Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-18
What Of 1912?
ICollier's Weekly,

Many western insurgents have no
intention of voting for William H.
Taft in 1912 II Governor Wilson
should live up to his record thus far,
and also should be nominated. they
might pass in large numbers over to
him. The same forces which are seek
ing to renominate the president seem,
so far as can be seen just now, to be
eagerly bent on nominating Governor
Harmon. It Is amusing to see how little
the people have TO do with II. The So
called republican delegates of the south
are confidently counted for Mr.. Taft.
The triumph of Barnes in New York
means that the president will probably
have that state. The machine OF his
own state ought to be able to deliver.
He Is making a desperate use Of the
patronage in Oregon to secure DEL
egates. as fully exposed In our issue
Of Feb. IS. Probably this last move
will fail, and states like Oregon, Cal
ifornia, and Wisconsin, where the
people are allowed to express them :
selves, will instruct 1Sains, 1im- If he
and Governor Hartman are the nomi-
nees a large number Of western repub-
Leans and democrats will believe they
have no real choice. They will believe
that the great financial interests are
to be satisfied with either outcome.
Perhaps these interests will prefer
Governor Harmon as the more able.
consistent, and intelligent. In such a
situation. what will the democratic ell
ements in the two parties do? Our
opinion Is that in this case they will
probably force Senator La Palette to
run on a progressive ticket, as pro-
test, and in order to strengthen the
progressives for 1916. The result might
even be 80 important as to create two
actually different parties by 1S16-a
party favoring the power Of money and
a party working for self-gOvernment.
II, however, Wilson IL nominated. after
continuing his present tendency and
his present success. there will be no
third ticket, and Mr.. Taft will receive
one Of the worst defeats in history. We
do not. however. share the general be-
lief that the presidents nomination Is
an absolute certainty. 1t is possible
that the prospect Of disastrous blow
in 1919 may lead % many states to vote
for favorite sons. or for some progress
sive candidate like La Toilette, that the
steam-roller will be put out Of order.
The republican voters may not submit
ldHIcly W AdSAio SASA S0AAA1uosS
chosen by insiders without 50 much
as a pretenee Of consulting popular de-
sires. About the machinery Of a steam
roller in general. and President Taft's
steam roller in particular, a great deal
c:a he learned by any one who will in
vest % cents in the March number OF
the Review Of Reviews" and digest the
first twelve pages. As the policy of this
review has always included support
wherever possible, of whatever adj
ministration happened to be in power.
the lucid explanation Of how the feder-
al machine is being worked at present
would never have been written unless
the provocation had been strong. Frank
Hitchcock. 1t will be remembered. rep
resented the administration in the en-
deavor to persuade the legislators of
Oregon to break their promises to the
people Of that state to send Governor
Chamberlain to the senate 1t 10 now
part of his Job to line up the delegates
for Mr.. Taft for 1912. Much will be
heard Of his efforts In the next fifteen
months. At the present moment, IL
there could be q real expression by the
republican voters Of the country about
the next nominee Of the party. we
think It .is undoubtedly true that Sen
ator LaFollette would have many times
the number Of votes that the president
could obtain even with his determined
and persistent use Of patronage.