Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-21
SCHEME Up SLEEVE
Ex-President Roosevelt Be-
Iieved to Be Planning Coup.
TO FAVOR TAFT FOR 1912
Only Waiting for Psychological Mo-
ment to Spring Surprise.
MAY ANNOUNCE AT SARATOGA
Republican State Convention Posi-
BILE Occasion for Spectacular
Display.
TO FAVOR TAFT FOR 1912
MAY ANNOUNCE AT SARATOGA

A number of prominent republicans
visiting Washington this week have eX-
pressed belief that when Theodore Roose-
welt finds stage setting to his liking
he will make dramatic declaration in
favor of the denomination and reelection
of President Taft. An ideal Roose-
veltian opportunity for such a pronounce
ment, it is pointed out, will be presented
at Saratoga next Tuesday if the former
President trumphs over the old guard
and is chosen temporary chairman of the
New York republican convention. There
is bound to be some kind of a sensation
in the speech he would deliver as tenn
porary chairman, it is declared, and moth
ing would create quite so great stir
as for Roosevelt to declare for Taft as
the 1912 nominee.
Those by whom this belief is enter
tanned do not. acquit the former Pres
ident of ambition to serve again in the
White House. They hold that If he makes
such declaration it's chief purpose will
be to further his ambition.
Reasons Assigned.
This is the way they reason it,
at the presidency. He would like. OF
course, to be elected in 1912, but is young
enough to wait until 1916.
He knows he could be nominated in
1912, if at all, only after the bitteres,
kind of pre-convention fight-a fight
which would leave wounds that nigh,
bleed at the November polls and encom.
pass his defeat.
The contest for control of the state
convention this year has been so close
as to demonstrate that he could not, two
years from now, get a solid delegation
from New York to the national conven-
ton, and as the unit rule does not OBJ
tain in republican national conventions. a
part or the delegate votes from his own
state would be cast against him to the
end.
Mr.. Roosevelt, being a politician of un-
derstanding, knows that with so adroit
manager as Postmaster General Hitch
cock distributing federal patronage the
southern delegates to the next national
convention are bound to be almost solid
ly for Taft.
Wants Record for Fair Dealing.
On more than one occasion Roosevelt
has expressed solicitude that history
shall fame him fair. Even were he able
to defeat Taft for the nomination and to
be elected two years from now, he would
never be able quite to cleanse his es-
cutcheon from the charge that he had
betrayed his friend.
And then the reasoning proceeds:
All these considerations, except the dis
inclination Of New York to PROSTATE it
self at his feet, were palpable when Col
Roosevelt returned from Africa, but to
have declared then and there for another
term for Taft would not have been at
all the Rooseveltian way of doing things
There would have been a painful lack of
red fire and spotlight.
Besides. after his years absence from
the country, there was not upon his re-
turn anything worthy to be dignified as
Roosevelt faction within the republican
party. 1t Is true that PinchOt and Gar
field and other individuals were still in
tense In their devotion, but the rank and
flle of republicans. having accepted Taft
at the high valuation Roosevelt placed
upon him. were willing to wait to see
In order that he might have something
other than himself to deliver over to the
Iaft camp, 1t was necessary that a
Roosevelt. following should be built up
The country. it Is declared, knows how
adroitly this has been done, aided and
abetted by the mystery with which Roose-
welt has shrOued his attitude toward the
Taft administration.
The clamor for Roosevelt in 1912 hav-
ing gone up. and not being in such vol
ume as to threaten to sweep everything
before it, the former President must capi-
talize it in whatever way will be most
to his advantage. Col. Roosevelt has toe
good an insight into politics to believe
especially after his hard fight in New
York. that he has only to waive his hand
and Taft will be swept aside.
Defeats Would Destroy Him.