Evening star., 1911-08-23
Attack on Taft Marks Begin
ming of Hot Campaign.
MAY BE NOMINEE HIMSELF
Might Lead Party in Case of Fail
ure to Name a Progressive.
IS SUPPORTING CHAMP CLARK
Effort Will Be Made to Defeat Tam
many and Control New York
Delegation.

The heavy artillery OF William r.
Hearst having opened up on President
Taft marks the opening OF the most vi
cious political fight in the history of the
country, according to political opinion to-
day.
At the same time the booming OF the
Hearst guns is declared to indicate that
Mr.. Hearst Is to take a most active part
in the coming campaign, possibly as a
candidate for President himself.
Ranking President Taft rs having gone
over to "the interests by his tariff
vetoes, the New York editor intimates
that If the democrats nominate the same
kind OF a man as their candidate for
President. there will be q third party
candidate, representing progressive poll
tics of both parties Summing UP his on
slaught on Mr.. Taft, with whom he has
heretofore been most friendly, Mr.. Hearst
says:
IF the trusts. through corruption and
coercion, shall control the democratic
convention, as they will the republican
convention: II thay shall nominate a
nominate a trust-controlled republican.
then let the Democratic Progressive
League unite with the Republican Pro-
gressive League and place genuine
progressive OF WnAIGSST pATty III thC
field, fearlessly to make the fight for
the citizens and to oppose the bipar-
tisan representatives Of the trusts.
Calls It First Gun.
Mr.. Taft has fired the first gun Of
the campaign Of 1912 from the camp OF
| intrenched privilege. Let the heavy
artillery of the people thunder de-
| fant answer; one swallow does not
make a summer. and one deserter does
not make a disaster, even though he
be the President Of the United States.
| The signincance of the Hearst pro
nounciamento Is not so much in that \
| opens up terrific fight on the Presideni
by the demo rats and the republican In
surgents, to be kept up from now unii
as that it means that Mr.. Hearst him
self may be candidate for President
] ether on the democratic ticket or ON I
third party ticket
done much to help elect Gov. Harmon o
Ohio, for a second term, indicated, In al
| interview, that Mr.. Harmon would no
receive his support for the democratic
| nomination. He spoke in the hishes
terms of Champ Clark as the right maj
| for the nomination and Is understood I.
| have given orders to his friends to pusi
Champ Clark from now on.
| CnOulO the OClHOCTdNiC AaSiOudi Soh
vention, however, fail to nominate
Clark or some one regarded by Mr.
Hearst as progressive, Mr.. Hearst gives
plain notice that he is either in the
field to lead a third party or will sup
port some good man representing pro.
sressive ideas and thought.
| Silent as to Wilson.
4 Whether Mr.. Hearst regards Gov
Wilson of New Jersey as a progressive
no one can tell from any recent utter
ance of his His unstinted praise OF
Champ Clark points to his intention
to make the Missourian the choice OF
the progressives for the democratic
nomination.
Having led the Clark forces and CLARK
failing to get the nomination, with the
progressives in control of the convention
the figure of Hearst would loom up -
the man for the progressives to rally 10
n was pointed out today. Hearst. 1t IL
said, undoubtedly will have many per-
sonal friends and supporters In the con
vention From his own state OF New
York he could command little strength
cation. but from California, Illinois ano
other states he will have admirers and
partisans ready to rush to him as q dars
horse 1t is even intimated that NAT
Hearst would not be cispleased WIN
ticker headed by Clark for President ano
himself for Vice President.
Whatever his own political aspirations
or his ambitions for others. Mr. Gar
has cut himself loose from any possibility
of sympathy with President Taft aud the
republicans The New York man is agar
in the democratic fold. at least until the
democrats fail, II they do, to put up q
| progressive candidate for the presidency
There is now little question that Mr.
| Hearst and his papers will keep up
hot fight, and that in New York an effort
| will be made to head on Tammany and
;ts forces and control the New York dem.
| ocrafic delegation. The fight maysgo sc
far. il was suggested today. as TO bring
| about a contesting delegation from New
York.