The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-04-06
INDICATED BY DEVELOPMENTS
IN q. q. r.. SITUATION.
Great Number OF Contests Planned
BY Roosevelt Forces Before Chi
cago Convention, which Adminis-
trntsn will Control; senator Bo-
rsh's signifscant Statement In An-
nouncing His support OF Former
President. and Known Attitude of
Pincl'ot Tend to Confirm Predic-
uon OF Third Party.

and Courier
Washington. March 31.-Not only
Is the course OF events in the fight be-
tween Taft ami Roosevelt for the Re-
publican nomination tending to veri-
~ the prediction made In this cor
respond ence some time ago that Col.
Roosevelt would bolt and run anyhow
after the Taft steam-roller had oper-
ated at Chicago. but matters are so
shaping themselves as to indicate
that the former President and his
closest associates are working towards
the organization Of a third party with
himself at the head OF II In the com
ing campaign.
The systematic arrangement of con-
tests on n large scale In practically
every State which L. being carried by
the Taft people In the Pre-Convention
struggle must have some meaning be-
yond the foriorn hope that enough OF
these contesting delegations will be
seated to give the Ex-President a
chance OF success at Chicago. AS the
i national Republican committee will
IN the temporary organization and
that committee is overwhelmingly
controlled by the Administration. It Is
obvious that tho vast majority OF the
contests will he decided In favor OF
Taft with regard to the temporary
organization. and to carry the fights
Nto the floor OF the Convention to be
decided by the temporary member
ship would even more surely result in
she temporary memberships voting In
ffs own favor. tttt
a Significant remark was made by
Senatos Borah, Of Idaho. Tuesday In
rn irpe 4 AZ great speech against
oomnittee. which investigated the
chsrges against Senator Stephenson
and declared the aged winconsinite
etitied to retain his seat. In replying
to interruptions which precipitated a
number of exchanges concerning the
political situation in the country to-
day. the brilliant young Idaho sena-
tor. who has been regarded as one of
the most conservative Of the progress
sives." rather startled the galleries
and number Of his colleagues by
pronounclng himself I'm favor OF Col.
Roosevelt for President: and then
with regard TO party alignments the
Senator said:
ANY party that would put i'm its
platform some method OF restoring
\ American competition I'm our country
and OF controlling the trusts. and
then nomiate man who would car
~ out that platform. would win in
the coming election no matter what
II might be called"
That Is taken 10 suggest very
strongly the formation OF a new party
led by Col. Roosevelt. and In the
campaign Of 1912. II Ia well under
stood that men like clifford Pinchot.
the deposed forester; his brother
Amos. and a number OF other prog
ressives'' who are dissatisfied with
the condition OF affairs In the Repub-
lican party and are unwilling To- be-
come Democrats. have been working
on this third-party idea for long
time. They regard the influences con-
trolling both OF what they call "the
old parties" as opposed To their con-
ception OF progress; and with them.
no doubt. they will be able to carry
the anomalous. though financially
valuable. SUI port as that of Mr.. Geo.
w. Perkins. the multi-millionaire
captain OF Industry" who II opposed
to both the Taft and the Democratic
policies OF dealing with tho trust
problem. so far as those policies have
shaped themselves up to this timo.
Administration Republicans. while
not talking much about it are pro-
foundiy disturbed over the indica-
tions that the Ex-Presidcnt Is getting
his ducks I'm row To- keep on run
ming In spite OF the nomination Of
Taft at Chicago and that the pros
pect includes definite plan To- or
ganize third party. They do not see
victory for Roosevelt In this. but
they do sec the absolute certainty Of
victory for the Democrats IL the lat
ter continue their skillful course and
select leader In any way acceptable
10 the American public. And what Is
worse. "a the older Republicans see
u. the coming campaign may mean
that such n melancholy fate Is about