Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1912-02-08
Thinks 1t Would Be Undigni-
fled To Get Into Scramble
For Office
OPPOSED ON PRINCIPLE
Says His Record Speaks For Itself
Roosevelt Sentiment In The Party
Is Growing

A dispatch from Washington says
Following the return of President Taft
from his tour through Ohio and the
upward trend of his candidacy for re-
nomination there has been a rival of
the report that within a short time
there would be established i'm this city
| a political headquarters for the aggres-
sive direction of Mr.. Taft's renomin-
alton.
This report, however, according TO the
best information that is available, is
without warrant The President has
been seen by number Of his political
friends since his return and urged to
establish such bureau, but he has not
only failed To give his consent but has
let il he known that he is opposed on
principle 10 such program.
Mr.. Taft takes the position that il
would be undignified in him 10 get into
an open scramble for denomination. He
says that his record sp"aks for itself
and should, without further argument
insure denomination. lfit dosen't then
he holds that it would be useless To gel
up such an organization as his friends
propose. The Presidents opinion has
been strengthened by the views of Otto
Barnard New York. Charles ID.
Hilles, his secretary however is under
stood TO favor an orgsaization.
Meanwhile, pressure for a Taft organ
ization In Washington, where men
from the several states may go to talk
over political situations and give and
receive advice, is insistent. Under the
present arrangement, Taft Republicans
from the states come to Washington to
get advice regarding situations at home
and find nobody with whom TO talk.
These men, and some of the president s
close friends. have told him that he is
far from being the only person who has
important intesests at sIake in the cam
paign.
II Mr.. Taft should be renominated
without the aid Of an organization, he
will have unique place in American
political history. Once safely by the
national convention, this fact would be
expected to help him in the campaign.
But it is more difficult to control the
national convention.
"The popular sentiment in the repub-
lican party seems turning toward Roose-
velt," said Republican member of the
Senate, a Taft man, "while Mr.. Taft
has on his side the party leaders in
perhaps a majority of the states. 1t
would not require much of an organiza-
ton 10 pull him safely through the
convention; whether we can pull him
through without an organization, how
ever is something which nobody can
foretell at this time" The Taft forces
are confident they will win if Roose-
velt takes himself conclusively out of
the fight. They realize that if, OH the
other hand he permits his friends to go
a head and make their best fight for
him i'm the united fashion that il is
nov possible for the first time, he is
although likely to be nominated.
The former president has been re-
peatedly quoted as declaring in sub
stance that he was not an active can
didate, but that he could not refuse a
call to the leadership II that call were
voiced by the party at its convention.
There will be no factional opposition TO
the extension OF that call,