The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-25
Anticipations Of Defeat Have
Given Way to a New
sa.
Axs,
COLONEL CAN OVERCOME III = I;
ADVANTAGE N THE SOUTH
Pitssburg Paper Puts Roosevelt Name
It Masthead and Declares 1t Is Time
tn Turn From Presidential Failure
TO Presidential Certainty.

ago a perfectly sane and sober Repub.
lican Of wide political experience de-
clared that there were just three
states in the country that he would
concede to Taft in the next electoral
college.
He named Utah. Vermont and
Iowa. Everything else he classed as
Democratic or doubtful.
But despite this he conceded that
Taft would be nominated.
Since that estimate was made there
has been such rapid change in con-
ditions that today the forecasters are
almost as doubtful about the Taft
nomination as they then were about
the election.
The Republican party has at last
pulled itself out Of its stupor and de.
spondency. and is getting busy in the
effort to figure out way to save IT.
self. The hopeless admission that 1t
cant help nominating man pre-
People who are now supporting Mr..
ally doing 50 on the ground that they
believe he can be elected. Those
who don't believe he can be elected
have quit conceding the nomination to
him. They are talking and working
for somebody else. The fight is on and
the last week has made plain. even
to the purblind politicians of the ad-
ministration, that it is a very real
fight
ALI this marks fairly revolution
ary change in conditions. The new
stirring Of Republican interest Is re-
ported from all sections. To the La
Toilette leadership is due a large
credit for breaking ground for demon
strating that the masses Of the party
were not for Taft.
Even without bringing Roosevelt
into the contest. Taft would probably
have been defeated for nomination II
it had not been for his hold on the
great block Of southern delegates. It
was the realization Of the heart break
ing handicap which he Possessed in
that quarter that held back his oppo-
sition.
Eject Of Roosevelt Movement. r
Only Roosevelt could break the Taft
force In the south. It was widely be-
lieved. So long as the south scanned
hopeless there was believed to be lit
tie use stirring up the real sentiment
of other sections. But with Roosevelt's
name being pushed by his friends, and
Roosevelt himself silent as to his in
tentions. the anu-Taft people have
taken heart. believing that they will
shortly develop condition in which
Colonel Roosevelt will recognize the
call Of the country to a service which
he cannot refuse.
Among the supporters Of Taft the
conviction that Roosevelt will at
length permit activities in his behalf
is inducing lethargy exactly parallel
to that which q few weeks ago pos
sessed the opposition. The boot Is
on the other foot. The anti,Taft forces
are up and coming and the Taft peo-
pie are "in the doldrums." They whis-
tie for wind-and when 1t comes It is
the wrong kind Of a breeze. The drift
carries them toward the rocks instead
Of toward the Republican haven.
Poll Favors Roosevelt.
Nothing gives the Taft managers 80
much grief these times as polls that
are printed about the country. The
latest Is that Of a Pittsburg paper,
which sent out postal cards asking
expressions Of first choice. Roosevelt
got 4s6. LaFollette 10s and Taft 68.
Richard r. Quay. son Of the former
senator. has come out for delegate to
the national convention. declaring he
Is foor Roosevelt and wants Roose-
velt support. Senator Finn. Repub-
lican leader in Pittsburg, has pro.
nounced for Roosevelt The progress
sive leaders in New Jersey are doing
tho same. West Virginia is torn up
over the Roosevelt developments. and
New York leaders are reported more
anxious to hold back the Roosevelt
wave than to press It too rapidly at
this time.
Lyon Holds TEXAS Fate.
That Cecil Lyon. national commit
teeman from Texas. will before long
declare for Roosevelt is firmly be-
lieved. II he does 1t will he the signal
for disintegration Of the machine.rid-
den south in the same fashion that
tho north has been crumhling away
from the Taft organization.
II Lyon says the word 1t will be the
death knell to Taft's hopes. He is not
likely to speak till he has the word of
Roosevelts willingness. The southern
leaders will recognize this ana there
VIII be scurryihg for the new band
wagon.
That is why the Taft MANAGERS are
maKing desperate haste to get their
Just as soon as possible. Every day 10
precious to them now. They don't
know what Postmaster General. Hitch.
cock may do; they fear LYON: thew
are worried about Tennessee: the
state has been giving grave concern.
Iowa Lost to Taft.
While the Taft leaders affect to re-
indication Of split among the pro-
sresstves, and. therefore grist to the
Taft mill. they do not really 10 con-
slider It, They know that Iowa has
been slowed away in the opposition's
strong box. There 10 no use botherins
about 1t now. Taft might have wrest.
Cd 1t. or part Of It. from LaFollette,
He can't take It from Cummins.
Pennsylvanisns for Colonel.
PittsburE. Jan. c6.-Formai an.
nouncement has boon made by Rich.
ard r. Quay Of sewickley and Francis
J. Torrance Of the north side. acting
IN concert. that they are candidates
to represent the Twenty.ninth district
in the Republican national convention.
I'd that they will support Rooseyeit
for president It has caused much