University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-12-01
Presidential Possibilities.

Perhaps it is because OF the Demo
cratic landslide in the elections this
month that attention has been focused
on the leaders of the Democratic party
as presidential possibilities. Men lit
tie known. perhaps beyond the bor-
ders OF their own states, in their vic
tories have become national figures.
The time OF the of'-year elections
is time OF summing up" and OF "siz-
ing up" following the big presidential
election Of two years previous. With
a change Of power IN the House of
representatives which now becomes
Democratic, and strengthening OF
Democratic forces in the Senate. which
will have q majority OF Democrats
and insuFgent Republicans the great
est attention is given the leaders of
this party. Men are casting their
eyes about for presidential possbili-
ties and it is the Democratic posi-
bilities that arc receiving the most
notice.
The Republicans have at this time
Republican president, who is serving
his first term. 1t seems to be as
Sumed, certainly by those Republicans
in his own state. Ohio. that Mr.. Taft
will ha , coDIilot, 60, go, ,,,..; :.
1912. That depends of course on the
popularity of his administration at the
cine OF the rext el0tion a thing that
cannot at this time be easily deter
mined. The Republicans have be-
sides President Taft, presidential
possibility in Theodore Roosevelt. Mr.
hoosevclt's presidential possibilities
looked roster few months ago than
now. but that is only because OF his
activity in the last election. He might
nave calmly retired to his home and
Geen as severely criticised for his
seeming lack OF interest.
Besides these two. there is only
one Republican who is receiving much
notice as a presidential possibility, the
senior senator from Wisconsin. Rob
arC La Toilette. La Tollette's AMI
bition to be president is we'll known
He is the father OF the insurgant
movement among Republicans With
the rise of this movement La Toilette
becomes more and more prominent
lis ideas and policies of government
better known.
But for the death Of Senator Dolli-
yer OF Iowa. his name no doubt would
have been heard amidst the din of
the 1912 Republican convention. Sen
ator Dolliver was a strong vice-presi-
Dental possibility at the time OF Nc
klnley's second nomination in 1909.
". J. Bryan was long the leader
of the Democratic party, and during
all that time he had a complete mon
0poly among Democrats on the presi-
iential-possibility business. Since
1896, when Mr. Bryan sprung up in
the Chicago convention and to the
very head of the possibility ranks
scarcely a Democrat has, dared even
dream of the White House job. Now
it is different. Mr.. Bryan is no longer
in his old place, and halt d dozsn
Or more others have the office in view.
While some OF them have only re-
Gently been introduced to the more
than 20.000.0G0 voters. they are in po-
sitions that give them strong chances
in the selection Of candidates.
John A. Dix. the newly elected gov
ernor of New York, was until few
months ago scarcely known in the
politics of his own state. He is a
man of quiet DISPOSE
ton who makes friends, to be sure,
but who makes friends rather slowly.
He has been elected to one o. the most
positions for one who
may aspire to be a presid ut, position
that has long been regarded "a a Sc
cure stepping stone into the presi-
dency.
.Iudson Harmon was given an in
creased majority in his reelection as
governor of Ohio. and his friends have
already launched. his presidential
boom. He was Attorney-General of
the United States in Clevelands cab !
met from 1895 to 1897. He is sixty
four years old and held his first po-
iitical office more than thirty years
ago as the mayor of small Ohio |