The Washington times., 1911-10-02

ent has noticed a tendency on the part
OF Republican progressives to regard
the La Toilette candidacy as a forlorn
hope. Not so here, where the progress
siyes refuse to concede the renomina-
tion OF Taft and earnestly urge the
selection of the Wisconsin Senator as
the candidate most available for de-
feating the Democrats next year.
According to these progressives the
Republicans are in grave danger of los
ing Kansas. They say Woodrow Wilson
easily could carry the State against
would vote for him. They believe even
Harmon or Champ Clark would come
close to capturing the state II Taft
were the opponent. But La Toilette
Kansas against any candidate the
Democrats could put up.
The regular Republicans assert in
surgency is largely local and that not
enough Republicans could be induced to
desert Taft to endanger the national
ticket in the State. At the same time
intimations from standpat leaders that
the old-line Republicans would not vote
for La Toilette are not lacking, although
all the regulars interviewed today were
| the nominee whoever he might be.
Certain II is, however. that the pro-
gressive movement is strong and stead
| lily growing in Kansas. Its foremost
leader Is StIdlOT bTlSlO", WHO mas d
majority of the States Congressional
delegation assisting him in the fight on
| the "old guard" He was here yester-
! day and was prominent in the cordial
reception given the President, but he is
unalterably opposed TO the Taft policies
! and ali OF the influence eXerted by him
! self ard his friends is in the direction
, of promoting anti-Taft sentiment and
| booking La Toilette for the Presidency.
Governor Stubbs and his following
] also are rampant progresstves, and,
/ while the governor has not openly OPP
posed the President as yet, he has given
| indications that he is not in accord with
many OF the Taft ideas of government.
Gives Welcome.
| It was because OF the widespread in
surgency in Kansas that the governor
| everywhere sought to have the progress
| sives give the President a specially
rousing reception. He was successful.
| for nowhere has Mr.. Taft been more
| Hospitality received without regard to
, political differences of opinion. At the
1 State fair grounds yesterday the gov
| ernor led the 10000 people present in
doing some typical Kansas cheering for
| the President.
| 1t was during the visit Of the Presi-
showed its dislike of any disparage-
| ment of its progressive leaders. Secre-
| tary of the Interior Fisher said he was
| a practical and not talking pro-
| gressive. That was shot which did
| not take we'll with the crowd, according
| 10 several narrators of the incident.
| Mr.. Rristow came forward with an
emphatic retort to Fisher and was tu-
muituously applauded.
| Mr. Stubbs is a candidate for the
| United States Senate to succeed Senator
| Curtis. around whom the entire rea:-
| tiOnary element OF Kansas Republicans
| is gathering in preparation for desper-
ate struggle. One standpat leader sald
| today he thought whichever side loses
| this contest will bolt the ticket and
help send Democrat to the Senate.
| The Democrats entertain growing
! hopes of carrying Kansas. Wilson Is
| although Clark and Folk each has q
| strong following.
One thing in the Presidents favor in
| this vicinity is that this is the district
represented in Congress by the late +.
II. Madison, a progressive Republican
| leader but a warm friend of Mr.. Taft.
| Mr.. Madison was regular on the Payne
Aldrich bill, but he fought the Aldrlch
and Cannon band of reactionaries con-
! sistently and as a member OF the joint
| Investigating committee he decided Bal
| linger was unfit to be Secretary. of the
| Interior. His opinion had muCh to DO
with shaping the popular verdict against
Ballinger here as well as elsewhere.
! MadlSon'S Death Factor.
| At the same time Madison was per-
| sonal admirer OF the President. He
liked Taft but did not like Tafts polit-
ical associates. He wanted to be regu-
lar and his friends say that Madison,
I'd he lived, would have worked hard
! for the reelection of Taft.
The Congressman was strongly OPP
posed hereabouts for his vote in favor
of reciprocity. and yet he had the con-
fidence of his opponents to remarkable
degree. Mr.. Madison's attitude toward
] the President, therefore, has helped
| Taft in this locality.
1t happens that the issue between
Taft and La Toilette Republicans will
,be decided within a few weeks by this
constituency. A successor TO Mr.. Madi-
son is to be elected, and progressive
and staripat candidates for the
Republican nomination are taking the
field. Lieut. Gov Richard Hopkins will
be the progressive candidate, while the
regulars are discussing former Circuit
Judges Lobdell, Price, and Martin.
! Taft was given a big time here. said
President c. II. Welch, Of the State Ex-
change Bank He made lots of friends.
OF course, the farmers around here were
sore about reciprocity. They felt they
we're right when wheat went up or
cents the day after the treaty failed.