Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-21
Deadlock in Convention Would
Elect Him, Friends Say.
CANDIDACY HURTS TAFT
Bound Delegates Held to Be Crux Of
Presidents Campaign.
CROP OF FAvoRITE SONS DUE
Republican Situation Similar to That
Of 1e0e-Roosevelt's Course
Problematical.

Some politicians at the Capitol were in
| clined yesterday to regard Senator Cum
MINIS entrance into the presidential race
as likely to further complicate the sit
uation for President Taft. They said
| that the crux Of the Taft campaign is
| the securing OF delegations to the ma
| tional convention bound by instructions
for Taft.
Tho withholding. therefore, Of instruc-
tons by any state. or instructions for a
favorite son. weakens to that extent the
Taft strength in the convention. Many
politicians In Congress are convinced that
an effort will be made to stampede the
convention for Roosevelt The presence
In the convention of any considerable
number Of uninstructed delegations is re-
garded by them as Just that much en-
Cummins Hopes for Deadlock.
1t Is realized. however. that in the case
Of Iowa, even II the state instructs for
Cummins as its favorite son, Taft is like
ly to be second choice. Senator Kenyon.
VITO II Senator CUMMING colleague. favors
the denomination Of Mr.. Taft. But Sen
ator Kenyon has announced that he can
do nothing else but stand by his colleague
when he seeks the backing Of his own
delegation.
Some Of Senator Cummins' friends said
yesterday that the senator is not propos-
ing himself az q candidate merely to
swing the delegation away from Taft and
will hold II entirely. but that he believes
In the possibility Of deadlock at Chi
cago, and that In such case he would
have a. good a chance as any one else
10 hn h0 hnfA nj hn
vention.
Senator Cummins' friends said yes
terday that in their opinion the Iowa
statesman would be preferred over
Senator La Toilette In case Of a dead
lock. They insist that the Iowan has
never been as radical as Senator La
Toilette and that he would be more
acceptable to the moderate progress
ives and less Questionable to the old
guard in case 1t should become neces-
sary to seek a compromise candidate.
Situation Similar to 1908.
OF course. there are politicians who
could only see In Senator Cummins'
announcement Of his candidacy a
stalking horse for Roosevelt. But the
senator's closest friends insisted that
such was not the case and that Sena-
tor Cummins is sincerely fighting for
his own hand.
The appearance Of other favorite
sons In the field will be watched with
interest by the Taft supporters. 1t is
said. and the query was suggested yes
terday whether a concerted movement
10 on foot by the progressives to flush
favprite sons from a number OF states
with q view to preventing Taft-in-
structed delegations. The situation Is
-in-some respects not unlike that Of
1908. when. 1t will be remembered, the
opposition to Taft practiced the same
tactics.
The allies, as they were called,
framed up delegations for Cannon.
Fairbanks, Knox and others, with a
view to swinging them into line at the
crucial moment for some compromise
candidate. But the crucial moment
supported the administration and pre-
scented q nucleus around which other
Taft delegations quickly gathered. The
allies were divided but the administra-
ton had one candidate first, last and
all the time, and stuck to him.
Roosevelt q Problem.
Senator Cummins' entry into the field
IL expected to have the immediate ef-
feet Of causing the Taft men to re-
double their efforts for instructed dele
cations. These delegations will go to
Chicago with no second choice. II is
said, but prepared to stick. and es-
against attempted stampedes.
In 1908. with Roosevelt exerting all
his power to prevent q stampede to
himself they had to keep the lid