The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-05-14

NoSo III tHS party. senator lLdF OIL
lette is a powerful factor in the CAL
some delegates for himself.
Two hundred and ninety-two re-
publican delegates are yet to be elect
ed, and under ordinary conditions 1t
would seem to be a fair inference
that the president out of that number
could get the ninety needed by him.
1t is practically certain that. he has
lost the forty from Texas. Returns
from the precinct conventions show
the Roosevelt men in control. 1t
must be considered. however. that Of
the president. only about 800 bear
instructions. 1t is the possibility of
some of these uninstructed delegates
performing what in politics would he
regarded as the bandwagon act. in
case Mr.. Roosevelt won in California
and Ohio. which is giving concern
to the Taft managers.
Ohio the Big Battle Ground.
But it is in Ohio where the big
blows will he struck. Both the pres
ident and Mr.. Roosevelt already have
made campaigns there. an dstirred
up the old home Of presidents from
end to end. And so vital is the con-
test regarded that both will again
visit it. Mr.. Taft will spend the last
nine days before the primaries in
Ohio. and will make eighty-five
speeches in addition to interplola- :
tions from the end of his car. Senator
LaFollette also will spend several
days within the borders of the state.
directing his shafts at Mr.. Roosevelt.
Before Mr. Roosevelt entered the
conflict Senator LaFollette had a big
following in Ohio. Now 1t has all
gone to Mr.. Roosevelt. One of the
Herald's correspondents wires that
the president is stronger in Ohio than
he was a month ago. Mr.. Roosevelt
he adds. Is weaker.
Mr.. Roosevelt is assured of the six
teen delegates yet to be elected from
West Virginia. He is assured also
of the twenty from North Carolina.
In Minnesota there is a fight for the
twenty-four delegates. The president
has gained strength there as a result
Of his new fighting attitude.
Roosevelt Gains in Jersey.
In New Jersey. where the third big
primary contest takes place on May
rs. they will choose twenty-eight del
egates. There the Roosevelt move
ment. according to the Herald's dis
patches. is growing. The Taft man.
ayers did not regard it as formidable
a month ago. nor did they very Sc
riously regard it two weeks ago. Now
the Taft managers say that the
Roosevelt boom must not be taken
too lightly" Mr.. Roosevelt expects
to make a campaign there before the
primaries. After the unexpected de-
velopments in other states where he
has made speeches. the politicians in
New Jersey hesitate to make ironclad
predictions. They say they would not
be surprised if he swept the state.
They say they would not be surpris-
ed If Mr.. Taft got all the delegates.
Conditions there are as they are in
other direct primary states-all at
sea so far as the political leaders are
concerned.
From Georgia and Alabama comes
word that the delegation will stick to
the last for President Taft. From
Louisiana comes word that the dele
gates there will be with the presi-
dent on the first ballot. and after
that with the strongest man. Six OF
the South Carolina delegates have
formally announced that they will
vote for Mr.. Roosevelt. They say
that six more will follow them.
Politicians Up in tl,e Air.
From the strictly political point OF
view the contest Is the most remark
able ever known in the present par
ties. Republican leaders both here
and in Washington are "up in the
air." The Roosevelt gains have
still regard 1t as likely that the pres
ident will have a majority, but add
that in battle which changes SO
kaleidoscopically as has the present
they hesitate to make any prediction.
They declare that their chief concern
is the fate of the party. which may
hinge upon the present struggle.
One thing they say which might pos
sibly happen is that the uninstructed
delegates. with those for MIR. LaFol-
lette and MIR. Cummins. might link
with New York states uninstructed
delegates and maintain a balance of
power.
In Washington many of the party
men openly express their disapprov-
al of Mr.. Roosevelt's methods and
openly criticise the president for al
legged weakness. Many of them say
they would like to turn to a. third
man. but that. they assert. might re-
suit in Just enough delegates jumping
to Mr.. Roosevelt to insure his nonli-
nation. The situation has overnight,
so to speak. become puzzle. and 1t
has all the leaders of both factions
guessing. Ohio. by the politicians,
is looked to to solve the puzzle.
Speaker Clark's Strength Grows.
For the time being the democrats
are out of the spotlight, although
their contest has all the elements OF
genuine battle. Speaker Clark's
strength continues to grow. His chief
for the week was to win in
the primary elections in Maryland
and gather in the sixteen delegates.
This was a disappointment to the
Wilson. The Washington (state)
convention instructed it's delegates
in number. with half
a vote for each-for Speaker Clark.
Porto Rico instructed its six dele
gates for Governor Wilson. and Mis-
sissippi easily went for Representa-
tive Underwood, adding twenty to his
list of delegates.
Reports from the Herald's corre-
spondents would indicate that Speak,
er Clark is making greater gains than
the others in states which have not
vet chosen their delegates. South
Dakota has swung around for him.
In Minnesota Governor Wilson is the
strongest candidate, but the Clark
men are just getting active.
Governor Harmon does not appear
to be gaining. Reports indicate that
he will not have more than thirty
eight of the forty-eight Ohio dele
gates. Governor Wilson leads IN
Michigan. There 1t Ia the field against
him.
nIDCnT II0TC