New-York tribune., 1911-10-25
TWENTY Of M|NNESOIA'S
DELEGATES FOR TAFT
President Assured Of All but
Four in Republican Ma
tiOnaI Convention.
NOT AN INSURGENT STATE
While Low Tariff Is Favored, La
Toilette and Extremes He
Represents Are Disliked
Mr.. Taft's Visit.

From a staf Correspondent of The Tribune
Minneapolis. Oct 24-Mnnesota will
instruct twenty OF its twenty-four dele
gates 70 the national convention 10 vote
for William Howard Taft This is the
belief Of all who are in close touch with
political conditions in this state. lnclud-
ing some who wish II were otherwise
Contrary to popular belief, at least in
the East. Minnesota is not an insurgent
state, but il is an extremely low tariff
state. 1t abhors the "stand-patter." the
extreme protectionist. but almost equal
~ II abhors La Toilette and some Of the
extremes for which he stands. Presi-
dent Taft's protection policy is cordially
approved in Minnesota-ss a policy
But the question insistently asked here
is whether the President has not ad-
hered TOO closely to his ideal for practi-
cal purposes-whether in vetoing the
wool bill. for instance, he has not de-
ferred for a number Of years a relief 10
which the consumer has been entitled.
rather than sign a measure approx
mately correct even though It was not
based on such definite information as
the Tariff Board will be prepared 10
submit
But along with the criticism Of the
President for adhering too closely TO an
ideal there IS also severe condemnation
Of the Senate for not hanging on 10 the
HOuEa Nt-OOI he Of tho
Tariff Board was received. and then
amending II in accordance with the in
formation there presented and sending
II back 10 the House this coming Janu-
ary. a measure backed by scientific data
and which would have had the entire
approval Of the President.
Good Result Of Mr. Taft's Speeches,
Those who have heard the Presidents
explanation of his tariff vetoes believe
that explanation viii GO far 70 allay
criticism OF his course, while they de-
nonstrate the force and sincerity Of the
occupant of the White House. There
are many indications that the veto mes
50 ges We're not read in this state, and
that few people have had any concep-
ton Of the monstrosities which were
presented for the approval of the Exec
utive. Those who hear or read intelli-
gently the Presidents tariff speeches
can have no doubt whatever that il was
his duty 10 veto them. and realization
of this converts into conviction the
impression quite prevalent here that the
Senate should have held the bills until
the Tariff Board had been heard from.
Surprising IS the assertion may be 70
some. it is fact that the insurgent
movement has no real leader in this
state. Senator Moses z. Clspp, popu-
larlv supposed 70 he the Moses Of the
Progressives in Minnesota. looms largely
only bevond the confines of his own
state. He and his history are too well
known here. Every one in Minnesota
with the political ambitions Of Nose"
for a number Of years and then sent
him 70 the Senate only RI prevent the
election Of his hated enemy. Tom
Lowry The Minnesota voters recall the
years when Nose" did precisely what
the president Of the Great Northern die
tated. and thev realize how he won pub
lie attention only by breaking awav and
espousinz the cause Of La Toilette.
whom he mad hitherto condemned with
nberalitv limited only by his vocabu-
larv. In a word, the Black Eagle of
Fergus Falls when seen on his own
dunghill resembles nothing so much as a
damp and bedraggl crow. And this
statement is made with full realization
Of the fact that Mr. Clapp was re-
elected to the Senate without opposi-
tion only year ago That was one Of
those fukes which sometimes occur in
politics.
Minnesota is none TOO strongly Re-
publican, and had the slightest attempt
been made 70 prevent the reelection Of
Clapp there would have followed divi-
sion Of forces which would il all prob
ability have sent Democrat TO Wash
ing-on in his place That situation, and
that alone. secured Mr. Clapps re-elec-
ton