The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
TAFT CONCEDED
 THE NOMINATION Was Much Dissatisfaction Among Republicans SENTIMENT CHANGED President Has Freed Himself of Un- popular Advisors Gathered About
 Him During First Years
 of Administration

Washington, October 4.--(SpeciaD.-Al- though the national republican conVen- tion which probably will be held In chi cago for. the nomination of presiden- stial candidate, is nearly a year off, and there is much talk of a bitter war being ragged in the convention against the re- nomination of Taft by the insurgents. po- litical leaders of both parties now prac- tically concede him to be the presidsn- tial nominee.
 No politician who is informed of the trend of mind or the people. unless he he a radical follower of I4aFonette, will at- tempt to assert any other result Of the approaching convention. An examination of the situation in the different states, even though it be superficial. will justify the confidence of the frien,s of President Taft, who are saying that so far as the result of the convention is concerned It is all over save the shouting.
 It cannot be denied that there has been much dissatisfaction among the republi- cans, and that there has developed strong opposition against President Taft In his own party. Granting that this be true it cannot be denied that during the past year there has been considerable change in sentiment among the rank and file of the republicans all over the coun- try with regard to the President.
 This remarkable reversal of sentiment is not without cause. The chief reason for the Presidents present popularity Is that he has freed himself from the po- litioal advisors who were close to him at the beginning Of his administration and who were unpopular with the peo- pie. He has adopted a course and ad- vanced measures which have convinced the majority of republicans that he is acting In good faith, and endeavoring 10 carry out the pledges his party made to secure his election
 When the republican national commit tee meets in Washington in December to determine the time and place of the next convention it will also have to determine the number of delegates who shall make up the convention. It is always the GUS tom to have two delegates for every vote in the electoral college, plus a small rep resentation for the territories. The cleo toral college has as many votes as there are senators and representatives Fol lowing the rule of allowing two delegates for each member in Congress, and two for the territories, and two for the Dis trict of Columbia, the number of dele gates at the next convention will be 1072.
 So far as known now only two names will receive serious consideration at the convention. They are President Taft and Senator LaFolette of Wisconsin. Ac- cording to well founded reports LaFol- lette and his insurgent followers are plan ming to make bitter fight to control the convention and to secure his nomination. There is still a possibility, but not much probability, that an attempt will be made to use the name of Colonel Roosevelt. but in case such an attempt is made it will be without his sanction and against his protest. It is well known that Colonel Roosevelt has stated that even if nomi- mated he would refuse to accept
 The recent difference between Colonel Roosevelt and President Taft regarding the throwing open of lands on Controller bay, Alaska, for entry, has been used in an effort to show that the former Presi- dent would exert his influence to prevent the nomination of Taft Old time leaders laugh at this, and say that the report is without foundation. Friends of the col onel says that he will watch the events of the convention with personal but not public interest, and when the result is announced he will be found working for the election of the nominee.
 The fight between LaFollette and the standpatters is not regarded seriously in political circles. Senator Works of Cali fornia, who has taken part in the in- surgent activities in the Senate, has pledged himself to deliver the California delegation for LaFollette. Whether he will be able to do this or not is in doubt. It is believed that the delega- tions from Oregon and Washington will ne opposed to the President.
 Senator Bourne of Oregon has an- nounced that the delegation of his state will rally around the LaFolette stan dard. It is generally expected that this will be the case. Friends of President Taft are not planning to make a very strong fight in Oregon. Senator Poin- dexter of Washington is another LaFol- lette man who is bending his energies to secure the delegation of his state for the insurgent leader.
 It is recognized that LaFollette is the only real opponent that President Taft will have for the nomination. Most of the opposition to President Taft will come from the west and middle west. The progressive strength is largely prob lematical.
 The Presidents own state, Ohio, will probably give him solid delegation for renomination. All the republican leaders there except former Senator Foraker and James R. Garfield have annoupced for him. The progressves would like to divide the delegation, even if they were only able to win two or three of the congressional districts.
 Three years ago considerable part of the opposition to the nomination of President Taft came from Now Eng land. Sentiment has changed in that section and a solid delegation from the New England states will go to the con- vention instructed for Taft.
 indications are, however, that if the opposition to the Presidents renomination among disgruntled republicans should