The Washington times., 1912-06-14

well as Roosevelt people, Is that IL he
doesn't win on first ballot. he cannot
win at all.
still further worry was caused among
the Taft engineers Of the road roller by
lhe very positive statements that came
from New York today that Colonel
Roosevelt will come to Chicago. While
Colonel Roosevelt was IN none OF the
statements quoted as saying definite
~ that he would come, the crcum-
reports and general conditions here,
have convinced the convention gather
ing that in all probability ne Will be
here. and will address the big mass
meeting that has ben arranged for Mon
day night. The convention will open
Tuesday morning, and the election OF
a temporary chairman will be the first
real business.
against the Barnes Penrose plan Of
riding rough-shod over the Roosevelt
people, would be the most effective pos
sible measure for arousing the former
Of fghting enthusiasm: and that Ia
just what the Taft people believe 10 go
ing to happen, and wnat most OF the
delegates now confidently expect.
No La Toilette Candidate.
Most interesting circumstances have
arisen which make the fight over tenn.
porary chairman even more significant
than 1t has heretofore been regarded
1t Is learned on positive authority thai
the La Toilette managers, IL their pres.
ent plans are not changed to meet
shifting conditions, will present no can
didate at all for temporary chairman.
They explain that II they should pre-
sent Governor McGovern. Of Wisconsin,
or some other good La Toilette pro.
gressiye, the Roosevelt people would
turn In and support him; and this La
Toilette wants to play to happen. La
Toilette wants to play his game all
alone throughout. A week ago 1t was
planned to nave a Wisconsin candidate
for temporary chairman; but develop:
ment that the Roosevelt people would
support him caused the Wisconsin lead
ers to become wary.
OF course, the La Toilette people will
not support Root for temporary chair
man. That goes without saying. They
not only will not support him, but they
will not support any man whom the
Roosevelt people put forward. They dc
not intend to cast their votes en- bloc,
Their game Is to deadlock this conven-
tion IL they can, and there are not a
few people who believe they might sue
coed. A deadlock on the election OF a
temporary chairman would be precisely
to their liking; II would, II II persisted.
enable them, with their 36 Wisconsin
and North Dakota votes under control,
to WELD power utterly disproportion-
ate to their numerical strength.
La Toilette a Factor.
La Follettes hackers are determined
to make him a first-rate figure at some
point in the convention, II 1t is possible
They want especially to compel con.
cesslons to them in the preparation OF
the platform. Therefore, they hope, by
scattering their vote on temporary
chairman to tie up matters at the very
outset, and force concessions from their
before they will come into line for any
program.
That is the La Toilette scheme. II
depends, of course, on the chance thai
this little group may hold a balance OF
power; not very large probability, II
Is conceded, In view OF the swing OF
things now toward Colonel Roosevelt
yet one that the La Toilette people are
bent on making the most OF.