The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-01-05
PRESIDENTIAL POSSIBILITIES

fair and accurate, as well as interest
ing, sketch of the presidential situa-
ton as can be found. During the
twenty odd years the writer has been
reading Life, he has found that its
political views were about as unpre1u-
diced and its prophecies as correct as
any that could be found, so he needs
make no apologies for presenting the
following to the readers of the Star:
The New Year begins with June Is
set as the date of the Republican Ma
tfonal Convention and an interesting
group of candidates awaiting that day,
and whatever date the democrats may
fix upon 1t is still probable, but by
no means sure, that the republicans
will invite Mr.. Taft TO make the effort
to succeed himself Recent comment
has dwelt more on the defects, obvious
enough, in Mr.. Taft's presidential equip
ment than on his great merits. Yet in
the next five months there Will proba-
bly, be many who will reflect that while
Mr. Taft has made plenty of political
mistakes which were damaging to his
reputation as a party leader, he mas
made very few which were damaging
to the country. Even now his record
on the tariff is incomplete and may be
mended somewhat before June. Some
persons consider that he has enforced
the Sherman law too much; others too
little; but few hold him responsible
for that law as il stands, or for not
compelling, or at least advising, a sub
stitute for it, That he could not we'll
do. Yet if he runs again he seems
quite likely to he beaten. If he doesn't
run, who will?
Hardly Mr.. La Toilette. or Mr.. Cum
minis. The former has too many hearty
antagonists. The latter seems not to
weigh quite heavy enough on the po-
litical scales. Perhaps. if the republic
cans, when they come in June to the
point of dec sion. consider Mr.. Taft s
candidacy hopeless, they will sort out
of their nursery some man not yet con-
sidered. and not ostentatiously allied
with either Of the divisions in their
party. There are other such men be-
sides Justice Hughes, but it would be
mean to draw any of them out Of the
grateful shade of their present retire
ment and present their qualities for
premature consideration.
Then, of course, there is Colonel
Roosevelt. AS BELTS a contributing ed
sideration of political questions, and
of course, everyone who wants to, sees
in him an adriot angler for the nomi-
nation if it looks good to him when the
time comes There are several ways
in which he could avoid this appear
ance. He might contrive for himself
an aeroplane accident which would
eliminate him from the list Of candi-
dates Possibly he might announce his
determination not to run with an &C.
compartment of such convincing ex-
ecrations that it would be accepted
General Sherman once did that. but he
was differently situated from the col
onel and had a different gift of Ian
guage. Colonel Roosevelt has already
once announced his purpose not to be
president again. He may change his
mind, but il not, a second self-denyine
announcement would be quite as like
1y to weaken the first as to streng er
it, Probably, being still young and in
good enjoyment of life, he dislikes &c
keep taking himself off and melting
the ceremonies due to political corpse
so he may have to remain in some
mems minds as a republican who may
be nominated in June.
AS for the democrats, 1t seems quite
likely that they will put forward the
best man they can find. Enthusiasm
seems to have made room for sagacity
in the democratic counse1s. Governor
Harmon is an excellent man. older
than a beginning president ought te
be, but very sound: Objectionable. to be
sure, to Mr. Bryan, but a trustworthy
seasoned man, and particularly suita-
BILE il the republicans should only
oil Tn he q
mind Governor Harmon figures as q
man not under suspicion of having
revolution up his sleeve, and therefore
conservative. He would probably
run better against a radical man than
against a man like Mr.. Taft, more like
himself good many worthy people
would hope to get their natural rest
with Governor Harmon in the White
House
Mr.. Oscar Underwood seems quite
likely to be the democratic candidate
some time on his merits as a states
man. AS the democratic leader in the
House, he has made a reputation fol
his party. He is able. sagacious and
patient; of an even temper; a godsend
20 the democrats. That he comes from
ALBANIA should not make him a worse
candidate, for he is a modern, Union.
born Southerner, without any sectional
sympathies that would make him less
useful to one part of the country thar
to another. But Mr. Underwood is
mighty useful where he is, and does
not seem likely to be moved from his
present employment.
The other leading democratic candi.
date is Governor Wilson. All the pru-
dent citizens of this town sit up te
denounce him. He is like the Sherman
law, in that he contains an area of un.
certainty Nobody seems to be quite
sure what he might do if he got to the
White House. Even William Bryan /:
not sure that he does not deserve hi:
support.
There are some advantages in these
doubts that Governor Wilson inspires
If wall Street" was sure he was Jus
the man." that, of course, would NEAR
a candidacy still-born. If Bryan wa:
satisfied that he was the only real mar
In sight. that would be disturbing, bu
Bryan has a school houseful of candi
dates that he likes just as we'll as Will
son. 1t is quite possible that no dem.
ocrat could be elected whose deport.
ment in the White House could be &C.
curately predicted. Yet Governor Will
son has not hesitated to expose hi:
mind. and as many of his politica
views as were in shape for exhibition
He has come very lately into polite:
from the academic shades, and some OF
his political ideas have had to bs
brought up to date, and others he ha:
bod to ir1lr To,rt he y