The Washington times., 1912-04-09
RUMORS SAY THERE
IS D|SSENS|ON IN
PRESIDENTS CAMP
If Illinois Is Lost Mckinley
Is to Have Advisory Coun-
Gil to Help Him.
By JUDsoN C. wELLIvER.

Serious dissen8lons regarding the
management of the Taft campaign,
which have been rumored for some
time, are expected 10 becomc inlmedi-
ately acute IL the Taft campaign fails
TO annex Illinois IN the primaries to-
dav. .E
That il will fail is the confident ex-
recitation of politicians In nil camps
who have been watching developments
In the state.
From the LAY when Congressman Nc
lSinlcy was placed in charge OF the
Taft headquarters, and The Times ex-
posci the fact tha; the selection
amounted 20 placing The Administra-
tion' 8 political interests in the guard
anship Of the Lorimcr crowd. there has
been grave concern 5mong the Taft
bacLers. The situation was made vast
Nv worse by the development that Mr.
Mckinley was to be chairman of the
national committee IL Taft were noni-
mated
Mckinley. being one of the most in
innate of the Lorimer leutenants, this
combination was calculated to shock the
sensibilities even OF cynical folks. Hard
ened old politicians whose nerves were
prepared for any shock realized that
such n deal would not go well with
other people less Injured to the dlscoln-
forts of political bedfellowship.
Too Large for Mckinley.
Atop of this came the mismanaged
Taft campaign In Indiana, which not
only cost Taft half the delegates, but
convinced the country that peculiarly
coarse and Objectionable methods were
being employ yed-methods certain to in
jure the cause.
Some of the big men behind the scenes
of the Taft campaign such as Root,
Crane asa nd nNh
preciated the dangers of such a situa-
ton. Moreover, these eminently prac-
tical gentlemen early became convinced
that the task. was proving rather too
! large for the Mckinley plans to cope
with. They recoliected with mlsgiving
that two years ago Mr.. Mckinley man.
aged a Republican Congressional cam
paign, and lost the House b. an over
whelming majority, the first time any
Republican, manager had succeeded in
losing II In sixteen years. This con-
Stituted unique distinction that did
not highly commend Mr.. Mckinley TO
get results. .a... ....- o.. y.....
Today May Be Crisis.
Today Is likely to prove the crisis In
| both the Taft campaign and Mr.. Nc
! Kinley's management thereof. II his
own state of Illinois fails to come up
| with substantial unanimity for McKin-
| ley's fight. 1t will justify all the criti-
cisms and misgivings that have been
voiced SO freely of late. IL. in addition
| to this, Taft fails tomorrow to get in
| structions In New York, 1t will be
pointed TO. as the conclusive evidence
that the campaign is in the hands OF
| What changes in the management OF
| affairs may result, are thus far only
conjectures. 1t, is expected that nc
nominal reorganization of the Taft
leadership will. take place. but simply
that a sort Of advisory board OF po.
liticai experts, sort of strategy
council, will be quietly created tC
stand in the shadows behind the nom,
inals manager, and try TO steady his
movemsnts and direct his operations
This board will be kept in the quiet
as much as possible, lest the projection
OF more reactionary Influences into thu
accentuate the public distrust -
marked since the McKmley-Lorimel
forces we're put in charge.
Taft Stock Says.
Taft stock in Pennsylvania sagged Of
alarmingly when Mayor Rudolph Blan
kenburg announced that the police ant
the city employees would not be per
mitted to play their traditional part II
grabbing the primary and countini
whatever result the machine wanted.
Mayor Blankenburg, a Democrat, wa
elected as reformer, and has been CIV
ing demonstrations of his sincerity, o
which this latest policy Is one. II tn
Penrose machine is deprived of TIL
privilege OF bullying the voters ant
! counting the results to suit itself, IT
chance in Philadelphia will shrfnl
pathetically.
1t has been a time-tried system Il
Philadelphia, for the police to man tn
polls on election days. for the purpose
under pretense of maintaining order, o
driving away voters who are opposed
to the organization, getting them int,
street brawls, forcing trouble on them
and generally terrorizing people who's,
sympathies are not with the machine.
In addition to this the city employe!