Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-10-02
ABANDON TAFT TO
Save THE STATE
TICKET IS plan
Idaho Republicans Realize
Hopelessness of Effort to
Pull President Through
in This State.

The cause Of William Howard Taft
as candidate for president OF the
United States has virtually been aban-
doned in the state Of 1dano. Realizing
the hopelessness Of carrying this state
, for the president in the face Of the &C.
ton of the Chicago national conven
ton. party leaders now lealize that the
quicker the Taft issue Is abandoned
the better 1t will be for the Republi-
can state ticket, which Is to receive
the center of attack. and which must
therefore be the center for concen-
trated support. and be given this In
order to make its election by the Re-
publican state central committees
These facts--and they have crystalized
into undeniable, cold, hard facts
have at last dawned upon those in
charge Of the campaign in this state.
The word has been quietly passed
down the line. Forget the Taft issue;
do not quarrel with Republicans di :
yided on the presidential issue, for
1t Is hopeless. Put your shoulder to
the wheel for the state and county
ticket"
Day Realizes Situation.
| II 1t were not for the political ef-
feet an admission Of this fact might
have, George A. Day, chairman Of the
Republican state central committee,
might be inclined to openly admit that
the Taft cause is hopeless in Idaho,
it is said on the best OF authority.
When Mr.. Day went down to the south
east and eastern part of the state with
John NJ. Haines. Republican candidate
for governor. to be inspired by the
stirring political addresses of the gu
bernatorial candidate, noted for his
oratorical ability, he realized the hope
lessness of the Taft issue. 1t was then
that State Chairman Day in his consul
tations with party leaders quietly tip
ped Off the fact that it would be folly
| to keep up the conflict between Re-
| publicans who are divided on the pres
idential issue, and that IL 1t continued
the state ticket would be placed in the
| grayest danger. At Rexburg, at st.
Anthony, at Idaho Falls, at Pocatello
and at other points in the east and
southeast State Chairman Day told
party leaders and workers to quietly
forget the Taft issue. to cease from
quarreling with Republicans divided
on the presidential issue for II is
hopeless in this state to expect to
pull Taft through, but to get unitedly
behind the senatorial congressional
and state and county tickets in Idaho
and work unitedly for their election.
Speeter of Chicago Convention.
The specter of the Chicago conven-
ton has stared the state committee in |
this state in the face ever since the |
IL
in relation to the nomination stolen
by President William Howard Taft be-
came public property at that time and
1t was generally conceded that enough
states had been disfranchised in order
to give the nomination to the presi-
dent. it was thought that in this state
by Taft advocates that Idaho could be
carried by the president. These lead
ers forgot that the people had been
thinking, and that the theft of the
nomination had been SO impressed up
on their minds that nothing could re-
move it-no argument that could be
advanced could remove the counter
charge that theft of a nomination
for president had been committed. At
ter the state committee organized
along standpat lines with standpat
''1"1io III 'ioi sc, IL was even con- |
tended that the Taft issue could be
made go.
Revelation in Store for Leaders.
But a revelation was in store for the /
Taft advocates in charge
Of the party machinery. They had
made loud boasts of what they would
do when once in power, it is claimed
Every Republican would be forced to /
C0 fGa " !,
a deserter by the self-appointed lead
ers of the party who were willing to
sacrifice principle and accept a candi-
date who had been proven to have
stolen nomination. The leaders
without their host The rank
and file of the party refused to stand
Tor the chicago shame. Worst of all
they declared that they proposed to
voice their protest within the Repub-
lean party and remain Republicans,
At the same time denying their right
20 refuse to support q candidate who
had deliberately countenanced the
.heft at Chicago and was the recipient
u stolen goods. This was a stumbling
block that the Taft leaders in Idaho
lad failed to reckon with. They dis
covered that the block was Of such
magnitude that 1t could not be over
rank and file OF the party
would not be whipped into line and
hey would not be forced or dubbed
tut Of the party because the reaction
lries happened to be in control of its
The keynote address Of Senator
William e. Borah at Meridian, when
ie refused to sacrifice principle and
placed himself on record in the Chi
ago deal. as well as his stand against
hose who would ruin him politically
nd have been working overtime since
hen to do 30. II there was any Taft
eminent In Idaho at that time II
windled down to practically nothing
nd the cause Of the president was left
o be championed by few disgruntled
OPTICIANS who have but a selfish In
crest to serve, It 10 asserted. The
art issue was as good as dead. It