Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-28
Roosevelt Followers Fear Own
Defeat, Taft Hears.
COLONEL TO BE WARNED
Doubt and Dismay Reign in Many
Directions. Is Charge.
WEST SHOWS BIG CHANGE
Repu ublicans Fast Turning to Presi-
dent-Executive Works on
Philadelphia Speeches.

\ most striking political situation has
been brought to the attention of Presi-
cent Taft and his political advisers.
through letters and verbal information
reaching them.
II became known today that number
OF prominent Roosevelt supporters, per-
soual friends and ardent admirers OF
years are preparing to get in touch with
the colonel to tell him frankly that he
is dragging down to defeat many men
who have stood by him through thick and
thin and still think him the greatest
man in the country. although rudeiy
sho eked by some of his recent statements
The men who are said to be alarmed
are insurgent and radical senator's ana
representatives. governors, state leSlS-
Iators and officeholders generally who!
came ont for Roosevelt i'll the belief that
his strength with the people would hoid
them in Office and carry them tnrouSh
the present political chaos The coionel
Goa tails looked mighty good to the men
who saw the great storm gathering and
who felt sure that under the inspiring
leadership of the former President all
would come out well.
Dismay and Distrust.
The notable instance of certain gov
ernors rushing under the Roosevelt tent
was typical of the situation that existed
less than two months ago
But today there are doubt, dismay and
distrust in many directions. Men VINO
banked everything that the colonel Would
pull through with the nomination ana
another term as President hauling them
along with him, are. it is said. beginning
TO take another view. They oeheVe the
coIoners tactics promise to defeat them
along with himself. They are looking Cor
the chance to ask him to recognize the
inevitable and yield gracefully.
Reports from the west are that the cow
boys. Rough Riders and free lances gen
orally getting tired of their former
idol and are joining quietly. If not open
~ in the great wave of sentiment so rap
idly turning republicans to Taft.
Reports received here by insurgent
western senators and representatives are
bringing in the first alarms and spread
iaS the word that Col. Roosevelt is paw
ing the way for many new tombstones in
Inc political graveyards.
Believe Fight Over.
IL is positively predicted that the
colonel while in the west. but more espe-
cia,iy after he gets back east and has
time to give to some of the radical sena-
tors and representatives. will get his first
taste OF plain talk intended to show him
that he is not only running himself, but
is putting out of business many faithful
friends who have stood by him up to this
tirrc, not 20 mention numerous selfish
politicians who had hoped to ride into
or continue in power by support of him.
Added to the daily detection from
Roosevelt of thousands of former ad-
mirers and close friends, the rank and
file of republicans in the west have begun
10 feel, il us asserted. that the hight Is
over and that it behooves republicans
everywhere to start the lineup for the
Gr1,. ,A<r Ilt-v.u Ifa
Perry, the Roosevelt leader in Oklahoma,
few days ago expressed that view at
the White House. He declared that
while he was for Roosevelt, the repub-
licans of Oklahoma were believers III
their party and would support with all
their strength the nominee of the con-
vention- They had no grievance against
Mr.. Taft as man, but were simply for
eddy
Depend Upon Taft.
raft is being looked TO as the man
vino must pull through his party and its
nominees in all parts of the country. if
| there is 10 be any good pulling. That
the coloners pulling powers are waning
and that ne is now positively hurting
friends and party is the sentiment that
j. reported TO be spreading in all di-
ractioas.
The change in sentinen: IN Iowa is IL
| today declared by TAFT leaders who
called al the White House. At the be
ginning Of this week the Taft people had
elected Cos delegates 10 the Iowa state con-
vention, the Cummins people 3O1 and
Roosevelt 81 Taft had won in forty
counties. Cummins in eighteen and Roose-
Welt in two. Taft needed, at the beginning
of the week. but 136 more delegates TO
control the state. Ten of the TWENTY-FIVE
congressional district delegates have been
elected for Taft.
Receives No Callers.
The President did not today see any
of the many callers who went 10 the
White House. After attending an early
meeting of the Lincoln memorial com
mission a, the National Museum, the
President returned TO his private library
N the White House. and began to dispose
Of DELAYED business. He will try 10 ge,
time during the day TO dictate one of the
three speeches he will make in PhiladeI.
phia Saturday night The President viii
leave the city about 3 O'Clock SATURDAY.
afternoon for Philadelphia, and is sched
uled 10 appear before the Philadelphia
chamber of Commerce. the Ohio Society
Of that city and the American Academy
o. Political Sciences.
President Taft has directed Col Cosby
superintendent OF public buildings and
grounds. TO arrange a suitable program
of band concerts for Washington thi:
spring and summer. and Col Cosby ex
poets to have the bands carry out abou
me same program they did last year.