East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-02-07
TAFT'S HOME STATE
IS FOR ROOSEVELT
NEWSPAPER MEN WITH
PRESIDENT SO STATE
Opinion of Experienced Journalist
Political Observers Differs Greatly
From That of Private Publicity De-
Dartment


Washington, Feb. 1.-THE story told
by newspaper men VINO accompanied
President Taft to Ohio last week does
not bear out that which was given
out by the newspaper statement of
the presidents party. These scribes,
| all experienced political observers,
simply affirm that those parts OF
Ohio to which the prudential party
went are on fire with Roosevelt sem
timent Cleveland, Columbus and
| Akron are referred to.
The writer's assert that serious
question exists that the president Will
be able to control the delegation from
his own state, If those parts visited
| be any criterion whence to judge the
remainder of the state. 1t was APP
parent, they say, that the republican
progressives are manifesting a dispo-
sition to get together. Roosevelt
seems to be falling heir to virtually
all of the strength that has been gen
Grated by that movement.
1t is suspected that these things
are known to the managers of the
president. and they do not feel that
degree of confidence they showed in
! ther published utterances. 1t is ap-
parent they realize at last what sort
of a task they have cut out for them
in Ohio. They rea ize that the
I Roosevelt movement is a live politi-
cal quantity, and that it is increasing
every day.
1t is doubtless true however that
the president strengthened himself
! hat of ViQOr
into his methods of campaigning His
workers have complained that he
lacked the affirmative quality they
thought he needed; and since his ONO
! speeches they appear to address
themselves with more confidence, so
far as the general phases of the fight
are concerned.
But. as to the specific Roosevelt
pha e. it is now beyond bubble that
these Taft men are sorely perpieXed'
"How can we fight man who isn't
a candidate, and yet who is the big
gest sort of a candidate?" they ask.
None comes forward with the prop
er answer.
i The result of the Cook county, Illi-
nois. caucuses-which were unani-
nous for Roosevelt, 60 being held
worries the white house. Illinois
stands next to New York as one Of
the three most powerful states politi-
cally in the Nnited States. In it is
the city that ranks next to New York
in size and business importance, Chi
cago. The whole middle west is
largely affected by the influences
that flow from that state.
In other states of the middle west,
likelike tendencies are noticed. In
Minnesota. the Progressive movement
and gained strong hold The state
for a time was thought to be for La
Toilette, although it was knawn that
very hard fight was in store.
1t now looks as though Minnesota
would be for Roosevelt. Even in the
congressional district from which
James A Tawney came to congress,
the First, it appears to be almost
certain that Roosevelt delegates will
go to the state convention.
The speaker Of the Minnesota house
of representatives, H. H. Dunn, is
quoted as saying that that district
will give Roosevelt delegates, with
the exception of Winona City, the
| nome OF ldMHGN. IdNIGy NpS OhS
of the bitterest enemies of Roosevelt.
The two exchanged hostile statements
while both were here in official life.
| Their fight was nationally conspicu-
Gus
Yet that district whence for 20
years Tawney came. appears to be for
Roosevelt, for the information upon
| which the statement Is based does not
by any means come solely from
Speaker Dunn.
The agreement between the Roose-
welt and La Toilette forces in Ne
braska to join issues augurs also for
the capture of that state by the
Roosevelt men. The spirit of "get
| together is regarded as likely to
| spread over the middle western coun-
| try. so that which has been looked
on as a prime essential seems to be
in a fair way to be realized. If this
is done. the progressives will prob
ably make a much better showing
than it has been though up to lately
they could make.
All Of these signs and portents are
read with sober faces by the political
astrologers who serve at the white
house They are visibly worried.
The logic of all of this, as seen
here. is that the mixed situation so
apparent a short time ago is begin
ming to clear; and it bears out the
prognostications of those who called
attention to the drift that would en-
sue of La Toilette followers into the
Roosevelt camp. Some of these men
are going in that direction. with lin
gering expressions of the resentment
they feel at the forces that are push
ing them along. Yet they are going,
and it is realized that others will go
with them who have been vigorous
in their support of Senator La Fol-
lette
Many of Senator La Follette's fol-
lowers feel keenly the necessities that
seem to force them to align with
Roosevelt. They continue to sayzthat
they regret it. Some of them say it
with bitterness
1t is recalled that, when Roosevelt
was president, he and La Toilette
never were on good terms. Roosevelt
often-very often-expressed the
opinion that La Toilette was not safe.
that he was ultra-radical. La Toilette
frequently very acknowledgement
that Roosevelt was not progressive
enough.