The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-04
Statesmen Gather at Capital to
Attend Session Beginning
on Monday.
PRESIDENTIAL TIMBER IS
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
La Toilette and CumminS Are
Prominently Mentioned as
Progressive Possibilities.
BY RALPH M. WHITESIDE.
Leased Wire To The Tribune,

by Leased Wire to The Tribune,
WASHINGTON, Dec 3.-Evcrything is
I'm readiness for the opening OF congress
Monday, The statesmen arc here. from
Uncle" Joe Cannon and Nelson W. Al
drich down. There Is one notable differ
cucc IN th. assc milling OF this session Of
congress and any OF It's predecessors OF
recent years: II Is the Democrats who
are chippcr and cheerful, while AN air OF
gloom penctrGIes the Republican ranks,
while among the haif thousand or so OF
house employees. many of whom had
come To believe they had a proprietary
right In the places, tile atmosphere is so
denscly black that II is Opaque. Already
old Democratic war horses like Clayton
and GnderwC Cd OF Alabama. Ollie James
OF Kentucky. Bartlett OF Georgia, Brous-
sard OF Louisiana. Hammond OF MIuncso-
Ia, Candlcr OF Mississippi, arc looking
over the. principal committee rooms with
sort OF proprietary interest which does
not decrease the Republican gloom.
There is good deal OF quiet talk
among the Republican leaders as TO the
future OF the party. The recent election
mas demonstrated 10 them that II there
Is TO be amy chance Of success in 1912
IL is essential that the party put itself
more N line with tho progressive element
The fact that the Republicans only held
thelr own in those states which were
controlled by the progresslvcs and that
success was In almost direct ratio TO the
onstrated this fact. There is growing
feeling that President Taft is not sufft-
riently enaT1ored OF his place 10 make q
fight for the nomna ton, but is rather
disposed to make way for some one else.
In progressive quarters thcro is lot
OF Talk about getting ono OF the men
WHO has made record as an lnsurScnt In
congress TO run. Senator La Toilette has
bis following. Senator Cummins also has
many supporters who think he would
make an available candidate. Had SEN
ator Dolliver lived there "a no question
that no would have had substantial
presidential boom. Indeed. there Is not
much question that the personal rcla-
lions between DolliVer and Roosevelt were
such that Roosevelt would have supported
Dollivcr for president ahead OF any other
man In the progressive ranks. Under
nny circumstances, the insurgent wing in
congress is going to exert its influence.
That influence may come around to
Roosevelt or II may so In tho direction
Of supporting some OF the men who have
In that event there is not much question
that the Cummins boom would become
Ior1S:dablc. And it would become highly
30 II Mr.. Taft should let II be known
nc would not run again
Cummins and LaFollette
1t has already been announced from
Dcs Moines that Senator Cummns is a
candidate for president. AS matter OF
tact, IL has been freely talked OF among
politicians at Washington for months
presidential factor. That he has an
ambition TO bo president is pretty strong
~ known, just as number OF other
strong men In congress have their eye
ON that goal. AT one time Senator Bcv-
eridgc aspircd to the presidency. But
his defeat In Indiana will serve to elm
inatc him from consideration.
Senator La Toilette was candidate
FOR the presidency at tho last ReDubii-
can national convention. but he received
only a few votes. Since that time he has
become moro and more powerful not
only I'm the senate. but throughout the
country, and there is feeling In WASH
ington that between now and the date
for the next Republican convention he
VIII gain strength in a surprising fash
ion.
No man in public life has proved to be
quite as good prophet OF things politi-
cal as has La Toilette. II was the GUS
tom OF old timers in the senate during
La Follette's early days in that body To
snub the statesman from Wisconsin
every time he arose to speak, by leaving
the chamber for the quiet of the smoking
rooms. La Toilette was not unaware OF
the intended slight but on one occasion
he made the prediction that many OF the