The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-12-13
all the blatant parasites Gre scrapcd
TAFT WINS COMMITTEE FIGHT.

TAtI Wins COMMlTIG6 flthT.
In the frce.for.al! scramble in the
Republican National convention for the
control Of the special committee which
will have the convention arrangements
in charge, President Taft won hand
somely against the field. 1t was known,
of course. that Harry New was not Il
Roosevelt man. but still it was not sup
posed that the Roosevelt interests would
be able to put up any powerful fight
against his selection as chairman of the
subcommittee on arrangements. That
they werc able to do so and 10 claim
(without reason. as it sppcars), Secre-
tary Hitchcock as opposed to New and
to Taft, was one of the surprises of the
occasion. 1t indicates that the Roosc.
welt supporters have determined to
make al the discord they can, and by
one means or another bring Roosevelt
before the National Convention next
year in the hope OF stampcding 1T IN
his favor But we should judge that
tbe chance of success Of a stampede
craftily arranged and known about for
months, ought not TO be particularly
bright.
OF course, Col. Roosevelt does not
appear personally in any Of the moves
that are made in his interest, He VIII
fight shy Of them all, under half
hearted declination 10 be candidate.
so that he will be able to say later on,
IL fuaT he moi,
a candidate at all, and that he con
stantly told his friends not to support
him, and that lie had consistently de-
clincd to be a candidate, At the same
time. it is noteworthy that nc has not
at any timo stated that he would not
run if he were nominated, and especially
is ii 20 be noted that he has not said
to anyone that he wanted Taft re-
nominated, or ever that he thought TAFT
has made a good President. On the
contrary. there appears to be plenty OF
evidence from Roosevelt s writings that
nc does not think that Taft has made
a good President, aud that he does not
want him renomipated. But, if he does
not want Taft rcnominatcd then what.
1t is hardly to be supposed that he
would favor IaFolctte Of Wisconsin,
or anyone else who has been named IN
opposition to Taft, unless it might be
himself.
As matters begin to take shape, aud,
in fact, as the campaign of next year
has already begun. it is more and more
evident all the time that Roosevelt is
in 4 waiting attitude, ready 70 take ad,
vantage of any opportunity that may
arise to give him an excuse that may
be desired by him TO get into the fight.
IN the least likely that he will 90 In
to help anybody else. His idea of get.
ding into fight Of that kind will be
in his own interest alone. and so it
must be regarded 1t follows, there
fore. that, while Roosevelt is not, so far,
an active candidate in his own inter
est the conditions are so being shaped
that the chances Of his name being pre-
sented to the Republican Convention rs
Il Presidential candidate next year arc
Increasing all the time
But, IN spite Of this, the Taft strength
is gaining, It is conceded on all hands
that President Taft is in a much strong.
CT position today than he was year
ago, His ightforwardness, his
candor, his honesty. aud his good ma
turc, all have pleaded powerfully for
him before the people; aud his person
ality is such an imposing factor that
we should expect to see the growing
sentiment in his favor increase even
more rapidly between now and the time
set for the next National Republican
Convention; aud that when his CON
vcDtion meets, there viii practically be
no name considered save only Taft 8,
and that any attempt to stampede the
convention in favor OF Roosevelt will
- die a-bolDin -