Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-02
PLAY OF THE PROGRESSIVES
Their Action at Columbus Regarded
as Significant.
OF THE OHIO MOVEMENT
Leaders Confronted by Problem With
Wheels Of La Toilette Chariot
in Perspective.

bus were taken by politicians today In
discussing the occurrence, with resultant
differences of opinion as to its political
significance.
Take first the construction placed upon
1t by those republicans who believe that
Roosevelt is scheming to get the nomina-
ton. The action Of Pinchot. Garfield and
Walter Brown, avowed supporters of
Roosevelt, is construed by them to be but
one Of a series of incidents which point
to the conclusion that Roosevelt is after
the plum
They cite, first, the reports of Roose-
velt's reconciliation with big business"
in New York: his espousal Of the cause
of the United States Steel Company and
defense Of the deal with the Tennessee
Coal and Iron Company; his criticism OF
the administration for its program OF
trust prosecutions; his attack upon the
Presidents peace treaty, with the ex-
planation of how much better he could
have handled the Russian passport mat
ter; his sop to the Californians, whom he
once offended with his attitude concern
ing Japanese immigration; his direct ap-
peal to several elements in the voting
populations; his antagonism in several
states Of the La Toilette forces, and fl
nally, his refusal to make an uneQuivocal
statement that he will not allow himself
to be nominated, which would put h. m
definitely out Of the running.
Game Of Deep Politics.
These republicans go into elaborate de-
tail In backing up their theory that the
colonel is playing deep politics with his
own nomination in view, and they con-
tend that yesterdays action of the Rocse-
welt forces at Columbus in refusing to
allow La Toilette 70 be Endorsed clinches
their argument.
ticians here. Is that Pinchot and Garfield
could do nothing else yesterday but leave
the Endorsement open, unless they wanted
to tie themselves to the La Toilette char
lot. Their program Is to do whatever
may seem most expedient to defeat Presi-
dent Taft, and II may prove not to be
most expedient to tie up hard and fast
with La Toilette
Pinchot explained his reasons in the
meeting, saying 1t seemed to him most
advisable to- declare for the principles of
progressiveness and leave the standard
bearer TO future selection.
Ro0sevelt's failure to declare himself
positively out Of the competition Is ex-
plained upon the ground that it would
be unwise to burn his bridges behind him,
since the Presidents death or some rea-
son which might make Taft decide not
to be candidate again would then make
difference in Roosevelts plans.
If death should lay it's hand on the
Presidents shoulder said one of Mr..
Taft's political neutenants today, that
would settle 1t. But let no one enter
tain for moment the idea that any
other consideration will move him to re-
Some other republicans in discussing
the matter today wound up by asking
these questions:
III Roosevelt is not seeking to defeat
the nomination of Taft. why does he al
low his friends to go about the country
trying to encompass Taft's defeat?'
IF Roosevelt is against Taft's renom-
ination. who Is Roosevelt's candidate for
President?''
Reticent at White House.
At the White House today not a man
would open his mouth on the situation.
The President Cancelled the IL O'Clock
cabinet meeting and all engagements, re-
tired to his study in the White House
messages to Assistant Secretary Rudolph
Forster. Secretary Hilles was away from
! his office, having gone to Oxford, Nd, On
| visit to school he attended when q
boy.
Intimate friends of Mr.. Taft around the
| White House have taken the position, In
| spite OF all the talk and Of accommodating
events OF significance. that Mr.. Roosevelt
\ was not a cd0OlQatc. several cdOlnet
members. intimate for years with Col
Roosevelt, have asserted their belief tina,
the eX-Pres1dent would not be a candi-
date. But today there is no longer this
| expression Of confidence on their part
though they suggest nothing and adrni,
nothing.
They are at sea as to what the real
head of the Taft forces will order OF
how he will shape the fight from this
on. This real head now. SO far as
Hilles. But he is compelled to proceed
cautiously. The aversion of President
Taft to talking politics. either concern.
ing himself or others, is noted Some
Of his closest frinds find fault with
him because he really seems pained.
open up the subject of his renomina.
tion and Of ways and means of bring
| ing that about.
Cannot Count on Roosevelt.
| Under such circumstances as these Mr.
Hilles himself is seriously Handicapped a,
| to what policy to pursue, lest he shoult
encounter the displeasure of the Presi
dent But the Taft people today recoR
| nize that they can no longer count OF
Roosevelt. AS to Senator La Toilette
| there has never been any worry for tn.
! friends of the President. They have no
seen any extensive demand for the Wis
4 COuSIu NidH, diIQ IL was easy SdlllnK II
win the nomination against him.
| The President, 1T is said, had put
away from his inmost thoughts any
suspicion that Mr. Roosevelt would op-
pose him. but recent editorials, letters
and other things have. however. weak.
ened his trust. The elimination of II
all was the action of Mr.. Roosevelt fn
tattacking the Presidents arbitration
and Russian attitude a few hours ir
advance of Mr.. Taft's appearance las,
Saturday night at the peace banquet In
New York. There was too much of thu
well-known Roosevelt methods Of hit.
ting the other man first in the letter
The gave out and in tho views he printed
in the Outlook
| The game of anticipating the other fel
low and discounting the force Of his eff
forts was one that Mr.. Roosevelt oftel
used when In the White House. 1t wa
his boast that the other fellow should no
beat him to It
A rumor that President Taft had sen
some one to Col. Roosevelt to ask for
clear-cut statement Of his Intentions wa
not received with full belief today.
Persons close to the President are conf
dent that he never thought Of such
I'll Ing. but 1t IL admitted to have bee
likely that some representative or friend
Of the President made the trip Accord
ing to the story today, this MESSENGER gt
a jolt from Mr.. Roosevelt, who declares
that he would not eliminate himself frOn
consideration before the republican ma
tional convention by . public statemen
ito that eject.