The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1911-11-12
BY CARL MOTE

Inc storm, tnree years pent-up Is Oh
the verge of loosening the gates
which hold back the furies of nation
wide opposition.
The special issue with Republicans
in the campaign of 1912 is not wheth-
er Mr. Taft can be reelected but
whether il is wisest to nominate him
with defeat certain.
Standpatters. reactionaries. pollti-
cal pirates say Yes" Progressives
say NO" There is apparently no
doubt of Republican defeat with Taft
as the candidate among those Republi-
cans whose opinions are based upon
survey OF sentiment rather than con
ceived in accordance with personal
wishes Out in the state, there is
hope that Mr.. Taft can be reelected.
1t is not so in the state capital where
national conditions are, perhaps. bet
ter understood.
Indiana which made possible the ell
ection of Senator Kern in 1910 over
the progressive Beveridge may turn
from Taft before delegates to the ma
tional nyention are elected. Reac-
ilOIdIleS SUN liQISu AAV SAcoSSAiSAA
of divided delegation but nearly
eight months of history is to be made
before the convention meets. 1t is
Iatuous to predict the outcome but 1t
will be an odd elimination of the cam
paicn if Taft is forced upon the peo-
pie by a bevy Of politicians which ad-
mits his defeat at the outset.
nf Indiana who
glory in victory and pine in defeat per-
nit the restoration o. she very same
regime, responsible for the election OF
Marshall and a Democratic house OF
representatives in 1908 and Demo
cratic state senate and complete corps
of state house officials in 1910? Is
the presidential nomination in 1912 to
be made a geegaw of the standpat
nursery? Is the Indiana delegation to
be made a party to the illusiv scheme
of nominating Taft because he must
be chastised for failure to keep post
office and patronage promises to Jim
Watson, George Lockwood, Taylor
Durbin, Joe Healing, ct al.
Indiana Republicans have stood for
5oOu IldAy NIiAS,o 0AAu - SAAA~~AAAS ~
be see whether they will stand for
this, the latest program of bourban-
ism-the nomination of Taft. the ell
ection of Democratic President and
congress and the revival of the bour-
bon dynasty in 1916-fOllowing four
years of anticipated Democratic mis-
rule The plan is no less far-fetched,
no less devious, no less uncertain in
chances of ultimate cOnsummation
than the adventure of Simple Simon
with his seive or flyer" in wildcat
mining stock.
In any event, and old fashioned Re-
publican factional fight is promised as
an entire of the campaign OF 1872.
Whether progressiveness is to be
more than minority protest can not
be forettold. The standpatters assert
they will organize the state commit
tee and elect solid Taft delegation.
The progressives are making no claims
but they are not idle. They are de-
termined that Republican victory
when it does come, must come as re-
suit of popular confidence in fair
promises made with serious purpose,
rataher than as the result of promises
catach votes. They demand full
measure of fulfillment of party pledg-
es as the only claim of continued sue
cess.
The coming of Senator La Toilette
is awaited with interest. The pro-
gressives will make no definite move
until they have heard Wisconsin's s
candidate for the presidency. Sen
ator l. Toilette will make a number
of speeches in Indiana, the main
speeches to be made at Richmond and
Indianapolis. The date of his coming
has not been fixed but it will be
some time after the middle of the
present month.
The prediction was made last week
by Democrats whose opinions are
worthy of consideration that Bob La
Toilette would sweep the country as
a candidate against such a man as
Judson Harmon.
He would lose many Republican
votes" it was said, but he would raj.
ly about him almost the entire Bryan
wing of the Democratic party. He
could not be beaten at the polls''
A we'll known Republican of the
state who returned from New York
last week said Gov. Harmon of Ohio
is the choice of Wall street for Presi-
dent. He said there are loud protests
against Taft because OF the antitrust
prosecutions but that the President
would carry New York against any
other candidate with the exception of
Harmon. He said business is at a
standstill and that no one is making
money. The railroads, he said, gener
ally have adopted policy of retrench
ment and are making ware dividends
on capital. He declared the east is in
semi-panicky state and predicted
that next year would see a million
men out of employment. His state
ment is supported by the remark of
former Senator Nelson w. Aldrich On
his recent visit to Indiana.
Men of all parties are trying to get
comfort from the elections last week.
Democrats point to the election of
Foss in Massachusetts,, the election of