The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-03-14
Roosevelt !.
Sentiment 4 |. !
MAKES RAPID HllADWAY Is DE.
SPITE STEAM ROLLER" TAG .
TICS or OPPOSITION.
The Rank and File
Favor the Nomfnution OF the Former
President and Ofice-holders Are
Being Hard Pressed to Stine the
Popular Demand. .

Washington March 9.-Deyelop-
ments In the field of politics have come
thick and fast in the last week, and
every day has shown "a decided
growth tp the sentiment for. the NOM
inatIon and election of Colonel Roose-
velt. The "steam roller" tactics of
the administration campaign a mana
gers nave been exposed In several in
stances and the advertised sentiment
In favor OF Taft has been shown to be
nothing but the clamorous shoutings
OF cff1ce-holders, spurred on by the
Federal patronage club.
From every section assurances nave
been sent to the Roosevelt headquar-
ters in Washington, reiterating the
strength Of Colonel Roosevelt, In the
very states where Mr.. Taft's managers
have made their strongest claims, it
has beCh demonstrated that the un-
dercurrent, of Roosevelt sentiment IS
fast proving too strong TO be~-coped
with by the administration.
In Pennsylvania the chances of Col.
Roosevelt for getting goodly portion
OF the delegates have increased ten
fold In the last four or five days.
Polls taken In Philadelphia and in
practically, every county in the state
give Colonel Roosevelt nearly three
- times as many. votes as poIled by
Taft. Roosevelt candidates for dele.
gates are declaring themselves almost
daily, and the sentiment expressed by
the county papers shows the former
- president to rule strong favorite
over MIR. Taft 49,
The progressive Republicans in Col
9rado have gotten, together and form
ed an organization which includes
|tfonsan as ut Z Vptes TffUugnout t1Ig-
State,s4 The .Axeoutiye committee of
this organization met several days ago
and Endorsed Colonel Roosevelt, de-
clarfng at the same time their belief
In his ability to win. the nomination,
and stating that the national conven-
tiCn would be controlled by the pro-
gressive element, Notwithstanding the
mum ber Of Federal officeholders likely
to be present.
"A monster mass meeting, held in st.
Paul several days ago, showed the re-
markable growth of Roosevelt senti-
ment In the state Of Minnesota. 1t is
declared that the former Presidents
Following in the state has grown
largely since his Columbus speech
Many Roosevelt clubs have been or
ganized in North Carolina, where the
Taft managers claimed to control
everything in sight, and in Virginia
and West Virginia sentiment in favor
OF Colonel Roosevelt is growing rapid
ly. In Maryland the rank and file of
Republicans are for the Colonel and
have come assurances that the people
want Colonel Roosevelt apd will have
him, regardless of party affiliations.
Inroads into the Taft strength have
been made in the states in the New
England group, and IN New Jersey
and New York, rapid progress has
been made by the Roosevelt followers,
Reports from the central group, in
Guiding -Qhie,--4ndiaRa,-Il Illinois Mica
igan and Wisconsin are such as to
cause the Roosevelt managers to feel
doubly confident Of winning the nom
ination for their candidate Especial
ly in Indiana and Ohio has the out
cropping of Roosevelt sentiment been
manifested and the other states have
shown in one way a'ld another that the
former President is tue popular
choice.
+ Roosevelt sentiment in the south
western group of states has grown
to such proportions that there seems
small chance of many delegates being
instructed for the President. Several
of the westArn states have been pro-
ductive Of news encouraging to the
Roosevelt managers.
Outside of the letters and kilograms
that are daily pouring into the Wash
jngton headquarters, sentiment may
be judged by the attitude of county
newspapers from practicallXusuever
state in the union. More than three
quarters Of these papers are either
openly fighting for Colonel Roosevelt
or giving mild encouragement to his
campaign. A comparatively small
'1umber are openly for Mr.. Taft
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Mrs, Phil Watcrs, who has been