The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-04-12
THE TAFT MACHINE
IN A PANIC
(By Winfield jones' }

All The republican bosses OF Pennsyl-
vania are members Of the Taft ma
chine.
Sensational details OF the scare leak
ed out following 8 political dinner
held in washington recently BY Penn
sylyania machine leaders. Nominally
it was a social affair; a dinner by Sen
ator Oliver in honor OF Governor Tener
and his stan. In fact, It was poIiti-
cal conference OF significance, and the
significance was most disturbing 10
the bosses.
About forty prominent PennsyiYan-
ians attended. all big guns in the state
machine of which Senator Penrose is
head. After the dinner the senior
Senator planted himself on lounge
and his lieutenants gathered aboot
him for conference, reports and ex-
change OF views
The reports we're Of such disturbing
character as to justify the belief that
the Pennsylvania organization will de-
eide not 10 insist on instructions for
Taft. but instead viii BE- contented TO
get delegation that win be willing 10
survey the situation At Chicago and
deal with it as may seem best for gen
eraI party interests.
The main difficulty IS that many
Pennsylvania people with memories
long enough, to 90 back 10 the Berry,
and especially the Pattison, campaigns
are fearful that the state viii 50 dem
ocrauc this year II Taft IS nominated.
Conversation about Pennsylvania go
ing democratic Of course. sounds 3
good deal Ike discussion OF Ssnto Do
mingo capturing Gibraltar, but these
Pennsylvania politicians talk about
Just that thing and they look worried
when they are reminded Of il as a
promising conversational theme.
Il seems that Auditor General Sis
son made a sorry report 10 Penrse
on conditions in the Erie-Crawford dis
trict in northwest Pennsylvania He
has been given general charge OF the
state machines aght there, and he
told Senator Penrose frankly that the
thing looked bad. The farmers slmp-
Is would not listen TO Taft gaIk The
conditions IN the industrial cenGers
wOuid be 10 better bat for the chance
q coercion Of employees By employers,
STATE Treasurer Wright. who comes
FRO nthe northeast part OF the state.
3 farming section. made a ike report
He didn't see hog the farmers we're 10
be lined up for Taft They wanted
Roosevelt. and we're determined 70
send Roosevelt delegates.
Then came state Commissioner Of
Highways Z II. Bigelov. who has
charge of the fight in one OF the Pitts
burg districts. The Oliver machine
there is trying to defeat William Finn
and his colleagues. who are running
Tor delegates on the Roosevelt ticket
Bigelow told the big boss that he had
the fight Of bis life on MS hands. The
Roosevelt organization has the sup
port of Mayor Magee. and there seems
10 be 10 chance unless the old system
of forcing employees of big industries
Is vote as their bosses demand IS
pressed with more eigor and success
than ever before.
Several Philadelphia districts were
admitted to Be in bad shape. with the
chances against Taft bat the even.
ng's discussions turned on the Ques-
ton Of using the power of the city
machine. plus the cOefclse power Of
certain large employers 10 save Tie
cav for Taft by permitung au expires.
sion OF real sentiment
The organization throughout the
state has been embarrassed by the
challenge Of the Roosevelt people. who
proposed that each delegates ticket
Be labeled. tbe Roosevelt nominees 70
be marked Fog Roosevelt and the
Taft nominees For Taft The ma
chine didn't want anything Of the sort
and had opposed al over the state
the effort 10 afix labels However
out in Washington county AN anti
Roosevelt bench. when the question
came mp on application for a court or
der. directed that the For Roosevelt
label should be attached This is the
first decision on this question, aud i
added to the worries Of the organiza
ton forces.
Out OF these considerations of bas
conditions. the Penrose Organizatiog
is evolving, according to report. a plar
for getting uninstrueted delegate;
who viii be loyal to the machine, ant
then. at the national convention, go
ing into deal with New York, Massa
ehusetts. and a big group Of the Office
holding Southerners. to ditch Taft an(
nominate some compromise man.