New-York tribune., 1912-01-27
[From The Tribune Bureau

From Inc tribune BufeaO.I
Washington January 20.
BLOW TO LA FOLLETTE.-The an
nouncement Of Representative Hanna. oil
North Dakota, that he favors the nomina-
ton of ex-President Roosevelt is probably
the most serious blow the political ambi-
tlons of Senator La Toilette have thus far
received Mr.. Hanna comes from state
which has been conceded TO the Wisconsin
patriot from the first. So completely dld
the La Toilette forces dominate the state
that President Taft avoided it when he
made his long trip last autumn, and the
friends Of the President have since made
no effort TO promote his interests or to Sc
cure delegates there In the estimate made
in this column that La Toilette would re-
ceive the support of something less than
one hundred delegates in the Chicago con-
vention, North Dakota's delegation of eight
was conceded to him. Now. however. the
action Of Mr.. Hanna may upset the plans
Of the la Toilette organization and split
the North Dakota delegation. The one seri-
Gus objection which North Dakota he's to
President Taft is that he advocated reci-
procity with Canada, and the farmers were
led to believe that the reciprocity agree
ment would work grave injury TO them
Colonel Roosevelt is an old resident Of
North Dakota, where he had his ranching
experience, and there ia probably no dele
CATION which could be captured for him
with equal facility. Under these circum-
stances the declaration of the North Da-
kota Representative, despite his somewhat
complimentary reference TO La Toilette, is
regarded as a blow in the back for the
Wisconsin patriot and as likely TO work him
harm. OF course, with the voters of that
state weaned away from the idea Of in
structing their delegation for La Toilette, II
would not be far cry TO instruct them for
Taft should Colonel Roosevelt take himself
out of the equation.
REVENUE CUTTER SERVICE-Presi-
dent Taft has taken occasion more than
once recently to make clear his attitude
toward the Revenue Cutter Service and TO
explain that in sending TO Congress the
recommendations Of the economy and eff
cheney commission he did not commit him
self TO all their recommendations, but
sought primarily to impress on Congress
the necessity for the kind of work that
commission is doing. The President does
believe there arc too many navles' under
the government and that material economy
could be effected by some combination
which would dispense with so many sepa-
rate organizations. In the Department OF
Commerce and Labor alone there are four
Fleets" as follows: Bureau of Navigation.
g. motor boats Coast and Geodetic Survey,
IA steam and sailing vessels; Bureau of
Fisheries. steamers and seagolng
schooner; Bureau of immigration. ves-
sells. Mr.. Taft is convinced that If this
situation receives the consideration IT de-
serves some method of simplifying this ma
rine service, and probably OF reorganizing II
as a single navy" can be devised with
material saving of expense and no diminu-
ton of efficiency The amalgamation OF the
entire service with the Revenue Cutter Ser
vice, whether that service is transferred 10
the Department Of Commerce and Labor OF
not, may prove the best solution OF the case
LEST WE FORGET.-Senator Borah is
determined that. In the light Of +. IL.
Gary's recent somewhat laudatory descrip-
tion Of the steel trust, the public shall not
forget the actual facts and the conditions
which attend the employment or LABOR III
the steel industry Mr.. Borah took adVan-
tage OF the hearing on the eight-hour Dill
to-day to bring TO the attention OF the pup
lie the facts as brought out by the invesu-
cation conducted by the Bureau of Labor
Mr.. Borah referred to the brutal hours
which labor was compelled to work in the
heu holes OF the United States Steel Cor
poration." pointed out that men were re-
nu,rad 70 work twelve hours a day for
seven days in the week, twenty-four houls
continuously when the shift was naue
from night to day work, and that' aithoueh
the recent report of the Commissioner ol