Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-08
Taft NOT WORRIED
OVER denomination
FRIENDS IN WARRINGTON Dc.
L,EvE ne WILL BE PARTY
CHOICE IN 1912.
NOT PRESIDENT,
TO eE CAMPAIGN ISSUE
Republicans Will Find New Problems
To es Met in National Convention
Activity in Behalf Of Ia FolIstts and
cummins Not Taken Seriously in
Washington.

Washington.
WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-President Taft
IS reported to be undisturbed by the
rumors of activity in the middle west
in the interest of Senator's La Toilette
and Culnmins for the republican presi-
dental nomination next year. Inc
president. say his friends. is convinced
that the party next year will nominate
neither a radical nor a conservative
but some man who. standing on safe
middle ground. will. with minor mis-
givinss. be acceptable to both sides. He
believes he is just such man, and
will undoubtedly be more or less ac-
tivi;y on the part of aspiring repub-
licans OF the radical type next year,
but it will presumably be largely with
reference TO 1916. They will appear
before the 1912 convention chiefly for
advertising purposes.
Should the republican party go over
TO the radical position by 1916, as
might be the case should the demo-
cratic party swing meanwhile toward
conservation. then there would be
chance for the nomination Of some
such man as La Toilette or Cummins;
bu; not In 1912 says the presidents
friends. Cummins in the 1912 con-
ven,ion will be expected TO have the
delegates OF Iowa and possibly OF
South Dakota, which takes a good
many of its political cues from that
state La Toilette will be expected
TO have Wisconsin. and under certain
conditions a part Of the delegations
from Minnesota and North Dakota.
What such progressive states as Kan
ssa. Nebraska. California. Washington
and Oregon will do In the republican
convention is not now known. but all
Of them put together could not muster
enough votes. II given to one man. to
create q convention furry.
TaSt's denomination Assured.
The denomination OF Mr.. Taft is
thus taken for granted by politicians
in this city. who arc inclined to agree
with his friends that he will be the
logical candidate" In addition 70
this. It Is asserted that he Is his party's
leader, and L. leading In the old dne
regulation fashion. And again, he has
Gone things. and IL still doing them.
These reasons combine TO make WASH
ington believe that Mr.. Tart Will win
very easily in the 1912 convention.
But II the work Of making nomina-
lions will be comparatively easy with
the republicans next year. the work Of
framing . platform will be difficult
more DIFFICULT than since 1896. when
the gold plank Of the platform re-
quired such careful preparation. IN
1900 the platform makers had no work
worth speaking Of. Mckinley was the
issue. and the platform on which he
made the race for a second term was
Of minor Importance IN the campaign.
The same was true in 1904. when
Roosevelt was the issue. and the plat
form Of relative unimportance. In
1908 Taft. with the Endorsement Of
Roosevelt. was the issue, and the plat
form on which he ran caused little
trouble In the convention, barring the
labor plank, and was quickly put to-
gether.
But in 1912 the platform will count
much. New questions have been
brought to the front, and must be dealt
with. and old questions have taken on
new meanings. Some Of these new is
sues were. a few years ago, the sole
property Of the despised populist party,
and were regarded as radical and dam
gerous by both the old parties. Today
they are In the mouths OF both repub-
lican and democratic leaders. and since
1908 they have been a rallying center
for the menacing insureent and pro-
greesive wing of the republican party
The democracy is compelled to deal
with similar situation for Mr.. Bryan
is still a radical, and is demanding the
nomination of a radical for the presi-
dency.
New Issues Must Be Met.
All these new issues, for the first
time. will have to be dealt with in the
republican national platform. In 1908
they were indorsed loosely and gener-
ally in the Introductory paragraphs OF
the platform, which gave a sweeping
and enthusiastic Endorsement Of the
work Of Mr.. Roosevelt as president;
but in 1912 they will have to be taken
up one at time, carefully examined,
and whipped into proper shape for the
purposes Of the campaign. The phrase
makers Of the republican party will be
in demand at the republican convention.
and the best Of them will find place on
the committee on resolutions.
In that campaign Mr.. Taft. while the
republican nominee. win not be the
chief republican issue. Just as the
platform and not Mckinley was the
issue in 1896, 80 Will the platform and
not Mr.. Taft be the issue in 1912
The progressive republicans, who will
be strongly represented In the 1912
convention. will strive TO have the plat
form embrace the principles announced
by the new national progressive league
in this city. recently: The district pri-
mary, strict election laws, strict cor
rupt practices acts. popular election Of
United States senators. popular cleo