Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-02-03
IREACHERY IN TAFT
CAMP IN ". VA.
Even Former Senator Scott 10 said
to Prefer Some Other Man
to the President.
lby Geo. w. Summers.

thy 0co w. summers
Washington, Feb. LIN spite OF thu
vigorous protest from the old guard.
the stand-patters and the federal or
lbceholders to the effect that they are
lardent supporters OF President Taft
for denomination 1t is reported IN
Washington that there is treachery
in the Taft camp In West Virginia
and that all OF those who profess al
legianoe to the president will not be
found supporting him when the mat
ter comes to a test. Even former
jSenator Scott. the presidents personal
representative, as distributor OF pat
Ironage, for West Virginia, while he ia
known to be an ardent supporter OF
President Taft as against the nomina-
Ition of Theodore Roosevelt Is said to
Ibe OF the opinion that some man other
than either Of these should be nomi-
mated for the good OF the party.
The personal preference OF former
Senator Scott Is said to be former
iy.ce-President Charles w. Fairbanks.
Mr., Scott is said by those with whom
| he has talked to believe that neither
President Taft or Col. Roosevelt can
carry West Virginia In the general
election and deep down In his heart
he would like to see both OF them
| laid aside and Mr.. Fairbanks nomi-
mated for the presidency. The for
mer vice-president represents the old
school OF the standrpatter type to
which Mr.. Scott belongs and It Ia
natural that he should desire to have
some one OF that type named for the
head OF the ticket. But, 1t may seem
strange to his friends in West Vir-
gnia to whom he has protested 20
vigorously his support OF President
Taft that he should prefer some one
else for the presidential aonlnation
Scott Prefers Fairbanks. 1.
Not only as a matter OF policy ID
lie said that Mr.. Scott prefers Fair
banks to either Taft or Roosevelt, but
some personal difference is said to
have arisen between himself and the
president, which tends to make his
promised support OF Mr.. Taft only
lukewarm. 1T has been noticed In
Washington that while their former
relations were most cordial and
pleasant, as his attendance at the IA
nous White House breakfast would
testify. Mr.. Scott has OF late absented
himself from the White House, and It
Is pointed out by his friends that In
more than three months time he has
not been once in the White House.
Although processing to be for Mr..
Taft and although 1t Is the policy OF
the administration to obtain instruct
cd delegations for Taft wherever Il
is possible 1t has been stated by Mr.
Scott to friends here that ne Ia OF
the opinion the West Virginia delega-
tion to the republican national cleo
tion should be uninstructed. Former
Senator Davis Hhins, who was with
Mr.. Scott when he made his asser-
ton concurred In the statement, and
IN spite of the published statements
over Mr.. SCOTS signature that he is
for Taft and that West Virginia will
give Taft solid delegation. 1t Is be-
iieyed that he secretly hopes this will
not be the case and that he will use
his influence to prevent the giving OF
instructions to the delegation.
Among the Taft appointees to fed
cral Office In West Virginia are others
who are said to be guided more by the
influence of Mr.. Scott than by that
of the president. And. 1t Is an open
secret here that there are traitors in
the Taft camp in West Virginia. There
Is little probability that they can pre-
vent the instruction Of the delegation
10 vote for Taft and In the event OF
Mr.. Taft's nomination and reelection
ell these professed friends who at
heart are opposed to Taft will have
been spotted for the presidents
friends are alive to the situation and
there may be some changes In the
federal appointments Of the next adj
even though Mr.. Taft
oh ~ - 80