The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-07-09
PARTY CHIEFS FEARFUL.

Washington. July 9-while Presi-
dent Taft consulted yesterday with
some of the members of the national
committee, consideration was being
given by members of congress to the
advisability of circulating a petition
requesting Mr.. Taft to withdraw from
the presidential race.
This petition, it was finally deter
mined, is to be prepared in Washing
ton. 1t may be circulated in the vari-
Gus states, probably with the aid of
state and county candidates.
If the plans OF the men engaged in
this movement-and IL is admitted
most of them are progressives or men,
bers who fear they will be defeated a.
result OF the organization of the
Progressive party-are carried out, IL
will mean that in a few weeks a gi-
gantic petition of Republican voters
will be presented to Mr.. Taft asking
him to retire from the race.
Tafts' Aid Undecided.
The news of this movement. togeth-
er with other difficulties besetting the
presidents party, probably is respon-
sible for the indecision which charac-
terized the several conferences held
yesterday.
AS a result of the information the
president received from his political
visitors, greater apprehension has
been produced as to the possible poll
ing strength of the Roosevelt Progress
sives. Moreover, the fact has been
driven home at the white house that
the country does not like what was
done at Chicago, and that this is keep
ing away from the presidents support
thousands of voters who approve the
conservative attitude of the chief ex-
ecutive and the policies OF the party
he representss as described In the
platform adopted by the convention.
Plan Reply to Demand.
1t is considered essential above all
to present to the country. in a fashion
that will be believed. an answer to the
charge embodied in the commandment
cited by Col. Roosevelt: Thou shalt
not steal"
This answer is to be made in the
shape Of a formal statement which will
be issued by the president probably
tonight after his conference with his
political advisers have ended.
Senators Crane and Penrose and
! Williams Barnes. Jr.. Of New York. are
aiding in the preparation of this state
ment, and they intend TO make il so
conclusive that the public will regard
il as disposing of the charge that Mr..
/ Taft is the recipient OF stolen nomin-
alton. An explanation is considered
necessary, though an explanation is a
thing upon which the average poiiti-
clan looks with horror
President Means to Stick.
The men who called upon the presp
| dent had been in conference with Re.
publican members of congress who are
candidates for reelection. and they
had heard some of these men urge
the preparation of the petition to the
president signed by Republican voters
throughout; the country asking him to
announce his withdrawal
| They knew, however-and they
heard as much from Mr.. Taft'g lips
that he would not withdraw under any
circumstances. He cares nothing about
any petitions that may be signed or
whether they express really the sense
of a great mass of Republican voters
He defends the method of his nomina-
ton on the ground that IL is the pro-
duct of practical politics which have
been known in the country since the
beginning.