Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-04
CHEERS HIS FRIENDS
Taft's Confidence in Nominal
ton Inspires His Followers.
CONFERS WITH MCKINLEY
President Gratified by the Loyalty Of
the Alabama Delegates.
SUSTAINED HIS EXPECTATION
Not Counting on South Dakota To-
day, But Reports Indicate That
he May Get the Delegates.
CONFERS WITH MCKINLEY
SUSTAINED HIS EXPECTATION

The absolute confidence shown by
President Taft in his denomination is
having an inspiring effect all along the
| line. according to his friends in the
House and Senate. The Presidents
| assertion that he has the votes and
that there will not be sufficient de-
sertions to prevent him having a safe
majority at Chicago is generally ac-
cepted by his supporters as well
founded. The result is that those Taft
followers who have been dubious for
some time have stiHened up immensely
in the last week and are expressing
views similar to their chief.
The President and his friends are
watching with interest the movements in
the Roosevelt camp. which they think in
dictate lack of decision and confidence
While the White House has been MAIN
tanning that there is no doubt Of the out
come at Chicago. it is asserted that the
Roosevelt people have been vacillating.
adopting first one thing and then an
other and following one ultimatum with
another.
Conference With Mckinley.
President Taft now is practically in
charge Of his own campaign this side of
Chicago. Secretary Hilles. who Is an
Ohio man. is in Columbus. where the
struggle between Roosevelt and Taft fol-
lowers has been going on. and he may not
come back to Washington before proceed
ing to Chicago himself. Representative
Mckinley, the Taft campaign manager.
leaves for Chicago today. and political
news going to the White House will be
handled by the President himself. Mr..
Mckinley conferred with the President
for an hour this morning.
President Taft returned from Hampton
roads early this morning and was in the
executive offices before o'clock The
dispatches and letters laid before him
evidently pleased him. for he was in ex-
cellent humor. according to those who
talked with him.
He left the executive offices long enough
to make a speech to the International
Association of Factory Inspectors that
contained a little hit at Col. Roosevelt,
and when he returned to the offices found
the members of the cabinet assembled
for the cabinet session.
Action in Alabama Gratifies.
To his cabinet officers the President
has impaired his firm belief that there
is now no move the Roosevelt people
can make that will take the nomination
from him The President understands
that here and there in the south is a
delegate or two ready to violate his in
structions, but the number will be COM
parativeiy small.
The action Of twenty-five of the twenty
four Alabama delegates in announcing
their intention to stand by the President
to the last at Chicago is gratifying TO
Mr.. Taft, who has felt sure that the i'm
putations of broken faith in the south
will not help the Roosevelt forces there,
the delegates from that section showing
their resentment most plainly.
Not Counting on South Dakota.
The White House is not counting on the
vote of South Dakota today. but the re-
ports are that the President stands a
good chance to win the preference in that
state, which would give him ten dele
gates The fight today is a pretty hot
one. with La Toilette believed to have
more support than he has had anywhere
except in his own state and in North
Dakota La Toilette believes he will win
the delegates. But. as stated, the Taft
people are not counting upon the South
Dakota delegates.
Gratified at Success in Ohio.
The news that the Ohio convention
had given Taft the six delegates at
large was received by the President
while the cabinet was in session. The
President was distinctly pleased. al
though he had been confident all along
that he would win there. The six dele
gates from Ohio with the six from Ari-
iona, added yesterday, give Taft. 1T Is
claimed. close to $50 delegates, more
| than forty over the number necessary
| to nominate.