The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-23
o. K. Davis in Hampton's Magazine for

o. K. Davis in Hamptons Magazine for
 July.
 tf"HE number of candidates for the
 presidential nomination is all
 ] ways a reliable indication of a party's expectation of success at the polls. Thus there Is an abundance or democratic candidates nowadays, but the republicans are singing mighty soft and low
 Tt is apparently an open race for the democratic nomination, and just as evi- dently a closed one for the republican leadership. The democratic prize may go to Speaker Champ Clark, the emil nent Missourian who has borne such conspicuous part in the labors or ms party in the House of Representatives for so many years; or to Gov. Judson Harmon of Ohio, who carried that state in the year when 1t gave President Tart an overwhelming plurality and was re- elected last year by an even greater vote; or to Gov. woodrow of New Jersey, the politician and ex-president of Princeton, historian and student, who has made a brilliant rcord for himself In the few months that he has been at the helm in that state.
 'eThere is, of course, a possibility that none of these three leading candidates may be chosen, and that the nomination may go to a dark horse-for instance. to ex-Gov. Joseph W. Folk of Missouri But all the indications now point to the selec- ton of one of these three as the demo- cratic nominee for next year.
 Tn the republican camp there Is prac- ticaliy no doubt that President Taft will be called upon to make the race again. He has friends who believe that he can win. and he has other friends who be- lieye that he is sure to be beaten if he runs. but yet think that he is not only entitled to renomination, but that he is under obligation to take it and to make the best fight for his party that he can.
 "There are other republicans-plenty or them-who have openly ceased to count themselves friendly to the President, who are in favor of renominating him with the expectation that he will be defeateo. | They charge him with responsibility TOT | the misfortunes that have overtaken the republican party, and lay at his door all most every crime in the political deca- | logue Some of them want to peat him, and while they will ostensibly work | for him prior to renomination and dur | ing the campaign, they will in fact either do just as little as they can or actually | work against him.
 'The insurgent republicans will earnest ly oppose the renomination of President Taft. The National Progressive Repub- lican league is conducting an active cam- paisn for delegates who will vote for Senator LaFollette or some other pro- gressive for the presidential nomination. | It Is not likely, however that there will | be many more than 100 votes for LaFol- lette in the convention. They will come | from his own state of Wisconsin, and In small punches from Kansas. Nebraska, Iowa, California, Oregon and the Dako- | tas, with a few from Indiana, Illinois and perhaps even Ohio. The progressives will try determinedly to divide the dele gation from the Presidents own state.
 "There is no reason now. however, for thinking that the LaFollette republicans will be able to control the convention. La Toilette has a strong following in cer- tain sections and in certain circles Tn other sections, but he is not strong enough to upset the power of 'organiza- ton and administration that will be be- hind the candidacy of MT. Taft.
 This Is not to say that there will De any astonishing enthusiasm for Taft There never has been that. Popular spon- ,aneity in his case has always been toe well timed and too mechanical to be ac- cidental. Mir. Taft will have back or nm lall the weight and influence of the cold blooded and well calculated plans or the
 national republican machine. The mere
 inertia of the reactionary element stii counts for much in . convention. and IT