The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-01
BETWEEN The TWO
He PREFERS TAFT
Governor Mann Does Not APP
prove or Admire Rabid Policies
OF Roosevelt.
SURE DEMOCRATS WILL WIN
Martin His Choice Over Wilson
and All-How Montague
Regards Contest.

Between Theodore Roosevelt and
william Howard Taft. Governor Mann
of Virginia much prefers Taft.
But the executive who expressed this
opinion yesterday is not Il Republican
Governor. and he has not Endorsed
either of the big candidates for tho
presidential nomination. Indeed. he is
confident of Democratic success in No
Nember, and his personal choice for
the Democratic nominee is United
states Senator Thomas Staples Martin.
OF equal interest. is the announce
mcnt made yesterday by former Gov
ernor Andrew Jackson Montague that
be- too, prefers Taft to Roosevelt. But
MI. Montague is not booming amy
favorite son movement. He is for
Woodrow Wilson. yet he believes the
nomination of Roosevelt by the Re-
publicans is almost certain to force
the nomination of Judson Harmon by
the Baltimore convention. In word,
Mr.. Montague believes it will be Taft
and Wilson, or Roosevelt and Harmon.
Part Of the Republican Governors
brought Mr.. Roosevelt into the run
ming, or gave him. at least, an oppor-
tunity 10 announce his candidacy. Sub
sequcntly. other Republican Governors
announced that they would support
Mr.. Taft Many are still to be heard
from.
Why He Prefers Taft.
First among the rulers OF Demo
cratic States comes Governor Mann
with his opinion and belief that Mr.
TAFT is better suited than AIR Roose-
rclt 20 become the head of the nation
is this is to he ii Republican year.
'''if we are to have n Republican
President in l9l2.' said Governor Mann
yesterday FOR a reporter for The
Times Dispatch, 81 prefer President
Taft, for while I do not agree with
his political views. think he is an
honest. conservative. straightforward
man and one who will undertake to do
his duty as he sees it.
II am. however, sure of Democratic
success in November. which is made
easier by the candidacy of EN- Presi-
dent Roosevelt. who will have n con-
siderable number of followers and thus
tend to create factional feeling which
Will not altogether disappear after the
nomination"
Governor Mann was asked his
opinion on Mr.. Rooscvclts advocacy
of the recall of judges
"lIe has gone to an oven greater
extreme than that In advocating the
recall of judicial decisions" said the
Governor Both policies are too rad
zeal for consideration. Mr.. Roosevelt
Ing, but do not think he can muster
enough votes 10 make his third party
supreme. The division in Republican
ranks VIII tend to strengthen Demo
cratic union. Particularly In the event
that Mr. Roosevelt sets himself up as
an independent candidate"
The Governor. however, has studied
the political situation quite closely. and
he Is firmly convinced that the Demo
cratic party has n magnificent chance
to elect Its candidate for President this
year.
MIR. Montague. Opinion.
Although lie is progressive in
politics, former Governor Montague
does not approve or sanction the rad
icalism Of Mr.. Roosevelt. He said:
II believe Woodrow Wilson would
make the strong President needed at
this time 10 develop and control the
course Of legislation and prosperity in
the proper channel. Mr.. Roosevclt's
candidacy has strengthened the Dem
ocratIc chances of success. and have
no doubt that the next President Will
be a Democrat
The fact that the Republican CON
vention prccedes tho Democratic con-
vent!on will have great Influence
In the selection OF "A Democratic nom
ncc. II Is my belief. and that of other
men In touch with political affairs.
that the nomination of Taft will make
certain the nomination of Wilson. In
the same way. II Roosevelt carries the
Republican convention, Governor Har-
mon 3 almost sure to be the Demo
crate standard bearer.
III the Republican nominee is pro-
grcsslvc the Democrats must name a
conservative to insure success, while
il the conservative Taft is nominated,
Wilson must head a progressive Dem
acratic campaign.