The Washington herald., 1911-12-31

sey; Myers, in Montana, and Kenyon,
in Ohio. The Republican progressive
group in the senate was increased, and
Democrats rejected the standpat leader
ship of Bailey for the more advanced
lie Adership of Williams or Martin. On
the other hand, standpat or local in
huenCes dominated in the choice of
Lodge. of Massachusetts; Oliver, of
Townsend, of Michigan; McCumber. OF
North Dakota; Hitchcock, of Nebraska
Lippitt, of Rhode Island; Johnson, of
Maine; Mclean, of Connecticut; Suther-
land, of Utah, and Vardaman, of Mis-
sissippi.
The Presidential Booms
If proof were needed that the pro-
gressive idea had taken root in Amer
lean politics, it was plain to all in the
cryStalliZing of sentiment for preSiden-
tial candidates. The Republican pro-
gressives organized on January %, at
Washington, their national league.
opened headquarters, and on October I6
at a Chicago conference formally
launched the candidacy of the first sue
CesSful insurgent, La Toilette, of Wis
cOnsin. Around this standard all the
administration. forces in the G. O.
2. have gathered.
Working for a Second Term
Meanwhile President Taft's friends were
quietly at work setting up the pins for
mis- denomination. He made his stand
for the reciprocity bill and rejected the
tariff bills, which in his speeches he
called revision with blaCksmiths tools,
because not based on tariff board data.
Also he took strong ground against the
Judicial recall and based his control of
the trusts on the courts new rule of
law. When the Canadian election went
against reciprocity, the administration
lost what it regarded as a trump card.
Nevertheless. Taft went ahead and made
his record-breaking 16,O00-mile tour OF
the country from August 10 to November
L, getting in touch with the party
organization. The November elections
gave the Taft boom jolt. and especially
the defeat Of the Cox. machine in Cincin-
natl after. Taft had sided with it.
Republican Convention Date
The Republican national committee met
in Washington December ), with friends
of Taft in control. They voted down
Borah's proposal for presidential primar-
les and decided TO hold the next ma
tonal convention at Chicago June IS.
Somewhat the same line of cleavage
was observed among the Democrats,
despite earnest efforts of the leaders to
SWING the party forward into line as a
unit. Here there was no scarcity of pres
idential timber, with Bryan finally elimi-
mated as a candidate. But, though out of
the running himself, the Nebraskan with
his paper was still force to be reckoned
with on the side of progressive policies,
Il
Harmon, of Ohio, helped along the i'm
preston that the Ohoan was a conSerV-
alive. Harmons boom was strength
ened by the Democratic gains in the No
vember elections.
Strength of Wilson Boom
One of the political wonders of the year,
on the other hand, was the sudden leap
of Woodrow Wilson, New Jerseys schol-
arly governor, into the favor of a big
sectIon of the more progressive Demo-
Gratis all over the country. Wilson frankly
accepted the progressive label, and in
numerous speeches advocated the Oregon
idea of direct legislation as the saliva
ton of the nation from centralized wealth
in the great trusts. His ability to get his
reform program enacted by the New Jer-
sey legislature greatly enhanced his repu-
tatiOn. He admitted that in former years
he had taught against the referendum.
His main fight was for the restoration
of popular government. The recapture Of
the legislature by the Republicans in No
vember was attributed by Wilson TO the
treachery of the defeated Democratic
boss. Smith Other Democratic possibil!-
ties were Clark. Folk, Marshall, Under
wood and Hearst.
Socialism's Rising Tide
Socialism will come unless competition
is restored were the words of warning
spoken by Senator Cummins at New York
February 4 Perkins, the trust builder,
came out for cooperation through gov
eminent control of all big corporations.
Gary, of the steel trust, before the Stan