Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-06-12
WILLIAM Il. TAFT, Ohio
9 by J. E. Purdy.
BY II. v. ANDREWS.
.HE Republican national conven.
ton of 1912 will be the great
est in point of numbers in the

est in point of numbers in the
history of the party and. the
political prophets are agreed. the most
momentous since wartimes. 1t will
be the climax of a Denomination con-
test uDexampled in the annals of the
United States, If not of the world.
For anything like parallel it is nec-
essary to go back to the Chicago con-
vention Of 1880. when Conkling and
Garfield were the dashing leaders of
the opposing forces Of General Grant,
who had been put forth for third
term, and Of John Sherman. Ohio's
choice for the nomination. while Blaine
loomed up as formidable competi.
tor. The faithful 306 delegates who
stood fast for Grant have become al.
most as famous in American political
as the Balaklava 600 are in British
military history. and from this con-
vention dated the fractional strife Of
''staiwarts" and half breeds" that rent
the party and Inspired the fanatic Gui
teau to take the life Of Garfield. who,
as dark horse" was the winner in
the convention.
Popularity Of "the PIumed Knight"
Barring Roosevelt In the zenith OF
his popularity. no Republican aspirant
for the presidency since Lincoln has
ELECTED such enthusiasm from his sup
porters as James &. Blaine. Unsuc.
cessful in the conventions of 1875 and
1880, be secured the nomination in
1884, only to be defeated at the polls.
He refused to be considered as can
didate in 1888. but in 1892. though
stricken with a mortal disease, he al.
lowed his name to go before the con-
vention. where it evoked the most re.
markable demonstration of enthusiasm
that q Republican nominating assem-
blage had ever known. But the crowds
In the galleries could not vote, and the
delegates on the floor when the storm
Of cheering had passed named Harri.
son for the presidency.
Since 1892 the Republican conven
lions have not been memora bic for hard
fought contests. Mckinley at st. Lou
is In 1896 Overcame all opposition on
the first ballot. He was renominated
without a contest at the Philadelphia
convention In 1900. when Roosevelt
was chosen to ill second place on the
ticket. The latter's nomination in 1904
was foregone conclusion, and the
perfectly oiled machinery Of the 1905
convention accomplished the nOnina
ton of Taft without jar.
1t Is safe to predict that. whatever
may happen at the Chicago Coliseum
on June Is and the days following. the
proceedings will be distinctly different
from those of any Republican conven-
ton OF recent years.
Beginning Of the Roosevelt Boom.
The Roosevelt boom may be said to
have started with the announcement
Of 1.-THE seven governors" that they had
summoned the colonel from his poiti
cal retirement to assume the leadership
Of the progressive" wing of the party
and to propose himself for third term
as president. Having cast Ibis hat In
the ring" the colonel delivered his
def to the conservatives Tor the. RE-
sctionaries." as be prefers to call them
~ bis Columbus speech. "A Charter ct
Democracy" before the Ohio constitn
tionai convention. This speech. intend.
ed to be the keynote" Of the precon
vendon campaign was chiefly re
markabIe for its setting forth Of the
doctrine of the recall of jndiciai dt4ci-
sions. which has ever since been one
OF the lighting issues OF the factiona.
contest. President Taft for some time
refrained from answering the attacks
made upon his administrator nv h,s
former friend and political sponsor
but at Springfield, Mass, late In April
be abandoned his policy of reticence
and. declaring that his back was to the
wall and that there was nothing FOL
him to do but fight. replied to Colone
Roosevelt In kind. From that time or
ordinations and recriminations have
been banded between the two Ole
friends In a manner to make the Amer
lean public sit up.
Work TO Be Done at Chicago.
On June 19 1913 men and women
flor delegates from the suffragist
states will have seats in the conven
tom win assemble IN the Chicagt