The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-11
Shows Weakness of Presi- dent Taft as a Candidate
 of His Party
EXPLANATION OF THE TAFT MANAGERS WEAK
Claim Local Conditions Are to Blame for Almost Tragical Butchering of the President - Expect
 Repetition in Pennsylvania
By WALTER HARPER


 ocratic leaders in Washington are gener- ally elated over the result of the pri- maries in Illinois yesterday. The weak ness of Mir Taft as the candidate of the republican party Is clearly proven to the minds of leaders in both parties.
 The Taft managers are trying to ex- plain that the result is about as they expected, that local conditions are to blame for the almost tragical butcher ing of the President. But the expla- nations are weak There Is no basis of reasoning that Taft would be for gotten in a local scramble while everybody seems to have remembered Roosevelt
 Exposing Taft's Weakness
 While it is not considered that Roosevelt can snatch the nomination from MT. Taft. the weakness of the lat ter as a leader that is being so clever ly exposed by Colonel Roosevelt em- phasizes the opportunity for demo- cratic success. It is the general opin- ion in Washington that yesterday s vote in Illinois was not so much a vote for Roosevelt as it was vote against Taft and standpatism The turning down of Cullom and the Lorimer fac ton demonstrates this fact. Senator Cullom today admitted that his defeat is chargable to his vote for Senator Lorimer when the latter was retained in the Senate last year.
 The Illinois tragedy Is expected to be repeated in Pennsylvania Saturday. The Pennsylvania republican machine, headed by Senator Penrose, has been uneasy for weeks, not so much over the matter of securing the state dele gation for Taft but for his election next fall.
 Today there is uneasiness over the pos sible result of the primary. The fore cast of the state given out by Taft head l quarters today is not as confident as poli- 1 ticians would cxac T1c are many | concessions to Roosevelt and much feel 1 ing of doubt even in districts that would be expected to stand by the administra- ton.
 Pennsylvania Loss Serious If Pennsylvania turns down the Pres 1 ident the party will be seriously handi- capped. It will indicate that MT. Taft l lacks a great deal of being the favorite in republican territory In this connec- ton 1t is pointed out that just half the delegates that are claimed as instructed for Taft are from southern states, where the administration controls the action of the nominating bodies or organizations. The rumor comes from New York that the talk of new man, perhaps Hughes. to step into the breech and save the party, has been revived. There is no mistake but that the party is in dire straits The leaders see nothing but cer- tain defeat if Taft As nominated. Of course they have no hope if Roosevelt should manage to capture the conven- tion. It is too late now to substitute a new man. It would be almost criminal to throw Taft overheard. He must be nominated.
 The largely increased democratic vote in many of the districts is looked upon with great encouragement by the leaders in Washington.
 CIark's Friends Pleased
 Champ Clark's friends are naturally pleased with his great victory over Wood row Wilson. The speaker was given an ovation on the floor of the House at the opening of the session today The large majority over MT. Wilson would seem to indicate that the New Jersey governor has not the wide claim on the party as his publicity agents have recently claimed for him. If the result yesterday is the work of the alleged alliance between Clark, Underwood and Harmon the people themselves seem to have joined the alli- ance.
 It is generally predicted that the result of the elections yesterday in Illinois will be felt in other state contests that are to follow just as the influence was felt in the New York republican convention to- day.