New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-19
1 TAFT VICTORY.

The supporters Of President Taft VIII
find much to encourage them i'll the
election Of Senator Root as temporary
chairman Of the Republican National
Convention. They have won on the hfSt
test vote and though the margin Is not
great il is yet a margin on the side OF
regularity. order and soberness in the
conduct Of the affairs of great party.
Mr. Root IS exceptionally fitted by train
ing and experience to take the presiding
officers chair at a critical juncture III
the Darty's history. of which his wise
and mastery speech on taking the char
supplied another proof. He said the other
day at Chicago that he put the preser-
walton Of the national Republican or
ganization as an agency for good IN
national politics above the interests and
ambitions Of any individual Republican.
That is the sort of spirit most needed
now, when factionalism has been car
ried to a deplOrable extreme and pas
sion is appealed TO rather than reason
or expedienCy In the settlement of inter
party disputes. Mr. Roots selection IS
an evidence that Republican COuven-
lions have not yet lost their traditional
balance or capacity for self-control.
The success Of the Taft candidate for
temporary chairman also proves that the
Presidents supporters are likely 10
control the convention when It is per
manently organized. Mr.. Roots vote Of
55S is 1S more than majority of
total membership Of LOS. The
Tr1bune's table of delegates. prepared
last Saturday night after the work OF
the national committee was over. put
the Taft strength at 553la. Allowing
one more Taft vote I'm New Mexico,
which was permitted Yesterday 10 cast
| eight votes instead of six, the Taft total
would have been 6541a. Mr. Root got
| Glo votes more than The T1ibunes cst
! mate of the Presidents strength. He
received the support of certain ROOse
welt delegates from the states Of Illinois.
Maryland, oregon and Pennsylvania.
| But. on the other hand. he lost n num-
/ Der Of delegates still supposed 10 be for
/ Taft If the President can hold the
| Root vote his nomination IS assured.
! One highly gratifying feature Of yes
! telday's test was tho quietus 1t put
upon highly colored talk Of Roosevelt
raid" upon the instructed Taft dele
gates from the Southern states. Defec-
tons in that quarter were few and far
between. Mr.. Root lost six votes In GeOr
gia and two in Mississippi credited until
within q day or two TO Taft But
! there were no backslidcrs in South
! Carolina. Florida or Louisiana, and the
| Taft forces picked up three extra dele
gates in Texas and two in Tennessee.
! The widely advertised Southern raid
! did not materialize. The Taft Southern
delegates showed really more stability
! than did the Western ones, for Mr..
| Root lost two votes in Idaho, one III
! New Mexico. one in Utah and six in
| Hawaii-desertiOns which he easily
overcame by winning various instructed
Roosevelt delegates in Illinois, Mary
! land Oregon and Pennsylvania.
The temporary Craftsmanship fight has
cleared the air at Chicago The two fac
| tons now know where they stand and
each realizes that Mr.. Taft leads Colonel
Roosevelt by liberal If not by an en-
| tirely safe margin.