The Washington herald., 1911-01-31

Although no direct announcement has
been made, II is virtually conceded that
the first candidate for the Presidential
nomination next year is in the field.
Senator Robert NJ. La Toilette, of Wis
consin. will strive to be the choice Of the
Republican national convention. Failing
in that he will appear the candidate
at the head of an independent ticket pro-
viding certain circumstances come to ex-
list. These circumstances Sare the selec-
ton by the Republican convention of Will
lam H. Taft as its nominee and the choice
by the Democrats of any other Individual
than Gov. Judson Harmon to head their
national ticket. Granting that President
Taft is to he the choice of the Republi-
cans. he will receive the support of Sena
tor La Toilette and his followers only in
the event of the nomination of Gov. Har
mon.
Opposed to GOV. Harmon.
The La Toilette faction regards Gov.
Harmon as the worst specimen of a re-
dictionary that could come before the
country for election. No Independent
ticket is to be placed in the field. as far
that faction is concerned, if the
phiu governor enters the lists as the Sc
| = tdtllltlilte- NO loss tne fSepuDl-
can {: .;tt is to be risked in that event
Better to support even Taft, Senator "a
Toilette reasons. than to run chances Of
landing the country in Harmon's clutches.
Primarily. therefore, Senator La Fol
lette is out to defeat Mr.. Taft for the
nomination. Let Harmon be the Demo-
cratic choice. however, and all bets are
off. The Republican party is to be
promptly unified to accomplish the defeat
of the Ohioan.
The Senator from Wisconsin has made
his first campaign move by establishing
his agents in various large cities ostensi-
bis for the purpose of drumming up
trade and sentiment for the La Toilette
Weekly. a paper which. the Senator has
been publishing at Madison. 1t is AS
serted that these agents are out in
reality to lay the first rails of the track
which is to shoot the Wisconsin man into
the Republican nomination
First States 10 Be Captured.
It is estimated that il will he compare
lively easy to capture at least one-third
of the convention. Oregon, where a Pres
idential primary is in existence, is the
first State in the reckoning. Washington
is next. Wisconsin. il is predicted, will
surely go for La Toilette, and other Mid.
die Western States will follow under
proper tutelage. California the La Fol
lctte agents say. will follow the will Of
the insurgents provided Theodore Roose
>cit does not interfere. There are juicy
pluns to he secured in other States which
exhibited inSurgent Ieanings in the recent
campaign. is the report. If We do not ask,
We shall not receive" appears to be la
FolIette's motto. Accordingly. like the
rrorerbial early bird he is out for the
worms.
Progressive League Not Counted.
For certain reasons it is declared that !
tho newly organized Progressive League
is not to be considered a La Toilette |
asset as such. Certain of its members |
NAV flock to the La Toilette banner. but |
in view of the fact that the league has |
not defined hostility to President Taft |
as one Of its tenctS, il must not be eX- |
pected that the new organization will be |
wheeled into line Il body in the cam |
paign OF the Wisconsin Senator.
Senator La Toilette undoubtedly rea- |
sons that he has the strength and eX-
pericncC of a previous convention canvass !
at his command. and that he also has be- |
hind him a machine of pure La Toilette |
proclivitieS in his own State. His friends |
say that onc-third Of the strength of the |
coming convention may he considered |
safe Ia count upon at this early day.