The Washington herald., 1912-01-04

II uhb oeen suggested IOr 6eNefdl uegs
that Col Roosevelt will within few
days make some sort of q statement
which will clarity the atmosphere con-
eerning himself II Col. Roosevelt makes
this statement II win be In contradiction
OF the statement he made TO certain pow
erful Republicans In this city several
months ago, when they defined their po-
sition 10 him and when he likewise de-
fined his position 10 them, asserting that
In his behalf, but that he would merely
sit tight.
Roosevelt TO SIT Tight.
There were other powerful friends of
Col Roosevelt I'm public life who said
last night that they did not believe Col.
Roosevelt would make any statement
pertinent to his own candidacy. but they
believed that IL he issued any statement
at all II would be another document sim
liar TO recent ones, in which tacItfy the
unavailability OF President Taft was
again pointed out. Senator Lodge, one
Of the oid-time friends OF Roosevelt. evil
IDENTIFY is well aware Of all that has been
going on, for he hasn't smiled in years
as he smiled yesterday. He fairly
beamed on his colleagues. At intervals
he even chuckled. and that is saying a
great deal for Senator Lodge. 1t may
be added that these friends with whom
Col. Roosevelt consulted had no hesita-
don In declaring last night that as time
Progresses sturdy Roosevelt organiza-
tions will be built Up in all the States,
and that the Roosevelt people are espe-
eially relying upon the States in which
Presidential preference primaries are TO
be held. New Jersey, Nebraska, North
Dakota, Oregon. Texas, and Wyoming.
With foreknowledge now that the
Roosevelt tendency is a living political
fact many Republicans were consulted
yesterday a. TO its outcome. Opinion was
about evenly divided. One set OF Repub-
licans declared It to be their positive be-
lief that should Col. Roosevelt and his
friends succeed in elbowing Pr, sldent
Taft out OF a denomination, -4d name
Roosevelt in his place, Roosevelt would
receive at the hands Of the Republican
party such a drubhing as seldom has
been recorded in the political history OF
the country.
Taft strong with Voter.
The Republicans who talked this way
v-are not exactly Taft men; neither were
they Roosevelt men. They were dispas-
sionate N their Judgment and are men
OF experience. They pointed out that
beneath the surface Taft is very strong
with the Republican rank and file voter
They believe that Taft made a tactical
error in insisting upon his reciprocity
measure. a measure which angered the
Republican farmers. and one which had
no mention whatever in the platform OF
the Chicago national convention Of 1903
on which Taft was nominated and elect
ed. There have been other points OF
criticism on the Taft administration, but
those who discussed the possible fate OF
RUnEGsgRlf he frfG Asl
succeed in pushing Taft aside. felt that
the President was very highly regarded
for his sterling qualities. bis unaffected
good humor. his honesty OF purpose and
the brilliant integrity OF his administra-
ton. So these Republicans say that in
their hearts they believe Col. Roosevelt
and Rosevelts friends are playing
mighty dangerous game II Roosevelt is
TO be the outcome Of the present ma
neuvers.
Hughes Looms Large.
This led to other points OF inquiry.
and they all indicated one man as the
possible outcome Of the dreadful tur-
moil in which the Republican national
party finds itself practically on the
eve OF the national convention. These
men said that the natural solution Of
this turmoil would be the nomination
Hughes OF the Supreme Court of the
United States. 1t is well known that
certain influential Republicans from
number of States have visited JUS
tice Hughes and discussed his avail
ability. To all of his visitors Justice
Hughes has made but one answer, the
one so well known to the public, that
he could not and would not be n candI-
date while President Taft was a candi- |
AaN E~FNrN fsEa e L. L.
in this city that several States, Yer
mont to be specific as to one, has indi-
Gated that while II could not send
Taft delegation to the national conven-
tiop, nor. a Roosevelt delegation. II !
could very easily send a Hughes dele |
cation.
II is also known that Republicans emi- |
nent in the affairs Of New England who |
have all along been especially friendly /
to Mr.. Taft, and who are not at all |
friendly to Roosevelt, feel that the situa-
ton Is becoming so intolerable that |
eventually II may be necessary TO seek |
for a compromise candidate, and these |
men invariably whisper the name OF |
Hughes.
La Toilette VIII stick.
But there is another feature that was
emphasized by the days develop
ments. It is the prediction that by the /
time the Republicans assemble in Chi
cago for their convention the situation |
will have developed several Republican
candidates for the Presidency. II may /
be set down as an immutabIe fact that 1
Senator La Toilette is not to retire as a
candidate. One Of the Senator's friends
was asked last night IL there was any sub
stance in the report that la Toilette was
but stalking horse for Roosevelt.
la Toilette" was the reply, could i
never be a stalking horse for any man
nr any man under the earth"
Then, too. Indiana Republicans who
have been In Washington and In New
York within the last few days have said
that after all is said and done. Charles
Warren Fairbanks, Vice President in
Roosevelts day, would not make such a
bad candidate for President after all.
There Is every Indication also that
lowans are to present the name OF Sena-
tor Cummins. So that by the time une
convention time rolls around. according
to the present indications, there will be
almost as many Republicans Of renown
hurdling for the nomination as there will
be in the Democratic national conyen-
tion.
Taft's Independence Responsible.
The folloufnz ouestion was nut sduarely