The Washington times., 1911-09-26
Continued from First Page)

President Taft is hooked up with the
interests; they condemn him for work.
ing with Representative Cannon and
Senator Aldrich. They talk about the
Ballinger affair and the Controller Bay
affair, and you would be surprised 10
find how much the. plain people know
about the details of those questions.
I'm addition to all this is the LorimeI
scandal, a big feature OF the situation
here. The people have got the idea
that II Mr. Lorimer could be kept in tho
Senate in spite of the proof of bribery
the whole Republican party must be
rotten. So, altogether, the Republican
party can not do much for Mr.. Tar
here. The indications are that the peo'
PIE want a change"
Republicans to Fight Hard.
Nevertheless, the Republicans are 60
ing to make a determined effort to re-
gain this district from the Democrats.
Col. Fred Smith. a young Peoria mil
lionaire, has announced his candidacy
for the Republican nomination for
Congressman. Alvah Merrill an inter-
nal revenue officer, is expected to con-
test for the nomination at the primary.
The Democratic candidate probably
will be the present Congressman, ClaIId
L. Stone, who defeated Mr.. Graf last
year.
Colonel Smith. Congressman Prince.
former Congressman Graft. Senator
Cullom, and other prominent Illinois
Republicans stirred up a degree Of en-
thusiasm for the distinguished guest,
but that the reception given MIR. Taft by
Peoria lacked somewhat in enthusiasm
is the testimony ot most OF the wit
nesses. The reasons assigned for this
condition CT affairs appear in the in
tcrNiews that follow.
The first man interviewed by the Tri-
bune reporter was crossing policeman,
who said:
"Well, compared with Roosevelt, Taft
got a chilly reception. When he was in
the Creve Coeur Club there were about
80 persons outside"
That doesn't prove anything" said a
young doctor. who had stopped to talk
TO the policeman. Il am strong for Mr..
Taft. He's a real statesman. Down
in my part of the city they are blam-
ing him for the high cost Of living, but
they are wrong. ami they will admit 1:
before election"
the only thing l heard was that he
couldn't be elected even If he should
be nominated" said the policeman:
Say. pal. that was the earliest frost
in these parts in many long years.
was the simple comment of the barber
at the National Hotel Taft amt
popular here. that's mighty certain"
Sees Taft Unjustly Blamed.
The proprietor of a large grocery
store on the courthouse square was
surprised when asked his opinion Of Mr..
Taft. He wouldn't talk except anony-
mously.
president Taft has been a pretty
good President. but I guess folks think
they can find a better one," he said.
He is being blamed a lot around here
for all kinds of things. Now, take my
customers, they think Mr.. Taft Is to
blame for sugar going UP. It's twelve
pounds for a dollar now. The wholesalers
tell US it's all on account of a shortage
of raw sugar. But / guess the trust is
making a pretty good thing out of II.
look for a slump in the price in De-
cember."
"I am a Republican, but not a Taft
man." said H. w. Williams. a florist
"You will find any number Of ship
pers in this town who are against
President Taft because he has refused
to aid our waterway plans. The crea-
ton of a deep waterway would be
the making Of this town. moved here
from Calesburg thirty years ago oe-
cause I could get better railroad rates
here, where river competition existed.
waterway would create real conlpeti-
ticn. What there Is now keeps railroad
rates down to Some extent, except when
the Illinois river is frozen. Orr dele
Cation went to Washington to obtain