New-York tribune., 1912-01-05
From The Tribune Bureau J
Washington, January


MIR. TAFT GAINING.-That the Presi-
dent is gaining strength In all secuohs W
the country IS the confident assertion oi
numerous callers at the White House. anu
is asserted also by many members u
Congress Analyses Of the situation by men
competent TO make them. show mat lh're
are many factors which are making tof thc
increased political strength OF president
Taft and many things which on thei
face seem to be Detrimental TO his poIluca'
chances are really serving to increase MS
popularity As has been remarked In these
dispatches. the suggestion that eN-Presld'Ht
Roosevelt may be q candidate for the nom
ipauon has served completely TO destroy
the inCpient boom Of Senator La Eole''e'
But, more than that 1t has served W
arouse a certain quiet resentment on 'he
part Of many people who, having been iiiiH-
led by the assertions that Colonel KooseVei'
is mannuvrInE to secure the NOMINATION
for himself feel that Mr.. Taft has not hau
an entirely square deal Then TOO the
oxtravagant utterances Of Senator La fol-
lette have served strikingly TO emphasize
the sober. sound judgment of MI Iait'
In connection with this comes report
from Senator La Follettes own state. Ger
9
tain merchants OF Milwaukee have been
engaged In examining the antitrust bill
which he introduced in the Senate some
time axe. and they find that ii makes II a
felony TO sell any goods below cost AS
every merchant occasionally makes errors
I'm buvinC and acquires goods at too hlsh
a price or which for some reason cannot
be disposed OF except at prices less thah
imDOSP
hardships, would render unstable some
portiou of every stock of goods, and be-
sides. would deprive buyers of many bar
gains Then. TOO. the continued attacks Oh
the President by La Toilette and more
especially by some Of his supporters are
,ro,lsing sympathy for Mr.. Taft especially
as Il becomes more than ever obvious 'ilal
most of those who oppose him are aclua'eu
by anything but creditable motives vi
course. there is an element OF the parry
which believes II highly desirable TO hnd
candidate who will set the world on hre'
and some there are who believe CoioheI
Roosevelt could DO that but there are
many. and they seem To be in the MAJOR
ity. who believe that, for all the irlehuS
he would make. MIR Roosevelt would make
an equal number OF enemies.
DEMOCRATIC TROUBLES.-One OF the
elements which Is making for greater conn
dence in the ability Of President IaIt 10
lead his party TO victory Is the increasing
distress of the Democrats, who kno" not
where to turn for Presidential candidate
The Democrats from New York are lhlhE
up strongly for Governor Harmon. but th"Ae
from the West realize perfectly that even II
IL were possible to nominate the Governor
of Ohio IL would not he possible TO elect
him so long as Mr. Bryan retains MS IN
guence with the rank and file OF the voters
II has been supposed by the friends OF GOV
crnor Wilson that he could count on the
support Of Mr. Bryan, even though ne was
opposed by those conservatives VINO Favored
the nomination Of Mr.. Harmon. but receh'
unkind inquiries as to where the Governor
of New Jersey was securing the funuS WIN
which TO carry on his campaign, Which
have been uttered by Mr.. Bryan, have shak-
en- the faith OF those who counted on ms
! support FOR MIR Wilson, and they are oe-
aiming TO deplore the fact that their nero
has permitted himself. in his efforts to Sc
! cure the support Of Mr. Bryan so far TO
abandon the dictates Of his own judgment
and 10 ADOPT the radical vagaries OF the
! Peerless Leader" Only a short time ago
/ Democratic sentiment especially in the
1 Fest, veered strongly in the direction OF
/ oscar Underwood, but now II Is becoming
apparent that Mr.. Bryan Will not permit
! his election, even if ne is nominated. And
! finally the Democrats in Congress are ind
ing the responslbility Of power serious
detriment TO success. Many Of the saner
members OF the party realize that they nave
made a serious blunder in passing N"
Sherwood pension bill that in view OF their
professions Of economy the pork barrel
public building bill, which they can hardly
escape, will add TO their discredit ana that
even in their tariff legislation they are
likely TO gain more condemnation than
praise.