the western Republicans
who had been refusing to give the pres
ident anything but half hearted in
dorsement would take up the cudgels
for him as yividly as they opposed him.
And 1t would mean, in all probability,
his denomination with little opposition
IN 1912, as it had been understood by
those close to Colonel Theodore Roose-
welt that he would not want the nomi-
nation for himself, unless practically
forced to take it,
In addition to all this, President
Taft's overtbrowing of the old leaders
would mean a triumph for the insur.
gents and most OF the principles for
which they had stood. The passing of
Ballinger. Aldrich and Cannon undoubt.
edly would be followed in short time.
it was surmised. by the designations Of
George w Wickersham and Philander
c. Knox from the cabinet.
Insurgent Much Pleased.
Hamilton Fish. the only consistent in
surgent representing New York state in
congress, was delighted over the pro-
posed shake-up" in the party.
''This would be great thing for the
fall campaign he said. cit will have
its effect all over the country, and
feel now that the party will be able
to present united front. Of course,
it is matter with party unity as its
object, and ought to do wonders to
unite the opposing factions. The best
thing about it seems to me to be the
decision to drop Secretary Ballinger and
Speaker Cannon. The measure was
necessary one.'
When asked what he thought about
the future position and attitude of Sen
ator Aldrich, he replied;
81 think he means exactly what he
don't think he has been playing with
the people about his attitude at all, -
What was most puzzling to the lead
ers of the party in this vicinity was
that there had been no IntImation Of
any such move on the part of the presi
dent. The selection Of Senator w. Muir
ray Crane to report on the political
conditions in the troubled sections Of
the country did not seem to indicate to
5ent had changed his views or was in
clined to pay any attention to the up
rising in the west. The nearest ap-
proach to a suggestion that something
Of tho kind might happen came today,
when n member Of tho president Is cabi-
net told a visitor, who was bewailing
the decline of the party. that while con.
ditions wero admittedly bad, "they
were coming out all right
Power Behind Throne.
This man, known for his sagacity as
well rs his secretiveness, is generally
regarded as one of tho members of the
Il ,.{, hocf f,ff11 {n do Tho
harmonizing that is so badly needed
If the move reported from Beverly is
true, there is little doubt that he had
much to do with it.
One thing is sure and that is not
even Colonel Roosevelt or his friends
knew that the President was contem-
plating such change of front. With
an expressed desire not to do or say
anything to widen the split in the
party, Roosevelt was going west to
mako speeches that would, Of necessity,
be encouraging to the insurgents. In
the face Of The administration g pre-
vious loyalty to Cannon, Aldrich and
Ballinger it was difficult to soc how
he could give his hearty praise to the
administration forces and if there had
been any hint that these men were to
be bundled overheard. no doubt IL
would have been received ioyously at
Sycamore Hill.
The declaration OF Senator Aldrich
that he was going into the insurgents
country to mako a speech caused the
friends Of Roosevelt, knowing the feel
ing in the West, to throw up both
hands figurarively speaking.
Tie fact that the congressional COM
nnittee was still sending out Cannon IS
speeches did not Indicate that there
was any chance of harmonizing the
regulars and the insurgents,
That rho prosIdant NV big ariiou
Continued ON Pare Two