Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-08-25
THE. REPUBLICAN SITUATION.

THE REPt BiICAN SITUATION.
President sherman. who prompt
ly announced following his selection
by the New York "Uld Guard" as tenn
porary chairman of the State republic
can convention subject to the approval
Of the latter body. that he would GER
tairly hold on to that honor Gin the in
terest of harmony" is beginning to
see Il new light. lie hailed his own
selection as victory for the Taft ad-
ministration. not stopping to figure
where this would leave both him and
the administration in the eyes of the
public after the halo of questionable
victory had been dissipated.
Now such leading republican news
papers as the New York Tribune and
the New York Globe are showing that
he. Sherman. was acting in behalf Of
the administration. lie was in effect
drawing the President into an attacl,
upon Roosevelt. and involving the ad-
ministration in the worst political mess
that it has experienced in its entire
career, IF he was not acting in behalf
of the administration, then he made n
mess OF II by involving President Taft
In the most unfortunate "incident
since tho Ballingcr- Pinchot episode. If
not the most far-reaching occurrence
since he entered the White House.
1t is said by several republicans OF
national prominence that before many
days James S. sherman might announce
in the interest Of harmony that he did
not fully understand the position In
which he was placed when he let his
name go before the State committee
and that he would retire in order that
COL Theodore Roosevelt might have
the unanimous vote of the committee
for the tor porary craftsmanship of the
State convention.
This action. it is said. will be
brought about as a result of the Vice
Presidents coming in touch with tho
sentiment OF the voters as distinguish
ed from the views of old Guard. Sher-
man, in short, is expected to be con
WINGED that the dignity of his post
demands refusal to appear as the
sc =
his enlightenment there will be cited
the thousands of protests from al
over the country that man of his
important official status should asso-
ciate himself with Woodruff, Barnes
and Aldr!dge,
This result may be FASTENED by the
announcement that Vice Presiden,
sherman not only suppressed a tcle.
gram from President Taft expressing
She hopc that Mr. Roosevelt might be
consulted before any important actioi
was taken, but that he also took al
vantage of the situation the night be-
fore tho meoting Of the state repub
l!can conmitte and solicited supper
of some of the members Of the commit
tee for the temporary Craftsmanship o
the state convention.
1t Is also stated that at least hal
dozen of the members Of the stats
committee who allowed their proxies
to be used by substitutes were inform
ed that no business of Importance wa!
to be transacted at the meeti-g. anc
that If this secret move had beer
known In advance the vote would hav,
been reversed and Roosevelt and no
Sherman would havo been named a
the temporary chairman of the con
vention.
Moreover sherman has added insul
to injury by his sneering remark fol
lowing his interview with Presiden
Taft by asserting that the only senti
ment in favor of direct nomination
was going on the Supreme bench
IN view or the fact that the direc
nomination measure was defeated a
Albany only through an alliance witt
Tammany, the Hughes supporters II
New York are sure to resent this STAR
and It Is asserted that Sherman ha
not only alienated most of tho Hughe
vote but that he also figures as tn
man chiefly responsible for keepin.
Theodore Roosevelt out of the cam
paign.
If anything were lacking to SHOW
that the "Old Guard" should go, thi
| affront to the progressive element Il
the party. in which President Tai
proudly aligns himself, has furnishe,
the proof, and the desirability of 1t
rejection Is further demonstrated b,
the fact that President Taft ha