The Washington times., 1912-10-08
PROPHET WANTED TO
PREDICT FUTURE Of
GRAND OLD PARTY
Disruption of Republicans
Prophesied If Taft Runs
Behind Roosevelt.

wANTEp-A seer or prophet. astroioser or
''onnd Old Party" ' ~ '"'
Any individual who feels competent
70 do this forecasting and who can back
UP his forecasts with reasonably strong
evidence that he knows whereof he
speaks. can find a steady Job in WASH
ington. He can take a stand along
Pennsylvania avenue and collect a fine
lot Of fees daily from anxious people
who would like TO consult him. He
would be occupied night and day from
now to election and perhaps afterward.
The future Of the Republican party IL
being discussed among political leaders
moro and more as the end OF the cam
paign approaches. This is . phase OF
the political situation that 10 really
politics more concern and more worry
than the fate Of one candidate or the
other.
Desertions Feared.
Scarcely any two people agree on
what Is going to be the future Of the
Republican party. It is pretty generally
admitted that II II should come out
third In the voting In November Il
would be sadly shaken and II would be
extremely difficult to keep It together.
A comparatively small proportion Of de-
voted members OF the party would stick
to II and 60 down with the ship. But
the tendency will be for men to desert II
should come out Of the election In
The Bull Moose movement, If It
proves stronger than the Republican
party In the voting In November, is
pound to be given q powerful impetus.
IT VIII be extremely difficult to keep
SUCH DrORreSaiyA n ha h,to 70
remained rea II the Republican party. away
A from 1t. Moreover. II will appeal pow
'erfully to many Democrats.
pni, All, cannot Mnn be questioned that II the
Republican vote. the leaders of the
Progressive party will go about the
business OF organizing for 1916. organ
;a,hg ~ ,a,i tor na the Congressional campaign
the Legislatures of States and for the
enactment OF Progressive legislation
with q fervor that will have a coun.
This is realized by many reactionaries,
and Is a potent reason why reaction
ary influences are working hard to
throw the Bull Moose to the place OF
third In the race
Place Holders Worried.
The defeat OF the Republican party,
II has to be remembered, will throw
out Of office thousands OF Republicans
Of long standing. many OF whom have
been devoted to the party for the sake
OF Jobs. Once out Of these Jobs their
enthusiasm will wane.
This Is a strong reason why the Re-
publican party will find itself gravely
weakened by defeat and weakened to
degree that Is not exactly registered
by the results of the balloting In
other words, the Republican party. II
Af tn1 all Al St.-A A.
members who stand ready to take to
the ifeboats when they think the ship
In danger Of sinking.
II will be hard thing to reofganize
effective fightins basis for 1sii or 1915
II II suffers a bad drubbing at the polls.
Unlike the Democratic party, Il has not
oeen through long years Of the school,
ing Of defeat.
Democrats as Conservatives.
A lot Of Intelligent political \opinion
here, opinion Of the impartial sort, try
ing to read the political future Impair
TALLY. believes It likely that II the Re-
publicans fall to third place this year
the party will 10 out Of existence. that
the Bull Moose party will replace the
Republican party. taking over every
and leaving the conservative elements
to md their way into the Democratic
party. while many progressive Demo-
Gratis quit their party and the, Demo-
cratic become In all respects the con-
servative party Of the nation.
Others look for the present situation,
with three parties in the country, not
including the Socialists, to continue at
others think that by 1916 the country
VIII have four parties. not including
the Socialists-the old Republican party,
conservative wing OF the Democratic
party. which many believe is sure to
split in the next four years II the
Democrats should elect q President to
come would mean that before long con-
ditions in Congress would be more
badly mixed than now and that some-
thing like the block system found in
obtain.