Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-06-13
TAFT MIN ARE STRONGER
Have No Doubt President Will
Be Nominated.
No Break Can he Found in National
COmmittee-IOyalty Of Southern
Delegates Assured-No Merit
in Roosevelt Contests.

A Chicago special to the Boston Tran
scrpt says: The feature OF the republic
ran national convention situation to-day
as the national committee goes into ses-
sion to make up the temporary conven-
kion roll is the supreme confidence Of
che supporters Of President Taft Since
yesterday morning when the director of
the Taft campaign, Representative Nc
1<inley. and large number Of the influ-
ential supporters OF the President ar
rived. the Taft battle line has been In
spected from one end to the other Re-
ports to headquarters have shown the
condition of the administration forces to
ne even better than the director of the
campaign had supposed them to be. AT
this time there is absolutely nothing dis
rouraging in the situation for the friends
OF the President say the men who are
behind his campaign for denomination.
NO BREAK IN COMMITTEE
Several things contribute to the situa-
kion which produces the confidence Of the
Taft people. In the first place It Is set
tied that there is to be no break In the
national committee. There never was
any reason for suspecting that a majority
of the committee might come up here
looking with favor on the candidacy of
The third-term candidate, but there is al
ways more or less doubt under such cir
Cumstences until the truth Is demon
etrated. The committeeman. with n few
exceptions. are here. Two-thirds Of them
are against the third-terner. This means
that the contests will be decided on their
merits and that the Taft delegates in the
Southern States will be seated. The sup
porters of the third-termer have really
never seriously asserted that there was
any merit in the contests brought by the
Roosevelt committee in the Southern
States
SOUTHERNERS FIRM FOR TAFT.
II there was at any time any serious
houbt about the southern delegates
standing by Taft that doubt has beer
removed within the last twenty-foul
hours Many of these delegates have
been in Washington. and n canvass OF
the whole situation causes the Taft man
ngers to assert that not more than sever
or eight Of the southerners will be
brought to Roosevelt. 1t Is generalS
said by men familiar with politics in the
South that the Taft delegates are SUI
perior class Of men. many Of them prom
nent in business. and they bitterly resen
the insinuations Of the Roosevelt mana
gers that they are either purchasable oil
treacherous.
They are particularly aroused by thu
rharge Of had faith brought against then
for the added reason that. as they say. l.
tends 10 foster business distrust of thu
South to lead the North to believe tina
the States below Mason and Dixon's linz
are deficient in the common attribute,
of honesty and intelligence that go t.
make up a prosperous community. Thu
Roosevelt managers are trying desperate
ly to take into camp every southerne
that shows his face In Chicago. but 81
far their future is evident.
EIGHTY STRONG IN NEW YORK
Another cause OF rejoicing among tn
Taft men is the news from William
Iarnes, Jr., the New York Taft leader
that ne has in his possession letters o
kilograms from eighty Of the ninety Ne>
York delegates declaring that they wi
be for Taft not only on the first ballot
but forever after.
This news is regarded as a complete an
aver to the Roosevelt claim of last wee
that the Kings county delegation was o
the point of going over in body to tn
colonel. 1t Is not denied that New Yor
was feared to be wavering at that tim,
but the strong hand of Barnes evidentl
has been able to iron out what threaten
ed to be a dangerous situation. Possibl
the resul. of the test canvass In tn
South had something to do with sitter
ing the loyalty Of New York.
COLONEL EIGHTY-THREE SHORT
Roosevelt insiders are quoted to-day q
saying that the colonel is eghty-thre
short on the number Of delegates needle
to put him over the line. This story dow
tails, of course. with the Taft predi'
nions of victory and the assertion Of II
Taft men that the rush to Roosevelt hf
been checked. Stories of this kind wi
ny around town for a good many day
md while It Is the sober truth to-da
ahat the situation looks better for II
President than at any time within Il
last few weeks, the hurrah of the comir
Roosevelt Rough Riders and a dozt
other things may happen at any time
arouse the politicians to fiuctuate