New-York tribune., 1911-11-06


entire delegation. Washington, on the
other hand, will probably give its solid
delegation to Mr.. Taft. And as for Kan
sas, Minnesota and South Dakota, the
| Wisconsinite may capture a few dele
gates from each. but i'm no instance Will
he receive a majority of the delegation
So much Tor the convention.
Prospects in Election.
With regard TO the national election II
is too early to make predictions. | have
attempted to outline the general situa-
tion as it appears to-day. Much, doubt
less depends on the course of the Dem
ocrats. and especially on their choice
of nominee, and who can predict with
any certainty what the course OF the
Democrats will be? There is much VIII
son and much Harmon sentiment. The
alignment is similar to that of 1904. the
| Parker element favOring the ONO candl-
date and the Bryan element favoring the
Jersey man. An interesting feature OF
the situation is the quite general oppo-
| sition of Democratic Catholics-and they
| are numerous-to Governor Wilson be
GAUGE ne was so long president OF a
PRESBYTERIAN university. This may
r-ove a decided factor in the Democratic
National Convention. The Harmon
boosters appear TO be provided with
abundant funds. and in states where the
Presidential primary exists are spending
considerable sums advertising in the
! smaller newspapers. The Wilsonltes
appear, thus far at least, to be depend
ing on the circulation of reams OF
printed matter exploiting their candi-
date The Champ Clark movement is
growing. although his talk of the an
nexation Of Canada is not likely to help
il along cut there is something ephem-
eral about the Clark candidacy which
leads to the belief that the Speaker VIII
Ultimately throw his strength to some
other candidate-probably Mr.. Bryan.
And like a spectre i'm the background
turks tho grim visggo of the Peerless
Leader. who feels that with better pros
poets Of Democratic success than have
existed for many years, he should be re-
warded for his previous vain efforts to
lead the party TO victory with nominal
( tion next year. Indeed, If t1r. Bryan s
friends NAV be believed. he not only
feels that he should he So rewarded, but
he regards his chances of proving the
Moses to lead his party out Of an other
wise inextricable convention deadlock as
more than good.
4 word in passing regarding the pur-
pose Of the Presidents trip may not be
amiss As Mr.. Taft more than once ex-
ulained. his trip was not contemplated.
but. like Topsy. it just Growed.' II"
accepted invitations 10 attend the cen
tennial AT Hutchinson. Kan, and to ded-
icate the grounds of the Panama PACING
Exposition. Having done this, to bor-
irow his own expression again, he was
lost" Senators and Representatives,
wholly regardless of party affiliations
swarmed at the White House. begging
him 10 accept this invitation and that,
until an itinerary which comprised more
than thirteen thousand miles ana pro-
yided for three hundred or more speeches
had been completed.
Trip Not for Political Purposes
MIR Taft undertook the pip with no
purpose to promote his political fortunes.
In fact. he frequently disappointed his
audiences by refusing to discuss ques-
tions of partisan politics He made no
partisan speech unless, by a long stretch
or the term. his frank explanations or
the reasons which actuated his vetoes OF
the tariff bills were to be so called. even
IN making that explanation he was
scrupulously careful To say nothihs
which could offend either Democrat OF
Insurgcnt. So far as his purpose was
concerned he sought only "to render an
account of his Stewardship But ot
course. no such trip could be without
either it's political significance or its DO
lutical effect. If he made a good I'M
pression it was as bound to AFFECT MS
roliticaI fortunes as II would had he
r,odo tho reverse. Nor would it have
boen human nature for his political
cricrds and associates to refrain from
making all the political capital they
could out Of the trip.
There is another feature OF the Presl-
dents trip which calls for passing COM
mont That is his complete inability to
orasn the first principles Of publicity
HE hest speeches were made. without
ovcertion. without furnishing advance
COMES to the press, chiefly IN the west
and at hours which precludh any aoe-
ouate report in the Eastern press. ms
,,.as truo even Of his reply To MI Lht,ie
49,, al pittsburgh Ne inVaraDlN ldlheu
90 his audience and with no thought o'
a. ,,,iIlidns of citizens VINO TAO no "P-
ortunitv 10 hear him some 'lers ai'
nbo admire that characteristic VI VIZ
t,hiof Executive. They submit tildt u
g., ,,,orc diguifed for the President ol
a. a. r!nitod states to ignore the eXigen-
ios If the press aud To- pay no heeu 80
.bc nublicitv which may he given 10 ni9
~ Us They contend that thls attl-
t,dn proves a sincerity ana u shls sleIle7'
,,,,oso incompatible with an opp'-
W, W ~ ,ii,,,sa That raises the question.
"SbonId the President OF the I unl'eu
states be q good press agent lneie -,
undoubtedly. much 10 be sdlu -" ,', uo,i'
- ~ the question. but IN any event
In is not. fortunately. one io'
naner correspondent 10 dSVlue. - "a.
p,Tp, e,,r, mn the political results OF the
,terefore President Tdlt may De
said to have dissipated oppoSi''"'' anu !"
'. s",u ~ ..'oduc.d i'm the minds ol large
nlenent OF his party sld'" ~ ,hb ''l
| ,riondIiness eXpecthH,y Nlt a. W. W.
he more OF n politician IL ',,a 80 s'N ~,
-, into the required lnea sur ol en-
c"lN'it VI hocore the election ol l9l2 lie
,ilu u',''",,,,,,,,astionably impressed me people
n1, t,ts intense sincerity ana MS ul-
Nl,,.,'e, WIZ i,' cnurage-no small achieVehleht