Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-14
Don't Know What to Make OF
the Reports From Beverly.
NOT LIKE TAFT, THEY SAY
Hesitate to Believe He Is Against
Aldrich and Cannon.
PARTY HAS BACK TO WALL
Republican Leaders Recognize Ugli-
ness of the Situation, But
Are Full Of Fight.
Special From a staf Correspondent.

| Special From STAFF Correspondent.
| NEW YORK, August 13.-Intense in
| terest was manifested today In political
| circles, both democratic and republican,
| over the published statements from Bev-
erly intimating that President Taft is
getting ready to divest the republican
party of the association of certain class
| Of alleged reactionaries, such as Aidrich,
Hale, Cannon and Ballinger.
Wherever the politicians gathered dur
| ing the day the mornings dispatches
from Beverly formed the principal topic
Of conversation and the questions would
| run something like these:
do you reckon the President really
means to shake Aldrich and Cannon?"
How is he going to shake them with
out repudiating the work of Congress.
and If he does that, what has he left to
| stand for?'
do you think that after having licked
all the molasses off their bread, he is
going to turn around and call them
names?'
Praise for Aldrich Recalled.
Though he has been saying all along
that Aldrich was a grand man. and his
eoAAAA VII SAO OCSl CNCI khdI odH1H6CA
had done no wrong, and he would not
stand for prosecution of him.
What has happened, anyhow; is he
getting scared of T. R., expecting him to
| rally the insurgents into a hostile band,
and Is he trying to beat T. R. to it?''
We'll. don't believe word of it: it
doesn't sound like Taft
Anyhow, hasn't Aldrfch already elin1i-
mated himself?''
''Yes, and haven't the Rickers and the
young republicans of Maine attended to
Hale?"
And nobody has heard Uncle joe
Cannon ask for reelection as Speaker
All he has said that IL there is any blood
on his shirt it will be In front"
And why doesn't Ballinger heed that
much-talked-of call to the law practice?"
And so they would gable on and not
that the republican party seems to be
catching it coming and going.
AS Democrats View It.
The democratic politicians were also .n-
terested in the reports, and they would
talk something like this:
'Great guns! Aren't those republicans
In a deuce Of a mess?'' (Only they would
not use the word deuce.)
"Yet it doesn't seem like Taft to go
back on the people who have fetched and
carried Tor MIN throughout the Congress
work In his campaign"
That's SO, but there are r. R. and Pin
chot on his trail, and maybe it's some
thing like the case of the rabbit that just
had to climb tree cause the dogs were
after him."
Say. but how much enthusiasm and sup
port will he get from the friends of Cam
non and Aldrich, and isn't he likely to
need them in his business this faIl?''
1T looks as if we sure had the republi-
cans going this time
Yep, but let the CALLED jade vince, our
withers are unwrung, and it certainly is
comforting to democrats to see the other
fellow walking the floor sometimes.
Republicans Grow Grim.
And so the comment would run along,
with many serious thought underlying
the jest. There is one thing about the
situation, the darker becomes the pros
pect the more determined the republicans,
and, figuratively speaking, one can wit
ness general disposition on their part
to tighten the belt another notch. clench
the teeth little harder and brace their
shoulders more firmly against the wall.
You keep picking on US and you will
unite our party said resentful re-
publican to taunting democrat in the
Hoffman House
That's So" was the reply, reminds
me of Bill Sterrett's story Of the Confed-
crate company. that was in full retreat
and pursued by the enemy, upon whom
they occa sionally turned and fired vol
ley till their captain said. Stop shooting
at them Yankees, boys, it only makes
them madden"
But, all levity aside. the political situa-
tlon In the nation and in this and ad-
joining states is causing deep concern to
the big men in both political camps. There
are so many confusing and conflicting
phases as to make both parties feel that
there IS now almost an even break, with
the future full of possibilities for good
and evil for both parties. The next thirty
days. It Is thought, should show a crys
tallizatfon of sentiment. In that time Col
Roosevelt will have disclosed his hand.
II IS neheved with his cards above the
table; the Maine elections will have been
held. and there will be the preliminary
report on conditions from the congress-
sional districts.
Searching Out the Worst.
Inc republicans have a way with them
of getting down to brass tacks" on nolit-
ical conditions. They are doing that now
They are trying to find out the yerv worst
the situation may hold. Then they will
do what they may to change it.
August ciamor and gossip does not drive
the republican managers into q panic
They stand the chatting and jibes Of the
OtHCl AcHo"Ss dAu just grin themselves,
Wait awhile and things will begin tn
happen, real things, material influences
at work
There are some features of this situa-
tlon. however that are new to the re-
publicans. Have you stopped to consider
that the great republican press of the
country Is either openly insurgent or SO
Independent as to make 1t exceedingly
dimcult for the party managers to de-
mand that unfiinching support SO valu-
able in the past?
The same condition intensified exists
in the country press. 1t is as independent
as clam at high-tide. Consequently, in
surgents, regulars. democrats and popu-
lists get a show. Bristow gets as good a
spread in the eastern press a Aldrfch.
You find the same spirit growing among
the rank and file of the voters PARTY
line are disintegrating. Unrest and a
Snirif Of change In mir