The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-26
STILL CONFIDENT
OF HIS ELECTION
Back Forced to Wall, He Will
Fight to Last, Even if 1t Means
Undoing of Party-Hughes
Talked Of as Compromise
Candidate at Chicago
Convention.
LSpecial to The TImes.Dispatch. !

washington, February 25,-President
TAFT and his political managers had
no pubic comment to make Tonight
on the Roosevelt statement, but 10 a
United States Senator who talked with
Mr.. TAFT In regard to the statement,
the President said:
know we are rigk, and I am
confident that VIC Will be successful"
The Roosevelt s-etement was re-
ceived BY Republicans with varying
opinions. but all agree that II was
stronger and more TO the pcint than
welt, in their opinion, has said not
only that he would accept the nomi-
nation II II comes TO him, but also: IT
am candidate: nominate me-"
Means Party Split.
The general drift of opinion among
all shades OF Republicans Is that the
Roosevelt statement means split In
the Republican party which absolute
" insures the election of n Democra tic
President unless some compromise is
reached. President Taft will never
consent now to yield in Roosevelts
favor unless no Is absolutely outvoted
In the Chicago convention. and Roose.
velt's supporters declare that his
statement may be taken as positive
assurance that he is In the night to
the finish.
IA Viz tplitlO1l vi experienced Re-
publican politicians this means 4 Bit
ter persona | campaign between the
President and his predecessor, with a
resulting situation that will make 1t
impossible for either to obtain the
cordial support of the other after the
nominee shall have been determined
In the Chicago convention. With such
split confronting the party there
will he only one hope OF success. and
~
promise candidate. If Roosevelt car
ries out his present Intention. such n
solution. In the opinion OF political
observers. Will be the only chance
for Republican success.
This decided turn in the situation
has again revived talk of Associate
Justice Charles E. Hughes as 4 pos
sible compromise candidate. II is the
consensus of opinion in WASHINGTON
that the President, in the event
of Rooscvelt's getting the upper
hand In the Chicago convention, would
throw his support to Hughes or to
some other candidate before he would
see the honor conferred upon Roose-
Welt
Not in Anger. but In Pain.
The President is said TO have re-
oeived Rooscvelt's statement not in
anger, but in great pain The rece!p,
OF inc statement meant to him the
blasting forever of friendship that
mad Tor years been warm and intimate.
The President was the last TO acknowl-
edge that Roosevelt had turned upon
him and was seeking to undermine his
political strength To those who
talked with him. the President ex-
pressed no concern over his own DO
litical fortunes 1t is the fortune OF
his party that is worrying him. The
President has expressed the fear TO
more than one of his friends that the
night that has been started will result
in the undoing OF the Republican party
this year. Yet the President himself
has been forced into a situation where
he Will be obliged TO wage a bitter
fight. and he intends to DO IL with all
his strength The President and his
advisers will try TO avoid personau-
ties, although they appreciate that
Roosevelt Is certain to say and do
things that Will require direct reply
from Mt. Taft The President feels
that his back has been forced against
the wall and no avenue has been left
Tor him except personal controversy
with his predecessor and former po-
litical sponsor. He will try to meet
the situation with dignity.
Opinions differed among the Repub-
lican progressires IN regard to the eff
feet Of the Roosevelt statement on the
political situation. Some of the pro-
Gressives OF the more conservative
type declared that the statement was
a mistake, and that it. together with
his Columbus speech. would drag
Roosevelt down to defeat
ProSressives of the more radical
type, however. hailed the Roosevelt
statement with high favor.
Relations Were Close.
The relations between Colonel Roose-
Welt and Mr.. Taft when the latter
served a Secretary of War were ey.
ceptlonally close. For months Presi-
dent Taft refused to believe that Col
onel Roosevelt would oppose him for
denomination, and that he was con-
WINGED the Colonel would turn n deaf
ear to all urging that he himself be-
come candidate was known TO all
Mr.. Tafts friends. These friends have
pointed out that Secretary of War
Stimson. who ran for Governor Of
New York with Mr.. Roosevelt as his
most conspicuous hacker. and also
Secretary of the Navy Meyer, who was
In the Roosevelt Cabinet, and one of
his chiefs closest counselors, were in
the Taft official family.
1t has been matter of everyday
comment that Secretaries SStimson and
Meyer have been frequent visitors to
Colonel Roo5evclts Offices in New
York or his home at Oyster Bay.
These visits were accepted as proof
that Taft and Roosevelt were not
wholly estranged. There is a great
deal of speculation here tonight as
to the probable attitude of these mem
hers OF the Ca binet. If their support
is given to Colonel Roosevelt, 'thair
designations may be expected
So far as Secretary Stimson Is con-
cerned. It Is known that he entered
the Taft Cabinet unhampersd as to
any future political activity Colonel
Roosevelt Is one of the men he ia
known to have consulted before he
lContinued. ON Second Pacel -