Morris tribune., 1911-08-18
HOW DOES TAFT
STAND STATE?
Republican Leaders Making
Anxious Inquiries.
MARSHAL GR|MSHAW MAY GO
Rumor Says "ReseIution Bill" VIII
Lose His Berth in the Gov
ernment Service.

Taft up your way? How do the boys
feel? The above are questions asked
frequently by the Republican leaders
these days and always with a note of
anxiety that shows fear for the future.
Regarding the answers, the Republican
leaders who are 80 anxious about Mr..
Taft's future in the North Star state
have not confded in me as yet, but
will be willing to wager that the ma
| jority Of them have not been to their
satisfaction. If the ward mon and
county leaders who were questioned
told the truth-and I see no reason
for quibbling at this stage of the
game-they would say that the situa-
ton is not the best in the world. To
tell it to you straight, AS far as my
own observations are concerned, the
situation is bad. Were a convention
for the selection of delegates to the
national convention held at the pres
ent time, the presidents managers in
Minnesota would have a hard time
| Honestly, l do not believe that they
could save him.
!. 4 !.
know what you are going to say to
all this. That Minnesota is Repub-
lican state; that it is loyal to the pres
ident and his policies and that as far
as the La Toilette strength is con-
cerned it is only in spots. All of which
! is partly true Minnesota is Repub-
lican, but it is not hidebound as of old.
| 1t is loyal to the president, but l am
not so sure regarding its admiration
for some of the presidents policies,
while as to La Follettism being in
spots, remember spots grow. Just an
alyze the situation for yourself The
First district is not of the best. It's
congressman, Anderson, and his fol-
lowers are 'agin' the government The
Second, Governor Eberhart's home, is
in the hands of the Democrats and the
progressives. The Fifth, Hennepin
county, is always an uncertain guam
tity, with the La Toilette machine
even now bending every energy to
capture it, while the Sixth and Sew
enth are admitted1y wrong. The two
sure uIsUr1cUs at the present time are
the Fourth, Ramsey county, which
takes in st. Paul, and the Eighth,
which includes the Iron Range. So
cialism has a heavy following in the
Ninth district, but it is not looked
upon as wrong. The Third district is
regarded as reasonably safe for Mr..
Taft. All this is not summing up
from reports furnished by the various
leaders. Far be it from them to in
dulge in such views. 1t represents
the drift of conversation caught
in the hotels, views aired at the plow
handle and gossip heard at the vii
lage store. Just sit down and comb
over your own memory and ponder
over what you heard during the day
on this very same subject.
!. i. X
But enough of this pessimistic talk.
Time heals many sores and politics
is no exception to the rule. The big
game always has a tomorrow and the
condition pointed out only covers to-
day. Though the pot is simmering it
is long way off to the big boil and
by that time conditions may be en-
tirely the reverse. In Minnesota Pres
ident Taft has the brains of the or
ganiZation behind him; Mr.. La Fol
lette-his managers say-the people,
but will the latter cut any figure at
the conventions. In the past they
have beeu busy with other things
about that time. In state capitol cir
cles Mr.. Taft's standing in Minnesota
at the present time is regarded as un-
certain, but they all join in declaring
that he will have the delegation if he
wants it. Organization, they say, will
do it. And l might add Mr.. La Fol
lette has no following in state capitol
circles.
!. !. !.
Unless you belong to that charmed
circle which includes county, city, vii
lage and town attorneys do not bother
the state legal department any fur
ther with questions of public impor-
tance. George T. Simpson, who is at
the head of the department, has so
decided and is sending out a general
letter apprising people of the fact.
Former Attorney General E. T. Young
started it and since his administration
the department has been flooded with
letters of inquiry covering pretty
nearly everything under the sun. "Is
the county attorney doing his duty?"
Are the village bonds legal?" why
don't the sheriff stOD illegal 1iouOr
selling?" are questions daily received
and their number has become so great
that they fairly engulf the office force.
All this, Mr.. Simpson says, demands
reform and from now on he will stick
strictly to the letter of the law, so If
you have any questions to ask put
them up to your local attorney. If he
cannot answer them Mr.. Simpson will
be glad to do so. But they must come
from the attorneys cited in the law
covering the departments duties.