The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1912-03-01
I'IIR'|OOSGV
CONTEST On.
SPIRITED FIGHT FOR The CON.
,TRoL OF THE CHICAGO CON-
u vENTtoN is FoREsEEN.
LINES TIGHTLY DRAWN
leaders Estimate the Points Making
for Success Of Their Favorites.-
Senator Lodge viii BE
Neutral.

Washington, Feb. 2S.-That there
will be g redhot fight from now on.
between the friends OF President Taft
and Colonel Roosevelt for the control
Of the Chicago convention and making
Of the Republican party platform Isl
recofinized by the leaders on both
sides.
The Taft supporters are frm and
confident. The Roosevelt men are ag-
gressive. The former say there is no
waverfng In their ranks. and that It is
particularly notable that the Roosevelt
announcement while cheering to the
opposition, has not drawn one of the;
leaders from the support Of La Fol.
lette. The Roosevelt men say that
the entire progressive following will
rally around their candidate and that,
he will win easily.
The Roosevelt statement has been
expected. Senators and representa-
tives. who had declared for one or the
other of the candidates in the cam
paign. as it has progressed thus far.
adhered to the positions they have
taken. {.
The supporters of Taft say the Co
lumbus speech will defeat Roosevelt
for the nomination and certainly for
the election.
The Democrats dip into the matter
sufficiently to say that the Roosevelt
announcement makes for the success
either of Wilson. Harmon, Clark or
Underwood, according to the point Of
view Of those making the comment.
In squarfng away for the great fight
In the Republican ranks 1t was brought
out that the Taft supporters rely upon
number of points as making it GER
tain that the Chicago convention can.
not be induced to reject Taft and name
Roosevelt.
It was shown that already . cam.
paign Is in progress in the agricul.
tural states of the Northwest and all
along the Canadian border to show to
the people who have been understood
to be opposed to Taft on account of
his Canadian reciprocity measure. that
Roosevelt supported Taft's Canadian
plan and spoke for It upon several
occasions. That issue Is regarded as
even.
Taft Supporters Point.
The Taft supporters point to other
propositions. which they say. make for
support to the president during the
struggle. and count against Colonel
Roosevelt.
They say these points include: The
distrnst of business and the property
interests, great and small of his popu-
lfstic policy announced at Columbus.
The personal odium Of his treachery to
Taft. the man he presented to the
country four years ago as best fitted to
be chief magistrate and against whom
he has brought no allegation of failure
to fulfill that prophecy: the deep.seat-
ed opposition in this country to the
third term, to be enhanced through Its
seeking by man of Roosevelt's en-
pirical temperament; the fact that the
party organizations, in q natural sense,
Is in the control of the conservative
element.
Roosevelt's appeal for country wide
primaries will fall foT the most part
upon the ears Of state and district
managers and local organizations pho
are in sympathy with the administers
ton. The politicians do not expect to
witness revolution in this respect.
Probably the heaviest asset counted
upon by the Taft men is the support
Of the conservative business element.
They were easily encouraged in this
expectation by the expressions Of dis
approval OF Roosevelt's Columbus
policy by some of the colonel's warm.
est friends. g. 81.
Lodge Cannot Oppose Colonel. u
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Theo-
dore Roosevelt's intimate friend and
close counsellor. issued statement
saying that because Of their lifelong
friendship h:s could not personally op-
pose the co onel and therefore would
take no part whatever Id the campaign
for the Republican presidential nomi.
nation. Md I. 4 ..3! I. sa1
Poll on Roosevelt % Taken.
In the press gallery 81 the house q
poll was taken on Theodore Roose-
yelts chances of nomina alton and his
chances 81 election II nominated. Here
are the qIestio Ions ana the results:
vi ''D6 Jon think that Roosevelt can
capture the nominal Ion y, .5S NJ.
AnSwering Cd, Il "! 5
Answering 4 IS.
5sSs.ssIf 4 MI. Roosevelt is nominated do
you think lie WIN be elected y ss8
Answering Pes. 3. ~ &.