The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-25

New York. March 24.-To- days Her
ala prints the following:
president Taft forging ahead Mr..
ROOSEVELT slipping back"
Ihht Is what thu Herald's impartial
canvass OF ths Republican presidential
hitua!on shows al the close Of the tint, a
week since M-. Roosevelt threw MS
nat into the ring"
Careful study OF the reports OF tho
Hera!d'a correspond ants In ali sect,ong
OF the country indicates beyond ques-
lion that there has been no apoutane.
GUS outburst OF Roosevelt sentirnun,
Snd that President TAFT hos been gain
Ing steadily. HIS nomination s.eins as
Iured on the nrst ballot
In Some sections Mr. Roosevelt has
made Roadway. There is an over
wae!7llDg sentiment for him in West
Virginia and IN Northwestern Penn
kylvania, but In States where %. was
expected to develop his chief strength
ne lost ground heavily. His defeat ey
senator La Toilette IN the North Da-
hota primaries was O hard blow 10 him
canvass. HIS defeat in tho primaries
In Indiana on Friday. when delegates
10 the state convention 10 be held on
tuesday were chosen, was an added
b!ow. President Taft was the victor
thare.
Where district primaries have been
neid In some sections OF the West Mr.
Roosevelt has won easily This hRs
led the managers TO demand that
the TAFT rna-nagera consent 10 primaries
In all states. In complete control of
ihe old-timo steam roller. thu Tntt
managers are gathering In the dele
gates IN the old-thshioned way and
are r.tusinS TO consent 10 primaries
On the theory tina, they would be
:reuSht with frauds III tho absence OF
proper legal Safeguards. which could
not be provided. as there would be no
law governing them except til. law or
parties.
TAFT iieutenants declare the Roosc-
Welt boom IS on the verge OF cola pse.
Roosevelt managers assert that thNy
have by no means given up hope. The
Taft managers ara nlled with an en-
thuHasm that Is almost boyish. The
Roosevelt workers are far less optImis-
Ito in their predictions than they we're
week ago.
President Has las
TYP TO date President TAFT has 1875
delegates instructed. pledged or favor
Eble TO him. as against twenty for MIR
Roosevelt, two for Senator Cuminins
and te for Senator La Toilette.
Tho st made out by William 3. Nc
Ii!nley. manager of Pfesiden, Taft's
campaign. gives Mr.. Taft I'VE more del.
egates than the Horald's table lie
claims the delegates from the Third
Oklahoma and FoUrtd. smith Missouri and
seven OF tho eight New Mexico dele
gates. The Herald's information Is
that the Third Oklahoma delegates
ware regularly instructed for MIR.
Roosevelt and thnt tho contestants are
Taft men. and that the Fourteenth
Missouri regularly instructed for Mr.
Roosevelt, and a rump convention In
dorsed the President. The Herald
correspondent says that six only of the
eight New Mexico delegates are for
President Taft
In talks with their friends some of
tho men interested in the Roosevelt
movement openly declare that Prcsi-
dent Tafts managers. if they persist
in the use OF the steam roller, can gar
ner in enough delegates to nominate on
tho first ballot Many of these men
have actually given up hope OF winning
for Mr.. Roosevelt. Others still declare
that the real Roosevelt country" has
not yet been heard from and that wheIt
1t begins to speak, rs they aver it win
In a week or two, there Will De Il
marked change In the situation.
Talk of Third Candidate.
AS the fight grows in bitterness the
party managers on both sides are TAX
Ing Il long look ahead and seriously
considering what the effect of the split
In tho ranks Will be on the poat-con-
vcntion campaign and what the
chances are for Republican victory.
One OF the most active and potent