The Penn's Grove record., 1911-02-24


Nevertheless there are few people
who believe that the measure can
get through the house, while many
believe that the narrow majority Dy
which it passed the senate may result
in It's recall and destruction.
Why Taft Abandons Southern Trip.
The cancellation by President Tar
Of all dates for the. southern tour
projected by him for the weeks I'M
mediately following the adjournment
Of congress, March 4, has given rise
to a good deal of speculation as to his
reasons. There are three theories,
namely:
A-Roosevelt starts March . Tor
a speaking tour of the South to urge
In that section and later in the west
the u of the Progressive RepuD-
lican league. That organization, Just
recently launched and still without
sails or rudder, is generally looKed
upon as hostile to the Taft ambitlons.
1t might be embarrassing to the two
rivals for Republican honors to e
on the same stamping tour.
B-Some people, mainly OF the
South, hold that Mr.. Taft has aban-
doned his southern trip because he
fears expression of the resentment I'M
doubtedly felt for his activity in be-
half of San Francisco as against New
Orleans as the site of the Panama Eek
position. 1t Is pointed out that never
before has a president become a lob
byist, and in this instance Mr.. Taft did
unquestionably use the great influence
of the presidential office to sway the
votes of members toward the Pacific
coast city. Much bitterness has been.
engendered in the South by his activ-
ity, and it may be that some appre-
hension Of GOODNESS or possible affront
may have caused him to change his
plans.
Why Taft Supported San Francisco.
1t is easy to explain politically why
cisco. Whatever the decisions of
northern Republicans may be, there is
no Republican party In the South, GER
tainly not In the Gulf states. There
are few save Republican office holders
who make up the delegations to nomi.
mating conventions of their party.
These at the moment W their bread
and butter to Taft and must do the
bidding of whomsoever may be his
political manager. But in the West,
in California, where a progressive Re-
publican, Hiram Johnson, has been
elected governor, in Washington
whence comes to the next United
States senate Miles Poindexter, who
Is essentially a radical insurgent, in
Oregon where the junior senator is a
Democrat and the senior senator, JON
athan Bourne Jr., is the president of
the National Progressive league. the
president must look wisely after his
following else he may find delegations
trooping to the next national conven-
ton of the Republican party with ban
ners inscribed with strange names
like La Toilette, Cummins or some
still unknown.
No Immediate Special Session.
C-The last theory of the cancella-
ton of the presidents southern dates
is that it portends an extra session Of
congress. Personally l take little
stock in this proposition. Presidents
don't call together in extraordinary
session (the proper phrase) a con
gress opposed to them politically. If
President Taft cannot get his desired
legislation through the 61st congress
with SO Republican majority in the
house and 26 in the senate, what can
he hope of the 62nd congress with 81
Democratic majority in the house, and,
if the pending senatorial elections go
as it appears they will, a scant 10 Re
publican majority in the senate
counting insurgents as Republicans?
Moreover there are nearly 500 Repub-
lican Office holders, all political work
ers. in and about the house end of
the Capitol, every n of whom will
be displaced within two, or three
weeks of the establishment of Demo
cratic control. Their sponsors will
plead earnestly with the president not
to turn them out upon even the warm
world of summer, but by delaying the
dreaded Democratic invasion until
late in the autumn, give them time
to prepare for the melancholy task of
actually earning a living.
A very able Republican representa-
tive-one Simmons of Niagara Falls
said to me:
There will be an extra session.
The delay in getting legislation
through this congress will compel 1t.
But the session Will not be called i'm
mediately upon the adjournment of
this congress-, but perhaps six weeks
before the assembling Of the 62nd
congress"
Copyright, 1911. by Joseph B. Bowies.)