The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
PRESIDENT TAFT
 DECIDES ID FIGHT Is Loading His Guns With Chains aisd Scrapifon BOTH FIGHT HARD
Democrats Chuckle and Observe the Merry War, Meanwhile Working Hard Themselyes-Taf Peo-
 pie Cannot Turn Loose
By WALTER HARPER

Washington. April 3-(SpeoiaL)-It seems that President Taft has decided to fight. It is a chance of having to fight or quit The President denied himself to all callers today, and 1t is understood that he employed long hours in preparing his speeches for the Massachusetts campaign. It is said that he is loading his gun with real balls, chains and scrapiron. He is going after Roosevelt and that the fur will fly goes without saying.
 Taft has never displayed any scrap ping qualities to speak of, but reports have it that his dander is up now and history records that that kind of a scrap per is some sure enough buzzer.
 MT. Taft will leave Washington tomor- row and will jump into the fight in Mass aohusetts Thursday morning. Roosevelt has heard of the Presidents determination and has hurried back east from south ern tour so as to be close at hand when the scrap opens. He must be delighted.
 Both Sides Fighting Hard
 Both sides are lighting hard for Mass achusetts. Roosevelt people are very confident Taft people are uneasy. The race in Massachusetts will mean a great deal. It will be even more significant than were these results in Pennsylvania and Illinois, and especially if Roosevelt wins. No one realizes this fact more shan the President and his friends. 1t is binted that the President Is preparing to dig deeply into some dark corners or the former Presidents record. He may give some hitherto unpublished history about the failure of the Roosevelt admnistra- ton to push suits against the Harvester and other corporations. Yes. the genial, good natured Mir. Taft really threatens to do something strenuous and his friends are delighted over the prospects. While IL may appear undignifed it seems imper- alive that the President make some sort of vigorous defense of himself against the assaults of his old friend and sponsor
 The spectacle is truly delightful and the democrats feel like neglecting their own little troubles in their en- joyment of the real show--that is, If Taft can and will fight
 However. the republicans are begin- hing to realize that II will be folly to nominate either Taft or Roosevelt
 They Can't Turn Loose
 The Taft people are ready to admit that Taft should be abandoned but they iafe in the position of the boy who had the calf by the horns--they cannot af- ford to turn loose. Any show of weak ness on the part of the Taft organiza- ton would send those delegates al ready claimed for the President scuriy- ing into the Roosevelt camp and in- sure he latter's nomination on the first ballot
 The best that Taft people can do now is to get any hold on all the delegates possible and in the event that Taft's nomination is not assured make the transfer to third man at The last moment
 Fact is, the situation in the repuD- iican party has been transposed.
 The insurgents started out to pre- vent the iioniination of Taft. Today the burden of greatest effort seems to bc to prevent the nomination Of. the chies insurgcpt of the land. And the bur den falls on the administration. While II has the machinery, che administra- lion is not so sure that Taft will be
 <CONTINUED ON PAGE s..