The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-24

not a man OF large wealth DuL ne Las
had no little influence as politician
and his friends and acquaintance
throughout Illinois are numerous.
What Is the Motive?
These are facts which those who have
furnished the information to Mr.. Nc
Kinley assert cannot be denied. Opon
these facts is based an inference upon
which Mckinley and others VINO are 10
| aid in the denomination of Taft Will ac--
The inference is that all of these men
are animated consciously or uncon-
I sciously, BY motives which are not Wnot-
~ impersonal-
! vailed since that abrupt and queer re-
: call of Mr. Crane, just as he was ABOUT
to take the steamer at San Franclsco
| for China as the representative OF the
| United States to the Chinese govern
ment that he was grievously nunaiiia-
! ted and has nursed that sense OF nu-
initiation until it has become some mus NJ Z
| like a feeling of resentment whether
this impression be well founded or not
/ if is one which is current IN ILLINOIS,
| and it is openly asserted that II goes
far to explain the attitude Mr.. crane
has been taking with respect to the
denomination of President Tart
I some color is given to this view pc
! cause human nature being what IL IS
/ it was natural that Mr.. Crane should
/ have deeply grieved over his sudden
/ and public recall. 1t is thought mere
/ however, that the motive attributed 10
ing nothing to base it upon. ct the
common statement in Illinois attributes
to Mr. Mccormick feeling OF dlSdp-
pointnent that he was not nomlnateo
for an important foreign mission. or at
least taken into intimate consultation
nv the administration. Very naturally
fine warm friends of Mr.. Mccormick
resent this imputation-
Mr. Simms was the United States
district attorney who prosecuted the
Standard Oil company of Indiana ana
whose prosecutions resulted in the
now traditional fine of tWenty-nlne
million dollars Subsequently the
higher courts set aside this fine. 1t is
known that President Taft was not
entirely satisfied with the manage
ment of the case after appeal was
taken. and it has always been pre-
sumed that for this reason the pres1-
dent did not reappoint Mr.. Simms to
the office of United States district at
torney at the expiration OF the term
The disappointment and chagrin oc-
casioned by the setting aside of Mr..
Simms are presumed to be the secret
reason why he has associated himself
with those whose purpose is now to
prevent the denomination of President
Taft Yet this view is thought by
those who have closely followed the
career of Mr.. Simms to do him an in
justice. He has always had the repu-
tation of being a man who could rise
above any sense of personal disap
man to allow his conduct to be influ-
enced by feelings of resentment, his
friends say. In fact, he is a man not
given to nourishing resentment
Whether the inference be fair or I'M
fair, nevertheless, Mr.. Mckinley and
those who under him are to look after
the interests of President Taft are
now persuaded that much of the OPP
personal feeling and is not based upon
a sincere belief that the president
should not be nominated, because if
he were he would be in grave danger
of defeat Acting upon this presump-
tiOn Mr.. Mckinley will in part be
guided in his leadership by the
friends of Mr. Taft in Illinois and
other parts of the country. For, in
his opinion, it requires different lead |
ership to lead and overcome sincere
and earnest although wholly imper- |
sonal objections to a candidate from |
that which is needful if the objections |
are personal.
In addition to identifying the lead
ership of the anti-Taft forces in Hi |
nois and other parts of the west, Mr.. |
Mckinley has learned of careful can
vases which have been made in I'LL
nOis to determine the strength or
candidate.
For instance, in one of the leading
Roman Catholic churches of Chicago
there are a good many Republicans, a
the increase in recent years of Repub-
lfcan strength among the membership
of the Catholic church. A very care
ful and exhaustive canvass was made
of these church members
VINO were known to be Republicans.
They were asked whether if Colonel
Roosevelt were the Republican candi-
date for president they would sup
port him. Many more than half of
these Republican Catholics announced
that thew world l
stances vote for Colonel Roosevelt.
Some went so far as to say that if it |
were necessary to defeat his election,
they would vote for the Democratic |
nominee. Other canvasses were made
among the Republican Roman Cath
o1cs OF Illinois and the same feeling
existed among them as was discov-
ered IN the leading Roman Catholic
church of Chicago.
It is not possible to report the de-
tails of some of the canvasses which
have been made among the Roman
Cathollcs- # they are to be relied
upon then 1t is certain that at this
tune, at least, a majority of the Re-
Roman Catholics of the
midwest would not support Colonel
Roosevelt if he were the candidate.
At present no reliable information
respecting the feeling among Repub-
lean Roman Catholics in New york is
obralnable. A quiet canvass is in pro
gress among them, but it has not been
completed.
Mr.. McKinley's friends in this city
today received information, detailed
and specific, which justifies them in
saying that in McKinIey-s opinion II
inois will send a solid Taft deiega ton
TO the national Republican convention
and while Mr.. Mckinley is careful
not to express any opinion, except a.
general one of confidence, as to the
result of the election, yet it is known
here that he has heard that with any
other candidate but Taft the electoral
vote of Illinois will very likely be
given to the Ilar1ancr-a Tic, "a ILL., fo,-