The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-31
Presidents Main Workers in
the State Are Office
Holders
Ia TOILETTE SENTIMENT HAS <
NOT BECOME MILITANT FORCE
Roosevelt Leaders Struck When the
Iron Wss Hot-Many People VIII
Hear Taft And Give Him Respectful
Attention Because Of Position.

Columbus. Ohio. Jan. 31.-The capi-
tal Of this chaotic state teens with
political movements. Columbus sky.
scrapers are doing a big business in
the ofhce-renting line and signs are
out everywhere announcing the head
quarters Of new organizations as fast
as they spring into existence. Ar
thur ]. Vorys. in his law Office on High
street. figures quietly on the Taft sit
two blocks away. checks up the vorys
figures and ever and anon announces
that Taft is sure to win the Ohio dele
cation to the Republican national con-
Ventiop.
Walter Brown and NAL Karshner
have opened Roosevelt headquarters.
Then Hiram Bronson. author of the
primary law. that will make or un-
make many promising boom. has
a new lay which is attracting atten-
tion. While the LaFollette boomers
and the Roosevelt boomers are each
laying claim to the title progressive"
the Bronson crowd considered It
would be wise for them to select
some other name II they were to get
any recognition at all. 30 they met,
organized. and after the fashion of the
new Men and Religion Forward"
movement. styled themselves the "For-
ward Republican League"
Many Organizations.
There they all are. with a Harmon
organization. a Lentz-Durbin propa-
ganda. a Socialist headquarters and a
woman suffrage movement lending
diversion to the big Republican row.
In addition the constitutional conven-
tion 10 in session. and Columbus has
NAxv nkk
before In its history. The state is just
seethtng. with politics Of the national
brand.
The Roosevelt movement must be
regarded by the Taft people with more
seriousness than any other There is
no sentiment for LaFollette than can
be organized into a militant force.
With Roosevelt It is different. When
Walter Brown, chairman of the Re-
publican state central committee. de-
clared for Roosevelt few weeks ago
he started something In this state.
Brown Is regarded as one Of the
smartest politicians in Ohio. He is
so highly regarded that the Republi-
cans Of the state cannot bring them
selves to believe that he would go to
the extent he has unless he had some
private word from Roosevelt as to his
attitude eventually. Few people be-
lieve Brown would have opened
headquarters at all unless he were
frst assured that Roosevelt would not
come along and undo 1t all by declar-
ing himself out of the contest to stay
out.
Roosevelt Boom Well Equipped.
This Roosevelt movement is not Of
the fy.by-night brand. It is we'll
equipped. Allen e. Beach ,one of the
best known political writer's in the
state hoe ott %
licity bureau and is telling the people
every day about the converts to the
cause. And there are some pretty
heavy men weighing in. The addi-
ton Of Nal 'Karshmer to this propa-
ganda would ordinarily mean that
Taft had lost the capital city district,
but there are others in this town who
remain loyal to the president and who
have claims to leadership equal to
that Of MFR. Karshner.
Willis g. Bowland, for years head
OF the local organization and Karsh-
ner's chief in many a hard fought bat
tie. is unalterably for Taft. He Is
holding federal position. being in.
ternal revenue collector. but that does
not detract from his influence for his
chief. Charles Pearce. a good fighter
and who knows the game, is loyal
TO Taft.
Walter Brown has struck when the
iron was hottest. Brown. with a
Roosevelt boom. annexes about all Of
the opposition to Taft. and leaves La
Toilette high and dry. It was very
clever. politics on Browns part. And
they say he has more clever maneu-
vers up his sleeve. though Just now
ne Is taking his turn In running the
constitutional convention. which has
a new leader every other day.
License Proposition in Majority.
The license proposition has a ma
tority OF the votes In. the convention.
but there Is still a big question wheth-
er the wet forces are going to. get the
kind OF q license clause they want. II
is probable there will be compro-
mise. to which both sides will agree
at an early date. granting license but
ttcal subdivision the right to suppress
the trafic by vote when they see fit
to do so.
President Taft will address the con.
Vention next Tuesday. He and Gov.
ernor Harmon. regarded in Ohio, at
least, As his most probable opponent
In case OF the presidents renomina-
tion. will introduce him to the dele
gates
friends and awaken the interest Of old
ones while In the state.
The Roosevelt press bureau hes be-
gun to throw cold water on tho pro.
cession already and has announced
that President Taft would receive a
great deal Of attention. due to his
high once. that many people would
hear his speeches and that big crowds
everywhere would follow him. but
that enthusiasm would be lacking.
They say II 10 simply an attempt OF
the TAFT managers to revive q waning
interest and that as soon az the presi-
dent leaves for Washington the situa-
tton will be just as 1t was before he
came. Receptions have been arrang-
ed at ell points and the president will
meet more people personally and talk
With them conldentially than he has
met on any previous Ohio visit. That
no Will do his candidacy much good
cannot be denied.