Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-31
TAFT NOT BACK OFT
Plan to Elect New Committee
Chairman Opposed.
IDEA OF REACTIONARIES
Progressives and Party Harmonizers
Want None of It.
WOULD LAY BARE DISSENSIONS
Not Interested, and
Would Not Be Hurt-President's
Friends to Resist.
IDEA OF REACTIONARIES
WOULD LAY BARE D1ssENs10Ns

! Murmurs of dissent to the proposition
| to have the republican national commit
tee meet in January and select new
chairman are heard from republicans in
Congress.
Opposition is accentuated by the fact.
| just developed, that the suggestion did
not emanate from the White House and
| is not acceptable to the President Fur
ther discredit is thrown upon the plan by
the discovery that it originated with the
reactionary element in the party, at the
very source and headwaterS of the most
pronounced ''standpat faction.
Progressives Are Opposed.
That being the case. pronounced opposi-
ton is urged by the prOgressives. 1t is
shared by the more cautious of those re-
publicans who are at this time trying
| their best to promote harmony in re-
publican ranks.
1t is declared that grave injustice was
done President Taft in-well-say, al
lowing him to be placed in the attitude of
seeming to he party to plan for the
selection of a new national chairman, and
that man a partisan of the reactionary
element. Republicans in Congress say
that the President feels that way about
it also.
Above and beyond this consideration,
however. is another that appeals still
more strongly to the congressional re-
publicans. They say that meeting OF
the national committee at this time would
inevitably reveal to the public and ac-
centuate the unhappy division in their
party.
The committee membership includes
men of varying shades of factionalism
from the moss-chested old standpatter
from way up at hea0waters OF the
creek to the eager young progressiye, We
party. The selection of chairman
would inevitably. it is insisted. precipl-
tate clash between these factions.
Likewise it would call for show OF
1t is insisted that such crisis would
sadly interfere with President Tafts ef-
forts to harmonize the factions.
Taft Not Reactionary.
In this connection it is claimed by
President Taft's friends in Congress that
no one has, right to class him with the
reactionaries in the party, notwithstand-
ing that some Of the progressives differ
with him on the tariff legislation of this
Congress- 1t is asserted with insissence
by the Presidents friends that his atti-
tude. acts and policies classify him as
far removed from the old reactionary eie-
men!.
His recognition in patronage dispensa-
tion of the most radical element OF the
progressives-includin men to whom the
term 'insurgent is more often applied
is cited as practical indication of his de-
sire 10 bring all factions into harmony.
They are all republicans to him. in good
standing and with union cards"
After better feeling is restored among
the factions 1t will still be time enough.
it is argued, to take up the question of
the craftsmanship of the national COM
mittee.
There is no vacancy in that office. Ex-
Gov. Hill of Maine is the acting chair
man. If he needs advice-out of Office
hours-he can find an experienced adviser
i'll Postmaster General Hitchcock, who
knows a little about the national politics
of the party.
No Skin Off Hitchcock's Nose.
Right here it should be stated that
Postmaster General Hitchcock's friends
speaking with knowledge of his own
views and wishes. say most positively
that he has no desire or intention to
manage another political campaign. 1t
it not necessary, therefore. they say, to
call a meeting of the committee for the
selection of a new chairman in order to
strike blow at him. 1t is effort wasted
they say.
Some of President Tafts friends, who
know the executives punctillous nature,
Will resist any action which would seem
to place him in the light of trying to OBJ
tam control OF the national committee
before the nominating convention. They
are confident they will be acting in con-
:ormity with his desire In SO doing
The national chairnanship, they say, is
, an asset OF the nominee for President
after the nomination is made Before
that event the chafrmanship theoretical
ly. at least, should not be a factional
post