Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-10
Political Leaders Feel Now 1t
Will Be a Certainty.
PROGRESSIVES AFTER TAFT
Indications Plentiful They Will Not
Support Him for denomination.
WATCHING THE DEMOCRATS
If Gov. Woodrow Wilson Is Nom
mated One Wing of Republican
Party May Support Him.

1dIty may SupPoIt 41AA'
third national ticket in the field
may be one of the features of the presi-
Dental campaign OF 1912. in the opinion
of some of the political leaders who are
watching the fall OF the cards in the
great political game at this time. Indeed.
il may be stated as more than probable
"a certainty, under given conditions.
Indications are plentiful that the pro-
gressive republicans are growing more
and more disnclined to fall into line
behind President Taft, who is practically
certain to be renomnated by the organi-
cation of the republican party. Their op-
position will first be manifested in the
national convention, where his renomina-
ton will be contested.
Afterward. and dependent in a measure
upon the character Of the man nominated
by the democrats to head their ticket, the
progressive republicans may set up a
ticket of their own. Such a course would
be based upon the expectation OF draw
ing upon the progressive element IN potn
the democratic and republican parties at
the polls.
At no time since the passage OF the
Payne-Aldrich tariff law has the course OF
President Taft and his administration
satisfied the progressive wing OF the re-
publican party. especially as that faction
Is represented In Congress. When the
Sixty first Congress was on the point Of
assembling for its last session the ad-
ministratiOn sought in a tactful way to
secure the support Of the progressives.
The overtures were received coolly, and,
indeed, in one INSTANCE, We're almost re-
jected. The prOgreSsives manifested q
distinct spirit Of aloofness and as good as
served notice on the administration that
H.
administration demonstrated its progress
siveness.
Did Not Attack Administration.
The progressives did. however, refrain
from undue criticism Of the administra-
tion throughout the session. 1t will be
remembered that La Toilette, Cummins
and the other progressives in the Sen
ate and Norris and the Wisconsin men
| in the House made no serious attacks
on the administration at the session.
| Senator La Toilette was silent during
the session. until he made his brief talk
| on the LOrimer case. so that his reticence
was the cause of comment and induced
speculation as to whether he was not saw
ing his ammunition for a presidential
campaign.
Try as it might. the administration did
not seem able to warm the progressives
into a glow Of affection. The admins
tration opposed Lorimer but the repubh-
can organization in the Senate was for
him. and the progresstves made no dis
| tinction between Root and Lodge. who
fought LOrimer and the republican ma
jority that seated him.
The Canadian reciprocity bill did not
appeal to the progressives. 1t was not
even ''all right as far as it went" for it
did not go in the right direction. in their
opinion. 1t was construed by the agri-
cultural interests. however incorrectly, as
being aimed at them.
Anyhow. this attempt at tariff reduction
did not strike at the heart of the evil as
viewed by, the progressives. What they
had fought for was reduction in the tariff
on clothing on manufa ctures, on wire.
steel and iron and building construction,
farm implements and variety of things.
Blame Placed on President.
Their idea was that as the President.
in signing the Payne-Aldrich law had
confessed that the wooden schedule was
not to his liking he should have sought
its revision at the short session. The
briefness Of the session was not necessa-
rily bar especially since it has fallen
out that the country is to have the new
Congress at work within thirty days, but
still not to deal with anything but Cana
dian reciprocity. according to the call
Then came the wrangle over the direct
election OF senators. Certainly the sup
porters Of the administration were op-
posed to that measure. which is of su-
preme importance in the progressive cal
endar. The old element in the republican
party that is to support Taft for renomi-
nation fought the proposition and en-
compassed its effectual defeat through
amendment.
The initiative. referendum and recall
principle, as embodied in the Arizona con-
stitution. was most assuredly opposed by
the administration. The increase of mag
azine postage urged by the adminstra-
ton was regarded by the progressves as
a blow at the magazines which are
waging their fight. and they resented IL.
Only in one instance did the progress
sives an dthe administration seem to pull
together, and that was in advocacy Of
the bill to create tariff board for the
scientific revision of the tariff. On the
whole. the sessions work did not serve
to draw the progressives any closer to
the administration.
Progressives in Next Campaign.
Since Congress adjourned there has
been a revival Of interest in the probable
attitude Of the progressive element in the
next presidential campaign. Itis not alto
gether a matter Of speculation. either,
for there are Indications of a steady drift
Of opinion among progressives toward
making more than a mere "demonstra-
tion."
In the opinion of some Of the politi-
clans, the first outcropping Of progress
sive opposition will be in sending anti
Taft delegates to the national conven-
ton from the middle west states. Some
Of them will favor Cummins Of Iowa and
others La Toilette Of Wisconsin. Roose-
welt may be used to rally the progressives
in some sections without the purpose,
zI~sv, h