The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-06-06
Struggle Between Taft and
Roosevelt is Most Remark
able Case in History
NEBRkSKAN THINKS BOLT
BY T. r. FORCES LIKELY
Believes Voters Would Rebuke
Former, President at Polls
for Spectacular Squabble
BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.

BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN. +
Copyright. 1912, ny the Newspaper
Enterprise Association.D
The Chicago convention promises 10
be the most exciting ever held in the
history Of the country, provided, oc
course, there is no surrender before
the battle. Never before have we had
aepresident, lighting for a second term.
ntted against an ex-president, fight
ing for a third term. This alone would
make 1t battle OF giants, but an in
exhaustfble quantity of red fire is sup
piled for the celebration by the fact
that the contestants, once boeom
friends. are bitter enemies
Whatever may be the cause os the
feud, there is no doubt that fend
exists. and no feud among mountains
eers has ever been more deadly IN its
effect on participants and innocent by
ISLANDERS.
In a street duei a stray bullet some
times strikes a passerby. but in this
case several hundred thousand office
holders-not to speak of an army OF
aspirants-have had their hopes rid
died and their bread and butter filled
with fragments OF exploded shells.
In speculating as to +he outcome or
the convention one must have consid-
cradle latitude. AT the present. Il
looks like two conventions, II Mr..
Taft's supporters have the courage 10
do all that Is In their power.
The refusal of the COMMITTEES to
honor Mr. -ReeseEelt,s request for e556 ESQ
tickets indicates they have the aninius
to fight. but have they the courage 10
carry the fight to the last ditch? They
Ind tho lax hnl "a tA H.. -
precedent-when they gave the $50
tickets TO the president and refused
the ex-president, but the law is never
invoked between friends. Men are at
outs when they go to law.
Mr. Taft has control OF the national
committee. The committee can seat
enough OF the Taft delegates TO give
him a majority of the convention
and there win be about as much TO bc
said In favor OF the Taft delegates
from the South as can be said for Mr..
Roosevek's delegates from that sec
tion, for Republican delegates from
the South, whether they support TAFT
or Roosevelt, represent, as a rule. only
what patronage can corrupt or money
can buy.
There are two questions co be
answered. Whoever can answer them
correctly can foretell the result at
Chicago. First: Will President Taft
dare to use the machinery which he
controls? II he does-and the ms
chine doesn't break--he can take his
Southern delegations and, with
minority OF the delegates from the
North, nominate himself,
Does he want that kind OF a nomi-
nation? And will he risk whas Mr.
Roosevelt may then do? (If the ex-
president would announce In advance
that he would abide by the decision OF
the convention he would not have
much chance to secure a nomination.:
he might as well go TO Africa).
The second question is: What will
Mr.. Roosevelt do il his contesting
delegates are denied seatE? VIII he
take a majority OF the delegates from
the North, repair to another hall, seat
his contesting delegates from the
South and then proceed TO nominate
himself?
That would seem to be his purpose.
II indications and threats amount TO
anything. III the combatants are left
to themselves IT, Is safe to guess that
Mr.. Roosevelt Will be a candidate
either the nominee OF the regular
convention or the nominee of bolt
ing convention.
But there Is a third course. The
Republican national committee rs com
posed of men who, whatever their At
tachments TO particular individuals,
are still more attached TO the Pepub-
lican party. and they have IL in their
power TO determine the action OF the
convention. The committee VIII know
how many uncontested delegates Mr..
CContinued on page I0).