The Washington times., 1912-02-06
TAFT FOES NOW
UNITED IN BOON
FOR ROOSEVELT
Withdrawal of La Toilette
Makes Pan-Progresslve
Unity Possible.
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Continued from First Page.)
their Judgment will best serve the pro-
gressive principles which his candi-
dacy represents.
progressive principles" is very specih-
cally defined in the statement b. Mr.
Mccormick, another La Toilette leader.
thus:
Progressives in Illinois must
unite to send Roosevelt delegates to the
next Republican convention"
With the way now cleared and a unit.
possible, attention is being given to
the States whose attitude is likely to
be critical and whose actions pivotal.
Brown, chairman of the Republican
State committee and leader of the
Roosevelt movement, declares himself
more than satisfied with conditions
he was positive. the State would send
an anti-Taft delegation This was es-
pecially significant because the pro-
gressives were more sharply divided in
Ohio than almost anywhere else. There
had been evidences Of actual friction be-
tween the La Toilette and Roosevelt
elements: In this regard the situation
was strikingly like that in Illinois.
The Illinois Gordian knot has been
promptly and effectuaIly severed by Mr.
McCormick's action. He has lost not an
hour In making the vigorous move for
establishment of pan-progressive unity
OnlO invites NOlOutl.
That the same thing is planned in
Ohio, and with excellent prospects of
satisfactory results, Is now known. Tho
Ohio constitutional convention, now sit
ting at Columbus, has adopted reso-
luton inviting Colonel Roosevelt to ad-
dress it. The occasion, of course, would
be nominally non-political. The con-
vention is strongly Democratic on joint
ballot, yet the invitation was adopted
by unanimous vote 1t was, on its face,
merely a compliment to a distinguish -
citizen who in recent years has con-
tributed much to national thought along
the line of liberalization of constitu
tional restrictions.
But back of all this was the very
pay a visit to Ohio at this time. and
that. IL possible he should make the
occasion notable by some observations
of more direct and immediate political
significance.
The impression in Washington today
was that Mr.. Roosevelt would likely
go to Columbus, and If he does 1t will
be accepted by both the Taft and anti
Taft factions as a signal to his Ohio
friends that he Is watching their oper-
ations with sympathetic and approving
eye"
strongly graVitates toward New York.
There, unlike Ohio, the anti-Taft sent-
ncnt is all Roosevelt sentiment \
powerful element of the cid guard
leaders want Roosevelt nominated. be-
,ausc they see in Roosevelt leadership
tho sole chance of Republican victory.
as to New York, the situation IS not
SO difficult of explanation as many have
;n;sde 1t appear. 1t amounts 10 just
Barnes Potent Factor
William Barnes, jr., chairman Of the
State committee, and, under the New
York organization plans, very potent
pcrsonage, Is neither a Taft nor
Roosevelt man. He doesn't lie either.
He is too conservative for Roosevelt,
toe strong a believer in purity success
to regard Taft with favor.
Mr.. Barnes heads the Old guard
forces Roosevelt interfeTed many times
with their control of Now Yorl; arGirs
They don't want t. commit themselves
to Roosevelt, until they shall first have
obtained substantial assurances that II
lie becomes President aGain. he Will
keep hands off hew York. He Will !et
the old guarders run things at Albany
TO suit themselves Ho Will be asked
not to use his power to impose state
rcuces that they don't want.
It Is as good as certain that II Roose-
Welt were actually and openly candt,
date, and II he would today send word
to barnes that he was willing to make
terms on this basis. then the New York
organization would immediately turn its
support to him.
With the Empire State thus situated,
1t ia plain enough that agreement is NOT
at all difficult, which will l'rlnE the
Sane harmony among anti-Taft forC eS
that the Withdrawal of La Toilette is
bringing about in Ohio and Illinois.
AS u Indiana, another pivotal state,
the hest possible test Of real sentiment
has been developed by a newspaper
loll of voters, showing Roosevelt the
overwhelming favorite of Republicans
in, cities, towns, and country.
These polls everywhere come up with
like demonstrations. The Minneapolis
journal has made one in Minnesota.
That has been one of the strongest La
Tollettc States, aside from Wisconsin.
Yet in a total of 600 votes, RooseYolt
mas 2,GSS; La Toilette. 1874 Taft, 1,33l
t'ummins, 80; and Hughes, 4. Among
Democrats, Wilson had a majority over
all, getting 474 to Ill for Bryan; Clark,
7S: Harmon, so, and Folk, l6. Debs got
lG
Missouri has recently been claimed by
the Taft people, mainly on the ground
that the St. Louis committee after in
dorsing Roosevelt, resCinded its action
AS a sort of compliment to Secretary
Nagel q resident of that city. But the
original action vas personal expression,
the later political eXpediency; and the
test is in poll of Missouri voters,
that has recently given Roosevelt, 5O,l25;
clark, lO,647; Bryan, 9,S43; Taft, 6,OS3; La
Toilette, 5,4I9; Folk, 5,7Sl; Wilson, 4,6IO;
Debs, l. 754; Harmon, 1857; Cummins, 7SJi
Underwood, 255; and Foss 40.