The Washington times., 1912-04-06
TAFT FORCES
SEE STRENGTH
FAST WANING
IGrasping at Last Straws in
Effort to Boost
g.. Cause.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page)
and named Taft delegation, also In
structed. Which was regular conven-
ton? Which delegation will be seated
at Bay City?
Thus far the parallel is complete
But here comes a divergence. In In
diana the State chairman was a Taft
man, and he gaveled the Taft program
through, giving the Taft people the
privilege of seating the Marion delega-
tion, and letting the Taft delegates from
OWN RIGHT TO SEATS. In the
Michigan convention the State chair
man will be Roosevelt man, Frank
Knox, and the boot will be on the other
leg. II both contesting delegations
from Wayne are excluded from the
privilege of voting on their own Gre
dentials., then the majority will be pro-
Roosevelt, and the Roosevelt delegation
from Wayne will be seated and the
State convention will be for Roosevelt
by about 300 majority.
There will then be a bolt OF the Taft
supporters a contesting delegation will
be named, and Michigan will go to the
national convention with showing OK
Iactly like that of Indiana. II the ma
ton from Indiana, the same logic will
force II to seat the Roosevelt delega-
ton from Michigan: and vice versa.
The worst that can happen to the
States and gain the other. On the other
hand, II the national convention deter
mined to settle both contests on their
merits. the Roosevelt people expect to
get both delegations at large.
The Michigan delegation at large, by
the way, consists of six delegates. be-
cause Michigan has a Congressman-at-
large. as well as two Senators, to be
represented
Losing Their Grip.
The Taft people are losing their grip
on the national committee. simply be-
cause the committeeman realize that the
Taft managers are going to demand
more unreasoning loyalty than can pos
sibly be given. The demand that they
shall settle all contests, Northern and
Southern, meritorious and bogus, good
and bad. in the interest OF Taft is prov
ing too big an order for the self-resp3ct
even of many pro-Taft members of the
committee
1t is known beyond peradventure that
In the last fortnight the Taft control
AS general council of the party. the com
mittee is getting into a frame of mind
that will compel 1t to consider contests
with reference to their merits, ana TO
decide them as reason and justice shall
dictate.
That is all the Roosevelt forces ask.
If they don't get II, several Northern
States will see their Republican organ
harmony in the fall campaign will be
impossible, and the States will be
turned over to the Democrats. Respon-
sloility for sch a condition is more
shoulder.
In the EmpiretSate.
Exasperating in the extreme to tn,
Taft managers is the fact that IlIinoi!
and New York are to decide their Presi
dental preferences the coming week
New York Is proving unmanageablr
Chairman Barnes doesn't want an IN
structed Taft delegation. He and the
old patron machine want the delegation
are determined that Sherman shall bt
renominated for Vice President. ant
they want to have a club with which
to extort important concessions from
whoever Is the nominee for President
But Mr.. Taft, convinced at last tha
an uninstructed delegation from New
York;: coming at the same time tha
Illinois goes for Roosevelt and Michigan
does the same thing, would put an erC
to his candidacy as serious affair will
Northern States, Is making a desperate
effort to cajole the New Workers. int
giving him the form of an instructed
delegation.
If he can get instructions for the del
egates at large, he will be willing to lie
Barnes and his allies write just as re
dictionary a platform as they like
New York platform shall be understood
to be the Administration model TO
the national declaration.
II Is possible that, on these conditions
an instruction may be given to the fou
delegates at large for Taft; not ye
probable, however. If the deal Is mad
1t will please the Roosevelt people rigll
down TO their boots. They would b
entirely satisfied to have Taft get in
Structions If in exchange he accepte:
the sort of platform Barnes wants :,
write.
That platform would crystallize pro
gressiye sentiment in the Middle YES
and West and strengthen Roosevelt II
those sections to an extent that noth
ing else could do.
The Roosevelt people calculate tha
about the time the country cts
clear vision of Barnes IS the rationa
platform dictator there will be revoi
that will make Illinois unanimous
carry West Virginia certainly. an
make the West coast states fall int
line with dispatch and emphasis.
While the Taft managers are thu
negotiating for complete surrender I
.the most reactionary wing of the party
Illinois is rising up for Roosevelt In
fashion that justifies the claim of m
Illinois committee that Roosevelt VII
get all the Congressional districts eX
cept the one in Chicago, which Lorime
owns, and he may get even TINS
Roosevelt's present Western trip ma
aroused more SllluSldSHl liioh
else during the present campaign, an
the reason is that the issue betwee
him and Taft is being drawn cleare
and sharper than ever before on tn
matters Of principle involved In tn
fight.
The Fight In Iowa.
The fight for control of the low
State convention is going TO be yer
close, both sides claiming 1t. The Thir
Congressional district. OF which Du
buuue Is the metropolis, selected tw
CumnIins delegates, despite that it ha
always been a close district az betwee
the Cummins anl anti-Cummins forces
40 inBtructions were given, and non
were needed; the delegates were chose
with the understanding that they wer
for C,ummins first and last.
The Cummlns campaign in iowa ha
disappointed its supporters, and tn
exclamation which comes from tn
State is most disconcerting 10 Admin
istration forces. II is that thousand
cf Republicans of Rll shades of orlr
I ion are unwilling to take part in pr
mares this year because they don
expect to be able TO support the part