The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-05-31

It Looks as Though all Republican
Candidates will be Defeated at
Chicago Convention

Chicago Convention
The Roosevelt threat Of bolt is the
club that will be held over the National
Republican convention to force his
nomination. It has not been made in
plain words or express terms, but it
appears clearly enough through the
delphic sentences and ominous mutter-
ings of the battling Colonel and the
more explicit and significant statements
of his unmuzzled followers. That Col
onel Roosevelt may actually bolt is, of
course, not certain; but that he is will
ing to have it understood that the con-
vention meets under the shadow of
certain split il the party, if he shall
not be nominated, IS obvious enough.
Colonel Rposevelt's tactics are coercion,
intimidation and panic. They had tobe.
In. no other way could he have made
the astounding progress he has made
In his campaign; and in no other way
could he have made an impression on
the delegates already elected by the
Taft organizations, especially from the
southern states
The typical southern delegates to
republican national convention is po-
litical sheep; and those who are not
sheep are largely mercenaries. They
are bought with political patronage.
They are band-wagon regiment of
political Hessians who fight only on
the side of the victorious general. If
they lose a presidential battle, they
lose everything jobs. PERCENTAGE and
all but honor, which they never had.
They are largely colored men herded by
ADLER white men, who are willing to
live in the south in defiance of the
social ostracism usually visited on them
by the dominant white southern senti-
znent and feeling. 1t takes a white
man of peculiafly Indifferent spirit
and castiron epidernis to run federal
political machine in the south. Of
course, not all southern republicans are
oficeholders and not all federal Office
holders in the 5ssouthyiare mere place.
hunters and pslt-pickers. But the dele
gates from such states as Mississippi,
Alabama. Georgia, Texas and Arkansas
mostly are, and they leaven the whole
southern representation.
1t may .be1y'easily understood, then,
how Colonel RSoseVslt and his manag-
ers expect ID break. into the southern
delegations al Chicago, though many
have previously bsentied up to Taft.
That many Taft delegates from the
south are alresdy in touch with the
Roosevelt machine ID not to be doubted;
and that they only swat the opportu-
nifty to get lin the Roosevelt bandwagon
fis unquestionably true. They love a
winner; they hate . loser. They fight
for bread and butter only. They are
for the old flag and an appropriation.
But the southern delegates viii not
be the only republicans at Chicago who
are deeply anxious that the convention
shall name . sicSsssful candidate. For
wholly creditlble reasons many per-
sons will be there who will seek to pro-
mote harmony between. tie belligerent
factions and. If need be to choose anew
candidate whom both can gracefully
and willingly support Such persons
see in continuance Of the present ire
mendious struggle not only the defeat
Of the republican party this year, but
its complete dismemberment and ruin.
II Colonel Roosevelt shall be nomi-
mated, Q large number Of republicans
who have never before voted for q
democrat will vote Tor Clark, or Wilson,
OF Bryan, or any other democrat. With
Roosevelt comes the deluge, they think;
and they might q we'll precipitate the
flood bY accepting the alternative.
There are many republicans who will
under no circltnatspcss vote for Taft,
and they o. asir psrt are ready to
follow Rpsssvslt wherever he leades
them and Whatever consequences are
to follow.
II Taft shall be- nominated, it is GER
tain that he cannot b elected. unless
Roosevelt supports him and unless the
democrats mske fetal blunderin their
e Is' d f sgE dess' 41't, s,ss,:
4 Il Roosevelt hSM fbs nominated aby
The republics A. ppot be, eleeted mn /
least aft shi)l II him and unless
the Demoi ilssa II 4 stupid eh9ieas n
Il II tl,ersI shoplA III two eanvsntioaszt
Chicago, sed seyalt and, Taftssoah