The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-02-26
PROGRESSIVE PLAN
GIVEN AN IMPETUS
BY THE DECISION
Final Word Starts the
Political Machinery
liz, Working.
Continued from First Page.)

imam
paisn, which will end with the national
convention, opening June Is. 1t will |
be, according to all prognostication. the
hottest campaign of four months that
has been known in many long years.
! The final word from Roosevelt was
the one thing needed to set all the ,po- |
litical agencies at work on both sides
ton is at work. with director and a |
machine. All over the union. thousands
of followers of Roosevelt have been
would start the real contest. They |
could not move, effectively and surely, |
till they were able to give the word to
the great mass of Republicans that
Roosevelt really was q candidate.
Now, they have the word. and the
business Of crystalIizing an uverwhelm
ing public sentiment into votes at the
primaries ard in the caucuses and con-
MENTIONS, is already begun.
First Work of Campaign.
Colonel Roosevelt himself is in Massa-
chusetts. The text of his letter was
given out to the press, subject to re-
lease this morning, before he went to
Boston. There he is opening his cam
paign with a strategic attack that the
Taft people already recognize as a work
of political generalship of high order.
New England is to lie given the chance
Ito lead the movement 10 Roosevelt, and
There is already ample evidence that 1t
will rise to its opportunity.
If the results are what the Roosevelt
authorities expect, the fight will be
practically ended early, for capture of
Flew F:nSlaru's Dreponderating strength
lin the national convention would be the
signal for a Roosevelt assault in New
York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana. ana
Illinois that simply would be irresist-
i5le.
Just one thing is needed to complete
the solidiflcation of Nhe progressive
wing of the party at Roosevelt's back.
That is the public assurance of Sena-
tor Robert M. IaFollette that he will
view the Roosevelt campaign with
amiable eye, and will encourage his
own original supporters to cast In
their lot with the former President.
Thousands of them have already done
this. 1t is known that Senator La Fol
lette is being urged by many OF his
closest and most loyal friends to make
some public declaration that will sig
nal the final and unquestionable closing
up of the progressive ranks.
Taft Supporters Mum.
In the circles of Administration sup
tporters in Washington, mum has been
the word today. Comment has been re-
fused in all quarters that could be ac-
cepted as directly representative of the
Presidents sentiments. 1t is we'll known
that for weeks past President Taft has
imposed on his followers and agents
the policy of assuming that the candi-
dacy of Colonel Roosevelt was quite
impossible The President has insisted
on assuming that he. knew no reason
why the man who made him President,
should not aCquiesCe in his candidacy
for a second term.
AS a matter of fact, the Roosevelt
candidacy marks the elimination Of a
chain of events that can be set down
as having definitely begun on March 4,
1909, the day Mr.. Taft was tnaugurated
President. 1t was an incident, signiti-
cant at the time to those who Witness
ed 1t, dramatic in the values that have
since attached to 1t, that gave first
justification to predictions of a breach
between the two men. 1t is worth re-
calling today.
Soon after the triumphal election OF
Mr.. Taft in the autumn of 1908 he went
to Hot Springs, Va, for rest recrea-
ton, consideration of policies and prep
aration of plans plans, Presently the news VS.,
Springs positive, detailed, and circum-
stantial stories to the effect that the
President-elect was determined that
Joseph G. Cannon must not be re-
elected Speaker of the House. Day by
day the assurances gained definite
ness and authority. The President was
going to clear the decks for a progress
Bive administration of real achieve
ment, by getting rid of the leadership
that had consistently opposed Roosevelt
policies.
Contest Was Courted.
Progressive Republicans and moder.
ates who realized that the Cannon re
gime had injured the party, responded
with enthusiasm to the call for a con
test. So did the Cannon organization
The President-elect sent for public
men, laid his purpose before them, anC
undertook enlistments for his war. The
matter went on for weeks.
Then suddenly the soft pedal began
no more thunderous broadsides agains
Cannon. The newspaper correspondent
wondered what had happened.
parent. Mr. Taft had completed!
changed front, and was getting read
to become supporter of Cannon.
The progressiVes whom he had be
sought to help defeat Cannon, AM
who had committed themselves t.
such a fight, were left high and dry
.. They had declared themselves; ha'
powerful Cannon machine, supposinj
that they would have the support o
the Administration, and that even
Cannon should at last win. the weigh
of his displeasure would be moditie
by reason of the Administrations sup
port of the anti-Cannon force.
To those progressive members o
the House who suddenly found them
selves deserted, political ruin SCENE
imminent But they opened their figh
took the chance of opposing bot
Speaker and President, and made
gallant effort.
Fight Started Early. .....
That fight was right at it's bitteres
stage when Inauguration day cam
with its ominous signs and portent
The blizzard that cut Washington o
from all communication with the res
of the world needed no Delphic oracl
to translate it into significance of din
things impending for the new Admin
istration, The inaugural pageant ha
to be reorganiZed at the last minute
the ceremony itself was brought fro
the great out doors platform int
the chamber of the Senate.
And this made possible the strikir
setting Of the incident that has sim
assumed so much significance. A grol
of the Republican progressves of Il
House appealed to Roosevelt, in II
Presidents room off the Senate char
ber to go with them to Taft and urJ
him n stand steadfast in the fight
Gust Cannon.
Mr.. Roosevelt was loath to tend
counsel. There had been little enOul
evidence that it was desired. He hs
been asked for no advice about Il
Cabinet; his known preferences hG