The Washington times., 1911-05-02

! If President Taft wants the Illinois
delegation to the Republican national
convention in 1872. he'll have to fight
| for it. This, in substance, is the de-
cision reached by the progressive Re-
publicans in Illinois.
Several conferences have been held in
Washington in the last few days in con-
nection with the Presidential nomina-
! ton. The most important of these con-
ferences has to do with the situation
in Illinois. Those who are not thor
oughly familiar with conditions in that
State, find 1t difficult to believe that
the State. which does not appear to
be disturbed by the existence of
Jackpot" in its Legislature, is pre-
pared to go over to the progressives.
Yet there is movement on foot to de-
liver a goodly portion of the Illinois
delegation to the next national Repuh-
lican convention to Senator Robert NJ.
La Toilette, of Wisconsin.
Merriam Leads Progressives.
Prof Charles E. Merriam, recently
defeated candidate for the office of
mayor of Chicago, is the man who is
organizing against President Taft. Vie
has been in Washington for sevefal
days comforting with progressive Sens
tors and Representatives with a view
TO getting their support in the orgari-
zation of a State branch of the National
Republican Progressive League. and
also for the purpose of committing the
state to progressive candidate for the |
Presidency.
The first step in this direction will
be dinner in Chicago on MAY l3 The
object of the dinner is to formally Or |
game state branch of the progressive
league and to launch a La Toilette !
boom in Illinois.
One thousand prominent citizens of |
Illinois have signified their intention to |
attend the dinner, and take up the work
OF organization throughout the State. |
senator Jonathan Bourne of Oregon |
mas been delegated by the progressive |
Republican Senators to represent them |
at the dinner and make the principal |
speech
Prof Merriams determination to como 4
out Tor Senator La Toilette as against
President Taft, is regarded as of un-
usual Importance in view of the atti- |
tude taken bv the Administration dur !
ing the recent municipal campaign In |
Chicago.
Administration Rebuffed.
1t was learned today that the Admin !
istration endeavOred to establish friendly |
relations with the progressive element |
In Chicago, headed by Prof Merriam, |
when he was running for mayor. The |
plan was to demonstrate that the Adj
ministration was in hearty accord with |
the Merriam campaign. and, to prove !
this, 1t was proposed to have Secretary |
MacNeagh and Secretary of the Interior !
FISHER make several speeches in his be- |
haf. Another part of the plan was to |
nave Governor Deneen make a couple |
of speeches.
1t so happens that Governor Deneen |
is generally accepted as the man relied |
upon by the Administration TO take |
active charge of the campaign for a |
Taft delegation in 1872 It also happens |
that Secretary Fisher is one of Prof /
Merriam's most intimate friends, and |
there is also a strong bond of friend |
ship between Merriam and Secretary |
MacVeagho
Merriam Spurned Aid.
Secretary MacVeagh, Secretary Fisher,
and Governor Deneen were each and all |
Informed by Prof. Merriam that he
would very much prefer that They re-
frain from taking any part in his cam
paign. While his communications to
the three men who had preferred their
assistance was Couched in diplomatic
language. 1t is known now, if ii was 1
not at the time, that Prof. Merriam
refused the assistance of the national
\nd State administrations, because n
aeither he nor his friends regarded H
PreSI1ent Taft or Governor Deneen suf-
fciently progressive to justify Identify
ing them with the Merriam candidacy.
1t is known now. If 1t was not then.
that Prof. Merriam was at that time
a campaign in the in
erest of some progressive Republican
'or the Presidential nomination. He has
low decided upon Senator La Toilette, i
md declares that a majority of the
Illinois delegation will be for the Sen
ltor.
Merriam's Strong Backing.
This assertion is supported by Repre-
entative Kopley, of the Eleventh IIli-
ois district, a progressive Republican.
Illinois men who are familiar with the
york being done by Prof Merriam as =
ert that he will have no difficulty in