The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-07-31
GARFIELD BOOM IS
A REAL LIVE ONE
His Candidacy for Republi.'
can Presidential Nominal
ton Is Flourishing.
BY SIDNEY ESPEY

the eHeUlleS Oh fTeSluenI i art are cast
ing about for some suitable candidat.
to oppose him. The progressives have
already sounded their war cry against
Taft and have made known their in
tentions to make bitter fight to
gain control of the convention.
The name of almost every progress
sive has been linked with the candj-
dacy, but the latest boom which must
be considered seriously Is that OF
James Rudolph Garfield, OF Ohio.
Friends who are close to Mr.. Garfield
former secretary of the interior, ad-
NIT that he is giving serious con-
sideration to the idea of entering the
race and making fight to take his
home state from President Taft.
1t has only been recently that the
avowed intention of the progressive
Republicans to make fight on Taft
has been given any serious considera-
ton by the politicians. AS time has
passed, the progressives have gained
strength from quarters unexpected
even to them. This has given him
confidence, and today it is "a well
known fact that they will make a
strong fight against Taft. But even
the boldest OF their adherents could
not have suspected that a fight would
be made on Taft in his own state.
Feel Out Situation
The progressives were quick to rec
ognize the fact that no outside man
could stand chance to take the Ohio
delegation away from Taft. Friends
DV
the situation with the plan of making
the former secretary their standard
bearer. Progressives in Ohio have re-
Gently declared that the President
position in his home state has been
so weakened. and the feeling of antag-
Onism so strong against him, that, If
he were renomnated, the state of
Ohio would certainly be lost to the
Republicans. So widespread has be-
come this idea that many of the lead
ers in Ohio are turning with favor to
Mr.. Garfield The internal strife
which has rent the ranks of the Re-
publican party for the past two years
Is just bearing fruit. The President
has found himself in many embaras-
sing positions, but to lose his home
state would cap the climax.
1t is matter of desperate serious
ness to the Republican leaders of
Ohio. They believe that their state
would be certain to go Democratic if
Taft and Harmon were to be the OPP
posing candidates. The book of Gar
field for president is a plan on the
part of the leaders to sidetrack Taft
and save the state for the Republicans.
An Ohio Democrat at the White
House would give so much strength
to his party in the Buckeye state that
the Republican party would be demon
allied. 1t is more than probable that
1t would be many years before the
Republicans would recover from the
blow and have and chance of carrying
the state.
Whatever good the candidacy of
Garfield would do the Republican par
ty in the state, it will not be an easy
matter for him to secure the Ohio del
egation. The candidacy Of Mr.. Gar
field would be particularly embarras-
sing to Senator Theodore Burton. He
and Garfield both belong to the Cleve-
land wing of the party. Each is a
promising candidate for the gold med
al to be voted to the favorite son Of
the north end of the state. Senator
Burton has lately been appearing as
the spokesman for the administration.
There is little doubt but that a hot
fight will be waged which may result
IN a split in the Ohio Delegation. Char
Hes p. Taft naturally would be looked
to as general manager of the interests
of his brother, and the politicians cal
culate that each of the two candidates
would develop most strength in his
own part of the state, Taft in the
south and Garfield in the north.
Would Have Support
There is little doubt that if Garfield
was to become a candidate he would
have the undivided support of all the
anti-Taft element Of the party. The
La Toilette forces will fall in line for
him. This assumption arises from
statements made by the progressive
Wisconsin senator himself. He said
that any one selected by the progress
sives to be their candidate would have
the undivided support of the progress
sivese. There will be no friction
0uoHS TIE PTOSTeSSlNeS as 10 Shall pe
candidate. The man that they feel
can give the insurgents the most
strength will be named.
In addition to the support of the La
Toilette forces there is strong feeling
that the candidacy of Garfield would
force Theodore Roosevelt into an at
titude of acquiescence. if not support.
This would give Garfield much addi-
tional strength, for the ex-president
cstill has a great hold upon the voters
Of the country.
A red-hot contest for the Ohio dele
cation, 1t is declared by the Anti-Ttft
Republicans would have nation
wide influence. Ii would give encour-
Agement to the anti-administration
movement in other states. and be
followed by pressing the fight all
along the line. There can be no
doubt OF this, for, if the progressives
were to capture the stronghold OF the
Taft element. states which are consid.
cred doubtful would be much easier to
swing. Moreover, the fight would be
made on a series of issues with which
the name of Garfield would be closely
allied This would serve as a means OF