The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
DEMOCRATSPREFER TAFT NOMINATION Victory Over Him Would Be More Significant TALK OF ROOSEVELT If He Is Nominated His Personality Would Overshadow Any Other
 Issue That Might Be
 Raised
By WALTER HARPER

Washington, March 13.--(Special) Moth ing could be more absurd than the charge that is being made in certain political quarters that the democrats are doing all in their power to secure the nomination of Theodore Roosevelt on the republican ticket with the idea that he would be the general election.
 The democrats feel that MT. Taft not only deserves renomination by his party, but that it would be base ingratitude in the party to turn him down for Roose- welt.
 Democrats at Washington are frank and open In their expression of the hope that Taft will receive the nomination. They do not only feel that he would be the easiest man to defeat in the general cleo ton, but they have too high personal re- gard for the President to see him hu- initiated by his own party
 MT. Taft is one of the best fellows in the world personally. He is liked by every democrat who has come in personal contact with him. They feel that he has been true to the policies of his party. and that his party should express its ap- proval of his administration.
 MT. Taft could bear defeat at the gen. eral election better than he could defeat in the ranks of his own party. It would be a blow that he could not easily &C., cept with equanimity. He could hardly live it down.
 He could submit gracefully to the will of the whole people, but to be repudiated by his own party which he has served so faithfully would be little short of treach- cry.
 The Roosevelt demand for primaries Is simply demagogic cry for the impos- sble. The time is too short in which to arrange for primaries in most of the states where they are demanded, and the Roosevelt boomers are simply getting behind this supposed popular subterfuge to explain away the develop ing lack of popular support of their can didate.
 The demand for the leadership of Theo- dore Roosevelt is not as general as that impetuons and ambitious politician had been led or had persuaded himself to believe. There is a mob in this country that is always~ready to follow a spectac- ular leader like Roosevelt. That mob all ways makes a big noise, but there is lit tie of the substantial sentiment of the people behind 1t.
 There has never been good reason ad- vanced for the candidacy of Theodore Roosevelt. That there has been a gem eral demand for it is the only reason ad- vanced. but that is not well founded, and is growing less apparent every day. As l write this the sound of many type writers is in my ears. Just down the hall on this same floor dozen or more clerks are pounding out alleged reasons for Roosevelt's candidacy. There is a direct wire from here to Oyster Bay. and it appears to be open day and night. The Roosevelt campaign is campaign of words words, words. And Theodore must be delighted.
 Of course, Roosevelt would be easy to defeat with most any of the good men that have been mentioned by the demo- crats. But the lineup-the issues would have to be changed entirely. The present issue between the democrats and the republicans is the tariff. That could not be clear cut issue if Roosevelt Is the republican nominee. Roosevelt has no rec ord on the tariff, He has no real, de- | batable record on anything. Roosevelt himself would be the issue. | No one knows what he stands for or what