The Washington herald., 1912-02-05
THE POLITICAL PROCESSION
ny FRANCIS p. GEssNER.


The first eminent political caller who
will be given special attention by the
President on his return from Ohio to-
day Is Charles Nagel, Of Missouri who
is also n member of the Cabinet.
The call Of Secretary Nagel to-day
viii be unofficial While the President
has been achieving much good for the
party In Ohio, Secretary Nagel has been
no less busy in ST. Louis and Kansas
City, meeting Republican editors OF the
State at convention, and also LOCO or
so Republicans who, while not editors,
are wonderfully well informed as to
political conditions in their localities.
Secretary Nagel is no novice in the
real down deep work Of politics, and It
was because Of his intimate knowledge
OF Missouri Republican affairs that he
was made a member OF the Republican
National Committee four years ago.
During this recent trip TO his State he
was in touch not only with editors from
every county, but with local committee
chairmen-the men who Will have much
to do with naming the delegates to the
national convention.
An actual interview or statement was
not expected from Secretary Nagel prior
to the report he will make to his chief
to-day, but no seemed almost eager to
enunciate his satisfaction with the con-
dition of things at home. His first
social and semi-political conference after
| reaching Washington was with Solicitor
General Lehman and "Uncle Joe" Can
non. They had dinner together, but
could not have failed In general going
over OF the situation after details Of
his trip had been handed out by the
| rEsffh ri
pating what he nay relate to President
Taft to-day, indicated that the trend OF
things from now on in Missouri will be
for the President. Representative Barth-
oldt was also a guest of the editorial
association, and remained In the State
for a further intake OF information, so
that when he reaches the White House
a cheerful supplementary report on Mis-
souri, may gladden. the Presidents heart.
Iova's Democracy.
Irwin S. Pepper, the lone Democrat in
Congress from Iowa, was something
more than satisfied yesterday when he
learned that the Democratic State lead
ers of Iowa, including the State COM
mittee, had talked things over at Des
Moines and agreed to make no advance
mention OF Presidential preference.
| There had been a suggestion that am
bilious members of the committee
might take II upon themselves to hand
out a few resolutions for one or more
OF the Democratic candidates now in
public view, but wise counsel prevailed,
and the COMMITTEE simply arranged for
a State convention at Burlington on
May to select delegates to the Balu-
more national gathering. NJ. +. Healy.
OF Fort Dodge, who has been fighting
the almost hopeless battles OF Democ-
racy in Iowa for years, will be chairman
Of the convention. and from now on his
mall will be great in bulk. with every
Presidential press bureau assaiIing him
with literature and confidential letters.
Pepper, the one Democrat in the Con-
gresslonal delegation. will no doubt
be given much attention by the local
and Eastern Presidential press agents,
and because OF his remarkable victory
two years ago he may be made a dele
gate-at-large. Oddly enough. up to the
time of the State committee meeting,
tho agents of the candidates had not
been so very active in the Iowa region,
and some weeks back Harmon, of Ohio,
and Wilson OF New Jersey. seemed fair
ly well matched in the esteem OF the
Iowa Democrats.
Congressional secretary who rose to be
member. He was a farmer lad in
Davis County, and went through the
usual routine of teaching and working
his way to an education. Then he came
to Washington as secretary to Repre-
sentative Wade and graduated from
the Washington Law School. That was
only seven years ago. and It took him
Just five years to go from schoolbooks
to Congress. although he first served
as prosecuting attorney. Pepper is
thirty-dve years old and promises much
activity in politics, even IL his State
has a fashion of swinging back to the
Republican views in Presidential years.
Cox, of Ohio. is another House MEM
Der who learned the business as a pri-
vate secretary. but he began eighteen
years ago with Paul Sorg, the tobacco
millionaire, who came from the famous
old Dayton district.
No Faith in Straw Votes.
Straw votes do not show the way the
political wind blows, is the opinion of
r. E. Williams, national committeeman
Of Oregon, who is here. He admits that
most Of the polls taken before election
show a big strength for Col. Roosevelt,
but says that the real pulse of the coun-
try is for Taft.
STRAW votes are all colored," said
Mr.. Williams. "a Western paper at the
present time Is sending broadcast straw
ballots, and they show a tremendous
Roosevelt strength. But when, you stop
to consider that the sheet is a Roose-
welt organ, and its readers have imbibed
fits teachings, which they will more than
likely disregard, and vote independent
ly at the polls, this Is not SO strange.
1t would be just as easy for another
paper to poll the same territory and
show just as strong a sentiment for
Taft.
The whole thing Is in the point of
view. The straw vote does not and can
not speak for the people at large. All
these straw votes may indicate a Roose-
welt stampede, but I believe that the
votes cast Independently at the polls
will show that Mr.. TAFT can come
through with colors flying"
STREET CAR FACILITIES.