The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-03-01
WIDE SPLIT IN
RANKS Imminent
Republicans View with Concern
Tatt.RoossYelt Contest.
new ALIGNMENT TAKES PLACE

NEW AI1uNWGHi tAkIO TLAvE
Doth the. President and Former Chief
Executive Lose Supporters Since the
Latter Made His Definite Announce.
ment-speech at Columbus Of Colo.
rel :Rosseyeit Becomes the Real, Is.
sue before Politicians.
Washington, Feb, .27.--A wide split
in the ranks OF the Republican party
became apparent as Republicans in
the capital expressed their views on
the, letter of Colonel Theodore Roose-
Welt, placing him among the; candi-
dates for the Republican presidential
nomination - IS.
1t became apparent that through the
ReoseyeltsTaft fight. for the nomina;
tion there Will $dsyalop asWidespreaG
,discon tent in the party. Both Roose.
welt and Taft lost supporters in the
RaH alignment, That Roosevelt's rad
zeal views, as expressed in his recent
speech at Columbus, o., have cost
HIM friends and supporters among. the
Republicans in the national capital
was evident. . "s>.---as. So -
The attitude of many Republicans in
congress was expressed by Represeu.
tativs Augustus Gardner of Massachi.-
sets, progressive and close friend
Of Colonel Roosevelt. Gardner, in
carefully prepared statement, Joined
the Taft forces. He asserted his per-
sonal fPiendiiness for Colonel .Roose-
yelt and his, sympathies with his mo-
mees, but took exception to the Rooss-
welt attitude on the review by the
people. of the constitutional decisions
ofsthe judiciary. 80 = ....-..
Hail Rooseveit's Candidacy.
Practically all ofthe radical progress
stres among the Republicans, except
such Wisconsin members of congress
as were pledged to Senator La Fol.
lette, climbed aboard the Roosevelt
band wagon with considerable enthu-
siasm. They heartily endorsed the
progressive principles set forth in
Colonel sRcosevelt,s Columbus speech
and hailed: The announcement OF his
candidacy as the placing ,oS a strong
leader at the. head of the progressive
element OF the Republican pasty, =
The : Columbus speech ofs Colonel
Roosevelt became the real iseue before
Republican politicians- The prospAct
Of q Republican split that would re-
suit IN the nominations of a dark
horse, became brighter a. Republic
ans endeavored to. accept Or reject the
colonei's pronnneiamspto ,s
The recall Of constitutional deci-
sions was the great stun bling block
IN the way OF many members. of con
gress, who we're otherwise inclined to
support Roosevelt. Many Republicans
could not bring themselves to: the
point OF subscribing to: this political
doctrine. Despite their inclination
toward Roosevelt many found them.
ssives forced to- steer clear OF commit:
tins themselves for him.
7 49,
~ Regulars Much Disturbed.
The old line regular; Republicans in
Washington were much disturbed BY
the situation. They recognized that
the Roosevelt announcement made
damaging inroads on the Taft support
ers, but they could, not bring them
selves To- believe that the Roosevelt
candidacy called for general support.
AZ consequences few OF the old line
Republicans would declsre themselves
A rather painful silence overshadowed
the old guard.
The headquarters established { in
Washington by the Taft interests nat
~ declined to comment in any way
upon the. announcement OF Colonel
Roosevelt. !. The Taft managers we're
in an%embarrassing position and they
refused TO be involved
: 1t is generally admitted here that
Roosevelt did an adroit thing when il
the last sentence of his letter to The
governors he wrote a challenge TO the
Taft people to submit The question be
tween himself and the president TO q
popular primary
The TAFT managers do not look with
favor upon the primary scheme, Its
possibilities. particularly In some of
the Middle Western aud Western
states, are too great. They, take the
attitude that there IL no snch thing
as a national primary. that such mat
ave q 30 e+,1. !. ~ = ;,,r-s :, vssa th,t bgaya