New-York tribune., 1910-01-09
tFrom The Tribune Bureau,

Washington, Jan. s.-The first announce
ment of the belief held by men high in the
Taft administration that there was on foot
a shrewdly organized political movement"
to bring about the nomination of Theodore
Roosevelt in the Republican National Con-
vention OF 1912 was made in these dis
patches to The Tribune of November 10,
when il was told that a majority Of the
Cabinet had held a conference in anticipa-
ton OF the return of the President and
had decided to lay before him the con-
clusion they had reached. Subsequent
events have completely demonstrated the
existence of such a movement although
possibly exception may be taken to the
adjective ''shrewdly" The views of close
friends of the President We're then chron-
icled. 1t Is now possible to state without
qualification that there is an organization
in Washington and elsewhere which has
that end in view: that il has held num-
ber of meetings, and that one. at least, of
these meetings took place on recent
Sunday afternoon, when men not already
committed TO the movement were asked
TO meet 10 discuss 'the increased cost
of living" At the meeting were sew
eral members of the two houses of Con-
gress, a number of federal officials and
several newspaper men who are committed
TO the movement and are doing all in their
power TO further it. Some who have be
come convinced of the existence of the
movement declare that 1t is not shrewd be-
cause IL is premature, and because some of
It's principals have acted without dis
cretion. Those who regard IT as premature.
however would do nell to consider the
problem which confronts the movers.
First Ex-President Roosevelt knows moth
ing OF the movement. and their only hope
of success rests in obtaining for it suffi-
cient impetus to make il impossible for
him to head il off on his return to this
country. Second, they are playing for a
big stake, the loss of the House to the
Democrats next November. The loss of
the House would do more TO cripple the
Taft administration than anything else
they could accomplish, and the election of
the next House is nearer than many peo-
pie realize, Magazines. which count their
circulation by the millions have been en-
listed in the cause, the alleged unpopularity
of Speaker Cannon is being utilized 10 the
utmost, and. while the men engaged in the
movement are tyros in politics and are
bound TO make some blunders, they are
doing fairly well for amateurs after ALL
One OF the difficulties attending a new
administration is that of forming an accu-
rate estimate of the Executive. There are
q good many people who have not yet
formed a correct estimate of the character
of William Howard Taft. His great size
his expansive smile, his genial good nature
and apparent inertia likely TO be sadly
deceptive. Tell the in the street that
President Taft is a whirlwind of energy
and determination, and he will laugh at you.
And yet there are times when that descrip-
ton is literally true. II is possible gently
to jostle the President of the United States
little, so long as he does not suspect your
motive. But once in corner, he can and
will fight like tiger. Once aroused, his
capacity and his determination know no
limits. In the placid interregnums of po-
liticaI life ne seems like a great. good nat
ured giant. He suggests General LuXem-
bcurg. who was described by Macaulay
failing TO maintain picket lines. to utilize
scouts. and In fact, neglecting every GUS
tCmary military precaution, and yet win
ming his battles by the sheer force of his
extraordinary energy and determinatio
Whether or not Mr.. Taft will become
aroused TO the fact that there is an effort
TO turn the House over to the Democrats
and the further fact that there is fight
against him is the question which is troub-
ling the souls of some of his most loyal
supporters.