Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-17
Taft! EADERs
STILL CONFIDENT.
Roosevelt Followers Equally Opt.
mistie Concerning His
Prospects
PLATFORMS OF THE FACTIONS
Believes Root Will Be Elected Tenn
porary Chairman-Chauncey Depew
Says Taft Has No Chance.


compromise candidate on whom the
progressives and the Taft men could
unite to heal the breach of the Repub-
lican party was shattered today. The
Taft leaders after counting noses, de-
cided that they still hold the control
They accepted the assurance Of Will
liam Barnes, Jr., that he had enough
votes to elect Elihu Root temporary
chairman. Immediately they stiffen-
ed their lines and prepared to united
front. Two conventions in the same
hall seemed inevitable. The Roose-
velt fighting men have decided to go
through with their program. They in
sisted today that they would go right
ahead and nominate Roosevelt and ad-
opt a progressive platform. They de-
clareG they could do it in the face of
the Taft delegates and that they
would protect themselves from the
"strong arm" methods.
1.-THE denomination of Taft has prac-
tically become impossible since the ar
rival of Roosevelt" This was the size
up of ex-senator Chauncey w. De-
pew, Taft delegate from New York,
in an interview here with correspon-
dent of 4 London paper, whose stuff
he had not counted on being given out
here.
Taft is of the judicial mind,' as
serted Depew, who is a real friend
and supporter of the president. "But
judicial decisions never won an elect
ion. His forces are under command
of General Principle, and in the rough
and tumble of convention fight, Gen
eral Principle is poor leader"
The tariff will be revised downward
if the Republican party is returned to
mower, no matter whether Taft or
Roosevelt controls the National con-
vention.
This was made certain today when
it was found that the leaders of each
faction have determined that they
must declare to the people that the
tariff is again the dominant issue. At
q series of conferences between the
steering committees of both the
Roosevelt and the Taft ends OF the
party rough drafts of the proclama-
ton of principles have been complet-
ed. From now until the convention
committee on resolutions is completed
and gets on the job, these leaders will
keep busy. They hope to have strong
documents ready, so that the commit
TOO will not have to bother with the
details.
Both of the. factions will declare for
a scientific downward revision Of the
tariff. Each will take the point that
while American labor must be pro:
tected. the fact that trust-made goods
are sold abroad proftably at less than
half what is charged in the Unltea
States. shows that the present rates
are TOO high. But in one respect the
n,atforms will differ. The Taft plat
form will insist that the present tariff
hoard is meeting the situation square
" and that it's recommendations are
the ones to be followed. The Roose-
Welt platform will insist that the pres,
ont board be strengthened. There VIII
10 ~ mention of reciprocity according
20 tho nlans. Both of the platforms
.,uo declare for increasing navy and
hotb will take advanced ground on
conversation of natural resources Inc
initiative referendum will be ignored
bv the Taft trainers on the grouho
that II IS purely state issue that car
best be disposed of by the seVera'
states themselves. The RooseVel'
platform will, it is expected, ENDORSE
these principles and also the recaii
An of the western delegations are IN
sistent that there shall be no middle
of-the-road ground taken, but that the
nartv shall 90 on record on these plans
designed to bring the people into con-
troll of their own government.
The Taft platform will denounc'
the recall as "vicious and abhorrent.
This will be especially so on the recall
of the judiciary as Senator Root, tn