The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-03-13
SIGNS OF COLLAPSE
IN ROOSEVELT BOOM
Taft Getting Unexpected Delegates
The West Deserving
Its Idol.
INDIANA NEWSPAPERS FLOP
la Toilette Fighting Bitterly In Ills Prov
inrc The End Predicted When
New York Speaks.
INDIANA NEWSPAPERS FLOP

WASHINGTON. March ~ Visitors at
Roosevelt headquarters to-day came away
with the distinct impression that gloom
had routed JOY from her perch just over
the head OF the commander in chief OF the
Roosevelt forces. Senator Joseph VI.
Dixon. The Senator from Montan still
retains the cocksure attitude Of seasoned
campaign manager. but he makes his as
seriions with less show OF confidence than
when he first took charge Of the headquar-
ters.
Hisloptimism to-day seemed to centre
in Massachusetts. where the Legislature
has granted a Presidential preference
primary. But Massachusetts Republicans
in Washington were almost unit in say
ing that Taft will sweep the State al the
popular primary il one is held.
Furthermore the list OF Taft delegates
is increasing daily. and before the end Of
the week. the showing. it is predicted,
will be remarkably in favor of Mr.. Taft's
denomination.
The President is making his gains in
sections OF the country where they were
least expected. For example. he carried
two districts in Iowa, the Sixth and Ninth,
and has a fair prospect OF carrying at
least one other. the Eighth.
In South Dakota the Roosevelt cause
has appeared so weak that the Roosevelt
managers within the last few days have
Withdrawn from the contest and left the
field TO Senator La Toilette and President
Taft. In North Dakota. too. the outlook
is unfavorable for Roosevelt. Senator
Gronna went to North Dakota few DAYS
"a all 81. E.
lette fight. The issue is the activity of
the International Harvester Company in
North Dakota politics. Col. Roosevelt
is blamed for not prosecuting the harvester
trust while he was President
The activity OF George W. Perkins. IA
director of the International Harvester
Company. in the matter OF raising funds
for Col. Roosevelts campaign is another
fact that the La Toilette Republicans are
exploiting to the injury OF Col. Roose-
welt
Already the Roosevelt managers are
saying there is a combination Of Taft
and La Toilette Republicans with Demo-
Gratis to control the primaries against
Col. Roosevelt.
Information has come to Washing gton
through reliable political channels that
the Democratic voters OF North Dakota
are going to take hand in determining
which of the Republican candidates for
President shall have the North Dakota
delegation. II is expected tnat they
will vote for either Taft or La Toilette.
probably Taft
The North Dakota primary will be the
first of the legalized elections to be held.
n tnh 6e.Nf A. 81 -
country 10 likely to be important II
North Dakota should declare either for
Taft or La Toilette IL would be a serious
blow to Col. Roosevelt's managers. VINO
have been insisting that all they wanted
was an opportunity to allow the people
to xpress their preferences.
Fresh trouble has been started for
the Roosevelt managers in Wisconsin
Senator La Toilette has persistently re-
fused to allow the delegates who will 90
on his list to commit themselves TO Roose-
welt for the second choice This has
aroused the resentment Of the Roose-
'elt managers, who have now threatened
to put a ticket Of Roosevelt delegates in
the field. Such action would increase
the bitterness between the La Toilette
and tine Roosevelt followers
A list Of Taft delegates will be placed
in the field in every district in Wiscon-
sin. In some districts the fight between
the Taft and anti-Taft forces will be very
close. Four years ago President Taft =
delegates were elected in one Wisconsin
district in Il test Of strength with La
Toilette In other districts the result
was very close
But one of the most discouraging pieces
of information that has fioat.d into WASH
ington in the last twenty-four hours is
the startling announcement-start to
the Roosevelt men-that the Star League
OF newspapers III Indiana has switched
from RnOaAValf n Taft This loon
comprises the Indianapolis !Stdr, Terre
Haute Star and Auncie Star all morning
newspapers with an aggregate circula-
tion of about 10000. The other i'm
porrtant newspaper III indianapolis. the
Indianapolis Nens independent. has
been supporting President Taft
The Star League newspapers made
formal announcement OF their support
Of President Taft yesterday morning.
These newspapers have been very friendly
70 ex-senator Beveridge. They are owned
by j. {. Schafer of Chicago. a close per-
sonal friend Of Beveridge. who has taken
persona leadership OF the Roosevelt
boom in Indiana. For several weeks
the Star League newspapers have been
saying pleasant things about Col. Roose-
ve!t and have been criticising President
Taft.
Indiana politicians in Washington were
saving to-day that this change of front
by the Indiana league of newspapers
leaves the Roosevelt movement without
voice in Indiana and destroys any chance
that the Roosevelt men may have had
Of securing any considerable number of
delegates from the State. II is doubtful.
they say, IL the Colonel will secure a
single vote in the Indiana delegation
II was common talk in Washington
to-day that the Roosevelt movement has
subsidized. II is very apparent that his
managers are gloomy, Some of them
privately concede now that they got into
the fight too late. Others blame Senator
La Toilette as the instrument of their
undoing, The thing that is most dis
couraging to them is the weakness OF
the Roosevelt movement west OF the
Mississippi River. The managers OF Col.
Roosevelt's campaign expected to get
pract ically solid delegations in all the
States west Of the Mississippi In Okla
homa they have already lost one district
and will probably lose one or two Others.
In New Mexico they were assured of a
solid instructed delegation by Congress-
man Curry. who went hack to that State
after a conference with Col Roosevelt
in New York with the avOwetl intention
of bagging the delegation for ,he Colonel.
The delegation elected a few days ago
ia uninstructed and both sides are claim
ing a ma jority OF the delegates.
President Taft will have n majority of
the Arkansas delegation and up to this
time the Taft managers have held their
own In Missouri and had things pruc-
tically thier own way in Iowa. Signih-
cant action has been taken for prasfdapt