The Washington herald., 1912-03-24

II
inquiry as to the position which. he-will
take when the Chicago convention has
renoniinated President Taft, as it will
certainly do. 1t would seem impossible
for Mr.. Roosevelt now to support the
President He has burned his bridges
behind him Whether, like Achilles, he
will sulk in his tent, or whether he will
openly support the Democratic nomi-
nee, remains question.
In either event, he will do the party
injury. There can be no doubt upon
that point, although the amount of that
injury remains problematical. 1t is. a
fact, however, that Mr.. Taft is gaining
in strength daily, and if he continues
to pursue his present dignifed and con-
servative course there is strong prob
ability that he will gain enough inde-
pendent votes totmore than Offset the
Rooseveltian detection. For Mr.. Taft
is. wisely appealing to the business.
sense of the country, while, at the same
time he is not displaying any lack of
courage in dealing with the great mo-
nopolistic corporations which are al
legged to exist in defiance of law. 1t
is impossible to repeat too often or to
emphasize too greatly the value of this
business support. 1t has been the main
stay of the Republican party in the
past, and it is essential to that party's
continuance in power. 1t was the lack
of confidence in the ability of the DEM
ocratic party to safeguard business in
terests which prevented that party from
being victorious in 1896, and this i'm
preston of distrust has not entirely
been removed. 1t has, however, been
materially lessened by the. conduct of
the Democratic majority in the House.
1t is, of course, unfortunate that
division should manifest itself in the
Republican ranks at a time when har-
mony is more requisite than ever. The
Republicans have before them CON-
test of no small dimensions. Remem-
Der, for instance, that during the past
fifty years the election Of a Democratic
House of Representatives in the mid
die of Republican administration has
always been followed by Democratic
victory at the. polls in the ensuing
Presidential campaign, with the solitary
exception of the memorable election !
of 1876, and even in this case there
will be many who will assert that the
exception proves the rule.
So that, at the present time, the Re-
publicans need to present a solid front
to the enemy. If they are not able so
to do, it is because the preventive cause
is the former leader of their own party. |
Political events followed each other
during the week in rapid and interest
ing succession. President Taft met the
issue of direct primaries by declaring |
that he favors a popular vote for
Presidential nominee when such vote
can be cast under the sanction and |
with the safeguard of law Col Roose-
welt thereupon appealed TO the Presi- |
dent and his friends to support |
measures pending in various leg
islature which would legalize prina-
ries In North Dakota, where President
Taft is unpopular on account of his sup
port of reciprocity with Canada, Senator
La Toilette, who opposes reciprocity.
secured the delegates, defeating Col.
Roosevelt, and with the President al
most ignored. In Indiana the Demo-
cratic State convention instructed for
Gov Marshall, but this action is not
construed as being anything more than
the Endorsement of a favorite SON. The
Maine Democrats declined to instruct
their delegates, and the Ohio Democrats
decided upon a direct primary.
In Ohio. by the way, the Republi-
can county committeeman have met
and indorsed the President, but those
who are acquainted with the true po-
litical inwardness of that State are full
ly aware of the work which must be
done in the Presidents behalf 1t is
rather interesting to those who view
the outlook from the standpoint of i'm
partial observation to see Ohio Repub-
licans working against the President
and Ohio Democrats active in their op-
position to Gov Harmon. This Ohio
situation is but typical of the disturbed
conditions which almost everywhere
prevail.
The Democrats, naturally, view with
complete equanimity the differences in
the Republican ranks. 1t is not their
fight They have, of course, some
troubles of their own. II they should
nominate Gov. Harmon, they would find
in Bryan the Roosevelt of their own
party. His attacks upon the Ohio can
didate, which are to be followed by per-
sonal opposition at the Baltimore con-
vention, would be seized upon with
avidity by every Republican orator.
Gov Wilson has also been attacked
within his own party, and even Champ
Clark's fervid declaration in favor of
tearing down custom-houses has heen