The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-03-01
SPIRITED FIGHT FOR THE CON.
troll OF THE CHICAGO CON-
vENTIoN Is FoREsEEN.
LINES TIGHTLY DRAWN
Leaders Estimate the Points Making
for Success Of Their Favorites.-
Senator Lodge Will ee
Neutral.

washington, Feb. 2S.-That there
will be redhot fight from now on
between the friends of President Taft
and Colonel Roosevelt for the control
of the Chicago convention and making
OF the Republican party platform is
recofinized by the leaders on both
sides.
The Taft supporters are firm and
confident. The Roosevelt men are az;
gressive. The former say there is no
wavering in their ranks, and that 1t is
particularly notable that the Roosevelt
announcement, while cheering to the
opposition, has not drawn one of the
leaders from the support of La Fol-
lette. The Roosevelt men say that
the entire progressive following will
he will win easily.
The Roosevelt statement has been
expected. Senators and representa-
tives, who had declared for one or the
other OF the candidates in the cam4
paign, as 1t has progressed thus far.
adhered to the positions they have
taken.
SuPpoit vi Idlt say tue SOS
lumbus speech will defeat Roosevelt
for the nomination and certainly for
the election.
The Democrats dip into the matter
sufficiently to say that the Roosevelt
announcement makes for the success
either Of Wilson. Harmon. Clark or
Underwood, according to the point of
view Of those making the comment.
In squaring away for the great fight
In the Republican ranks ii was brought
out that the Taft supporters rely upon
a number Of points as making it GER
tain that the Chicago convention can
not be induced to reject Taft and name
Roosevelt.
II was shown that already a cam
paign is in progress in the agricul-
tural states of the Northwest and all
along the Canadian border to show to
the people who have been understood
to be opposed to Taft on account of
his Canadian reciprocity measure, that
Roosevelt supported Taft's Canadian
plan and spoke for it upon several
occasions. That issue is regarded as
even.
Taft Supporters Point.
The Taft supporters point to other
propositions, which they say, make for
support to the president during the
struggle, and count against Colonel
Roosevelt.
They say these points include: The
distrust of business and the property
interests. great and small of his popu,
listic policy announced at Columbus.
The personal odium of his treachery to
Taft, the man he presented to the
country four years ago as best fitted to
be chief magistrate and against whom
he has brought no allegation of failure
to fulfill that prophecy; the deep-seat-
ed opposition in this country to the
third term, to be enhanced through its
seeking by a man of Roosevelt's EN-.
pirical temperament; the fact that the
party organization, in a natural sense,
is in the control of the conservative
element.
Roosevelt's appeal for country wide
primaries will fall for the most part
upon the ears of state and district
managers and local organizations uho
are in sympathy with the administra-
ton. The politicians do not expect to
witness a revolution in this respect.
Probably the heaviest asset counted
upon by the Taft men is the support
OF the conservative business element.
They We're easily encouraged In this
expectation by the expressions of dis
approval OF Roosevelts Columbus
policy by Sole of the colonel's warm
est friends.
Lodge Cannot Oppose Colonel.
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Theo-
dore Roosey slt's intimate friend and
close counsellor, issued a statement
saying that because of their lifelong
friendship h. could not personally op-
pose the CO onel and therefore would
take no part whatever in the campaign
for the Rep Iblican presidential nomi.
nation.
Poll on Roosevelt Is Taken.
In the press gallery of the house a
poll was taken on Theodore Roose-
velt's chances of nomination and his
chances of election If nominated. Here
are the questions and the results:
do you think that Roosevelt can
capture the nomination.
Answering YES" H.
Answering NO" 80.
''If Mr.. Roosevelt is nominated do
you think he will be elected?"
Answering Yes" 9.
Answering No." 81.
Roosevelt Headquarters Opened.
New York. Feb. 2S.-Permanent of.