The Washington times., 1911-06-08
Practically Admit President
Will Run and Be
Beaten.
PROTEGES DESERVING
INDEPENDENT PRESS
Progressive Urged AS Running
Mate With the Governor of
New Jersey.
By IUDSoN c. WELLIvER.

Republican. insurgency, divided on the
reciprocity issue and confronted by the
necessity of fighting for the places 1t
now holds in national politics. is In a
fair way to abandon its purpose of a
big, organized fight against the renomi-
nation Of President Taft.
There has been no formal determine
ton as yet to drop the effort for anti
Taft delegates in the national conven-
ton. It is still expected that a con-
siderable sprinkling of delegates will
go to the convention, determined to
protest against the nomination Of a
man whom so large a proportion of
the party consider utterly unable to
win at the polls.
But insurgency is today in no better
position, politically. for a great fight in
the convention, than Is President Taft
for the fight at the election. Its ranks
are divided and weakened no time
has there been serious expectation that
President Taft could be defeated for
denomination. The insurgents did not
feel that they ought to count the gamb-
ling chances of success. In planning
a fight against the denomination OF Mr..
Taft, they were guided by the purpose
to voice their protest before the coun-
try, and relieve themselves of any
share in responsibility for a defeat of
the party.
Expected Vindication
After Party Defeat.
They hoped. moreover, to influence
very greatly the makeup of the party
platform, and to make such showing
of strength as would give them a
chance. after the expected defeat in
November, 1912, to claim a vindication.
and demand control Of the party or
ganization by virtue of their possession
of the only program and principles that
dence and power.
In short, their fight of 1912 was in
tended 10 be a preliminary to the big
ger contest that would have to be
waged later. with a better chance Of
success.
insurgency was at the crest Of its
force Immediately following the over
whelming defeat of the Republicans
last November. 1t looked then, to peo-
pie with enthusiastic anticipations, as II
Mr.. Taft might even be defeated for the
denomination, or induced to retire from
the contest for denomination.
Progressives Weakened
While President Gains.
Contrary to expectations, develop
ments from that time to the present
have been favorable to the President, so
far as concerns the nomination. The
reciprocity proposal has divided and
weakened the progressives. From
a position of splendid aggressiveness
which they maintained during the tariff
session of 1909; from a posture of actual
command which they established dur
ing the railroad bills discussion in the
session of 1910-from that dominating
estate, they have fallen to the point
where they are divided on how they
shall vote on reciprocity. Before the
country they are in a position of SEEM
ing hostility to the very tariff reform
ideals that they maintained so valiantly
two years ago.
Whether the reciprocity pact was
planned, negotiated, and Unexpectedly
sprung on the country with deep design
and Machiavellian purpose to break the
ranks of the progressives. there is diff
ference of opinion. If II was planned
for the confusion of the anti-Taft wing
of the party, 1t has achieved its pur-
pose; but IL has done more than that.
1t has provided the Democrats their op-
portunity, and they have seized II. It