The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-26
Pres Teft Has Nnt-Devel-
oped Very Strong Claims
to Put Before the People
Next Year.
LAFOLLETTE is TO
SEEK NOMINATION
Even Harmon, a Democrat,
Is Mentioned as a Posi-
bility to Head the Ticket of
Insurgents.
eY RooERICk CLIFFORD

~
Washington, March 25.-What will
tho next two years produce for the
Republicans, Democrats or Progressiv-
cs. who are to be the Presidential
nominees. and whether there is to be
leading politicians are asking as well
az the supporters OF President Taft,
who confidently looks forward to his
denomination.
Although President Taft's admins
tration is pronounced 20. X in some
circles, the fact still remains that he
has not developed very strong claims
to put before the people I'm the coming
campaign To get votes for the Rcpubli-
can party.
On tho Democratic side, IL Is point
ed out. the Republicans will have to
go before the people with the same is
sues as were presented In the last
campaign--the high cost of living,
promises OF tariff reform, and promis-
cs Of greater economy In administer
ing the affairs of the government,
This situation. necessarily. has given
strong impetus to the movement for a
third party--ths Progressive s--com-
posed OF the radicals OF both the Dem.
ocratic and Republican ranks.
To se Third Party.
On the Republican side. President
Taft will he selected for denomination.
On the Democratic side. leading poll.
ticians say that Governors Wilson.
Harmon, or Dix will receive the solid
vote for the nomination. The Pro
cressiyes. led by Senator'S LaFollette
and Cummins. and Representative
Norris and others In the house, natur-
ally look forward to controlling the
votes Of the Progressive movement
Lafollette. who is perhaps better
known To the country at large than
Senator Cummins or Representative
Norris. has large following and. in
all probability. would show considera-
BILE strength In the convention. His si-
lence during the past session of con-
Rress. until his brief talk on the Lor-
inner case, caused a great deal of COM
ment and Induced speculation as to
whether he was not saving his ammu.
hition for u presidential campaign.
Evidently following his lead. the Pro-
Sressives as n whole I'm both the sen.
ate and In the house OF representa-
tives refrained from publicly critics.
Ing, with several exceptions, the ad.
ministration OF President Taft
throughout the entire session. All ov.
ertures made by the straight Republi-
cans to the Progressives were cody
received and rejected. The Progress
sives manifested a spirit of aloofness,
and as good as served notice on the
administration that judgment would
be reserved until the administration
demonstrated such policies as would
meet the requirements of the Progress.
sivcs.
Here 10 a New One.
The situation caused the Progressiv-
es To look around for presidential TIM
bcr. and as the foremost leaders of
this new doctrine are not the most ac-
ccptabie to the majority of the rank
and file. a compromise candidate, II
IL expected. will in all probability be
selected. From indications. the nom
1ncc ulent very Hh1lN Oe governor
Judson Harmon. of Ohio. even If he
Is n Democrat.
The Progressive Republicans are
disinclined To fall into line behind the
leadership Of President Taft. princi.
pally because of the passage of the
Payne-Aldrich tariff bill. This bill
never satisfied the Progressives of the
Republican party. Try as the admins.
tration did, II was not possible TO Sc
cure the support OF the Prosressives
in the session OF congress just closed.
The Canadian reciprocity bill did not
appeal to them. IL WAS not even "all
right as far rs II went" for IL did not
70 In the right direction. in their opin.
Ion. This attempt nj tariff revision
was looked upon rs compromise. and
did not strike at the heart Of the evil
AS viewed by the Progressives. What
they wanted and fought for was a re-
duction in the tariff on clothing. man.
ufactured goods, on wire. steel aud