The Washington times., 1912-07-10
TAFT NOMINATION
IS EMBARRASSING
TO CONGRESSMEN
Republicans Fear to Sup
port Him, and Will Run on
Own Records, Is Report.

Loud and long lament is going up
these days from Republican members
OF the House and Senate over the de-
moralized state of politics. Wherever
two Republican members of Congress
gather together now one may be sure
politics is discussed. When three get
together 1t is well-nigh certain there is
political conference.
Senate Republicans who come up for
reelection the coming winter are
troubled and embarrassed. And House
Republicans whose fate will be deter
mined in November are even more
troubled.
One of the symptoms of this troubled
state of mind is the talk which is being
INDUCED about petitioning President
Taft to quit the ticket and similar talk
70 have the contested cases of the
tainted" delegates submitted to some
impartial tribunal
Talk of Taft Quitting.
The likelihood that President Taft
would give up the place he holds on the
ticket is extremely small. Still, this is
talked of as a feasible way out of a
difficult situation. Republican candi-
dates for office are declaring that some
way must be found to save the party,
but 1t Is impossible to repress .he idea
mat what they really mean Is to save
themselves from defeat.
II Is probable the talk about getting
the President to quit the ticket will end
in nothing. 1t will, however, serve TO
make the situation more annoying for
the President and will continue to keep
feeling aroused concerning the manner
or his nomination.
levers and kilograms are piling in on
hepuplicans in Congress, especially
aouse Republicans, giving them all
Sps HS1rIs OF counsel as to what to do.
pleasant reading.
Some of them threaten political re-
Yenge OF the course recommended is
Some of the letters attack Taft and
predict dire happenings to the man who
supports him. Others threaten trouble
II Taft fails to get support.
Uhoer such circumstances, the aver
age Congressman does not know what
10 90 He fears that If he comes out
and says he will support the President
as the nominee of his party he will be
knitted and cut to pieces, and he fears
II he does not come out tor Taft he
VIII be slashed from another direction.
Must Rely ON Records.
The situation a bout gets down to this
in the States where anti-Taft sentiment
Ia strongly pronounced: Republican
candidates for Congress, House and
Senate alike, will be compelled to make
their Congressional campaigns distinct
from the campaign on the Presidential
ticket.
Members of the House and Senators
VIII nave to go before the people on
tnelr own records and seek reelection
on the strength of those records. So Tar
as the Presidency Is concerned. II will
De laid to one side as far as this is
I In other words. the campaigns of Re-
publican candidates for House and
oenate thls year are going to be in large
measure personal. In some cases tie
candidates will repudiate the President
as the nominee, in others they will re-
fuee to approve him, and in others they
Will give him support.
IT may be predicted, however, that in
but few districts will the President have
such support from Congressional nomi-
nees as to add to his strength.
Progressive Republicans in Congress
who VIII not support Taft and are not
ready for a third party will endeavor to
secure reelection on the strength of
proved service to the progressive cause.
In districts where there is a third
party nominee, the progressives in
House and Senate will not have the op-
portunity to make nearly as effective use
OF their records as elsewhere 1t is
known that Democratic leaders in the
much on this.
In other words, these are parlous
times for the candidate.
These are great days for the stormy
petrel IN poHtlcs, said Representative
Victor Murdock. II must say, though,
the petrol hardly knows where to
light"
Congressman Rees, a Kansas progress
sive, acknowledges he has prepared a
petition. which he may circulate, ask
Ing the PrSaident to get out of the race
in the interest Of party solidarity" Mr..
Rees suggests the matter should be
presented to Mr.. Taft by some of his
close friends, although no insurgent has
any idea that the President will retire,
Nevertheless, the Rees petition. which
is said to be similar in tenor to several
others now reposing in the pockets of
various progressives. reads as follows:
Mr.. President: he Republican par
ty. In our judgment, is in a perious
proceedings of the Chicago convention.
1t is freely charged that the Repub-
lican national committee. in preparing