The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-03-11
WASHINGTON TIMES
SEES TAFT REVOLT
People Stirred Over Presi-
dents Opposition to d.
rect Primaries.
palladium Specially

SFSu8utuul SpcCi3H
WARRINGTON. March 1.-THE
fight being made by the Taft cam
psigu managers against direct pri.
maries 10 fully outlined In an article
by Judson G. Welliver. a special writ
er for the Washington Times. Mr.. Wei
liver writes as follows:
Revolt 10 being stirred in every Sec
ton Of the Union against the effort Of
the Taft campaign management 10 sup
press the demand for popular primar-
loo.
Already the question OF whether the
people are to have anything to do
with the management of the Republi-
can party has superseded all other
issues In the pre-convention fight.
Everywhere. the Taft forces are d.
rectinE every energy to prevent Dri-
maries; legislatures are being
dragooned. office.holders are being set
ut work to intrigue against the popu-
lar expression being taken. and big
business 10 using it, influence at
every point.
Situation Critical.
THE situation 10 critical, the lead
srship and the following of the Ma
tional movement for restoration Of the
rule Of the people are just realizing
how grave 1t 10.
III Taft 10 nominated, then, no mat
ter whether he 10 elected or not. the
reactionary crowd will have control OF
the Republican party's machinery for
the next four years. and that machin.
cry will be employed In every state,
in every possible way. to prevent the
extension OF popular government
measures.
ITO secure the support Of the most
reactionary wing OF the party. the
president has turned the complete con-
troll Of his candidacy over to the Can.
non. Crane-L orimer-M Mckinley element,
Of the party. The purpose Of this ele.
mont has at length become plain.
ITO keep control Of the party ma
chinery they must nominate Taft.
They will keep that control. II they
nominate him for four years more:
whsthsr they elect him or not. They
regard 1912 ~ q very likely Demo
cratic year. The most they seriously
hope to save out Of the wreck 10 the
control Of party organization. TO have
that. they are willing to sacrifice tho
parxy's chance Of electing the presi-
dent this year. They know Roosevelt
would be elected II nominated. but
they would rather have the country
10 Democratic than see Roosevelt
elected.
This kind Of talk Is heard more
and more freely INDUCED, day by day
and week by week. The increasing
bitterness of the pre.convention cam.
paign has induced measure Of frank
ness not before displayed. The fight,
so far a. the reactionary people are
concerned, Is for control Of the party.
vastly more than the Administration.
Their position IL perfectly simple.
VIII Defeat Party.
III we nominate Taft" these men
argue. I'VE lose the administration to
the Democrats. but we keep control
Of the party machinery. II We let
Roosevelt be nominated. We lose the
administration to the Progressives,
and the party machinery goes along.
1T 10 beginning TO be questioned
whether the president fully realises
the extent to which this disposition
amounts to . betrayal Of himself.
Even the forces that have been lined
up for TAFT don't feel any enthusiasm,
any real fighting loyalty to him. He ID
Z. figure-head: NO more. They are
fighting for party control in 1916. One
Of the oommonest observations heard
among them 10 that this Progressive
businsss' has got to be put down. and
II the party gets licked in 1912. it will
b ready BY 1916 to accept the leader
ship that promises to bring 1t back to
power, and drop all the Progressive
IDEAS and programs.
so the fight Of the Roosevelt people
for primary expressions Of presiden-
thai preference this year has suddenly
assumed the huge significance of .
contest TO save the great movement Of
popular government"