The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-04-02

tered party organization into trim for
the real campaign. If the contest is
to be waged, with uncertainty as to
the issue, right into June and carried
into the convention, it will impair the
prospects Of compact Republican
campaign.
Harmony not Assured
Not that harmony is now altogether
probable, whatever be the outcome on
the nomination. The effect of Colonel
Roosevelt s course can not be quite
overcome, although much of what has
happened thus far may be forgotten
after n few weeks. A deal of cam
paign material for the opposition has
been made ready to hand and, of
course, will be utilized to the utmost.
A surcease from SO much political
striving, engineered from Washington,
would permit of sober attention to af-
fairs of state. For two or three months
these affairs have been sadly neglect
ed. 1t is not at all likely that congress
can forget this is presidential year
and stop playing politics. But if the
big Republican j{rumpus quiets down,
there will be decidedly less distraction
at Washington and very much more at
tention to other tasks The country,
too, would find relief from such bulk
of presidential politics. faf9
The battle thus far has been largely
from Washington and Washington can
not well attend to more than one big
thing at time. The President has
been reluctantly drawn into the scrim-
mage farther and farther. He could
| 1,
is safe to say, under all the circum-
stances would be unwilling now to drop
1t any way. He is the leader of his
party by virtue of the office that he
holds. His duty to see the thing
through is only secondary to his duty as
President of all the people and he does
not propose to be recreant to either.
Strange Contrasts.
The fierceness of the fray is produc,
ing some strange contrasts. When sen
ator La Toilette seemed to be running
strong, the booming of Roosevelt assist
ed the Taft boom. If Roosevelt had
been the Presidents secret ally, he
could hardly have rendered more effect
i've aid. This changed, however, when the
ex-President came into the open and
declared his candidacy. Now the re
vival of the La Toilette boom is un
'doubtedly helping Taft. The Wiscon
sin senator has penetrated the zone OF
fire in North Dakota and Wisconsin
This may not result in any Taft dele
gates from those states, certainly moi
from North Dakota, but it will hell
trem endously elsewhere. BY checking
Roosevelt in the progressive country, l.;
Toilette aids Taft.
Democratic Booms.
Those warning Democratic boomi
must not be lost sight of. The borde
} land of personalities has been reached
and there is not a little acrimony. i
may yet come about that the Baltimor,
. teresting affair than the Chicago con
yention.
Within the last ten days there ha
z been a great revivA of activity il
.Washington headquarters for Wilson
D Clark, Underwood and Harmon. TIL
Il last two booms, supposed to be mort
Il. bund, have acquired suites of rooms an,
a typewriting forces and are grinding on
ria large daily output, Every day il
? the Wilson literature he is hailed a
y kline cHnuluHte III every OIdt0 Wntc
9 has-become quite Wilson campaig
slogan.
i 1t is boldly reiterated also in thi
3 IssHjison literature that Clark, Under
!, wood and Harmon men are touchin
|, elbows in every State where the figh
for Democratic delegates is raging. In
dignant denials do not down these as
4 sertions. There is probably fact be
= hind it all. The field has unite
b against the favorite. A very prett
b struggle is assured.
! Clark Leads SO Far.
Q Thus far Speaker Clark is far ahea
( in the total of delegates bagged. II
d has Missouri, half of Oklahoma, an
Kansas now back of him. That is
/. be the nucleus upon which he hope
e to build. His friends are reaching on
for Kentucky, his native State, and fc
West Virginia, where be once reside'
They are moving little in Iowa an