Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-02-27
DEMOCRATS SOUTH
. ARE REJOICING OVER
!. ENTRY OF ROOSEVELT
That Republican Ranks Are
HopeIeSSIy Torn Between
Colonel and Taft Is View al
Washington
By RALFH SMITH.

members OF the Georgia delegation in
congress share the general belief in
Washington that Roosevelts announce
ment insures Democratic success at the
polls in the November election.
'I regard the Roosevelt statement as
the best thing that has happened for
the country" said Congressman Adam
son. cit means Republican defeat, and
nothing better could happen for the peo-
pie of America. I hope no one pours oil
on the troubled waters. but allows the
discord to grow We will elect Dem
ocratic president surely"
Representative Hardwick thinks that
the announcement makes the nomination
and election of woodrow Wilson GER
tainty.
81 believe~the Democrats can win with
almost any candidate under the cir
cumstances." he said. but with Wilson
as our leader. we are doubly sure of
success
Judge Bartlett regards the announce
ment as an effort at personal aggrandize-
ment by Colonel Roosevelt. He thinks it
is the very best thing that could have
happened for the Democrats.
REPUBLICANS DEMORALIZED.
1T has demoralized the Republican par
ty," he said. '-we win win the next cleo
ton without a doubt regardless as to
whether Roosevelt or Taft is the Repub-
lican nominee. If Taft wins. the Roose-
welt followers will knife him in the cleo
ton, and if Roosevelt wins, the Taft
people will not support him. This can
mean only the election of a Democrat"
1.-THE chances of Democracy nave been
UNNECESSARILY improved" said Repre-
sentative BrantIey. The discord in
the Republican party will widen as time
wears on. and the Democrats will elect
president in November"
Representative Lee is confident that
the Democrats will win out as a result
of the Roosevelt announcement.
THE breach in the Republican par
ty will not heal. but will grow bigger,
and the Democratic chances are i'm
proved accordingly"
Representative Tribble shares the
belief of others that the announce
ment means Decorate president in
the White House.
"I welcome the Roosevelt announce
ment because it means success for our
candidate" said Del
'-'''f was neyer petter pleased with
anything than with this occurrence"
said Representative Schley Howard "I
have talked, to mRny Republicans to-
day and they are hopelessly divided
over this thing. We will win easily
with any candidate we nominate"
Representative Oscar w. Underwood,
of Alabama, the majority leader and
himself receptive candidate for the
Democratic nomination, said: THE
Roosevelt announcement makes the
Democrats doubly sure of victory in
the next election
TAFT is VERY SORE.
The general drift of opinion among all
shades of Republicans is that the Roose-
welt statement means a split in the Re
publican party, which absolutely inslres
the election of a Democratic president,
unless some compromise is reached.
President Taft will never consent now
to yield in Rooseve1ts favor unless he is
absolutely out-voted in the Chicago con-
vention, and Roosevelt's supporters de-
clare that his statement may be taken
as positive assurance that he is in the
fight to the finish.
BITTER PERSONAL FIGHT.
In the opinion of experienced Republi-
can politicians this means bitter, per-
sonal campaign between the president
and his predecessor, with resulting sit
uation that will make it impossible for
either to obtain the cordial support of
the other after the nominee shall have
been determined in the Chicago conven-
ton.
With such split confronting the par
ty, there will be only one hope of sue
cess, and that will be in the selection
of compromise candidate. If Roosevelt
carries out his present intention, such a
solution, in the opinion of political OBJ
servers will be the only chance for Re-
publican success. This decided turn in
the situation has again revived talk of
Associate Justice Charles E. Hughes as
a possible compromise candidate.
1t is the belief in Washington that
the president, in the event of Roose-
velts gaining the upper hand in the
Chicago convention, would throw his
support to Hughes or some other candi-
date before he would see the honor con-
ferred upon Roosevelt
The president is said to have received
Roosevelts statement not in anger, but
in great pain The receipt of the state
ment mean to him the blasting forever
of a friendship that had for years been
warm and intimate. The president was
the last to acknowledge that Roosevelt
had turned upon him and was seeking to
undermine his political strength. To those
who talked with him the president ex-
pressed no concern over his own politi-
cal fortunes. 1t is the fortunes of his
party that are worrying him.
TAFT ALREADY NERVOUS,
The president has expressed the fear
10 more than one of his friends that
the fight that has been started will re-
suit in the undOinE Of the Republican
party in 1912. Yet the president Him
self has been forced into a situation
where he will be obliged to wage a
bitter. fight. and he intends to do 1t
with ali his strength.
The president AMI his advisors will
try to avoid personalities, although
they appreciate that Roosevelt is cer-
tain to say and do things that will
require a direct reply from Mr. raft
The president feels that his back has
been forced against 'he wall and no
avenue has been left for him except
& personal controversy with mis- PRE-
Gccessor.
He will try to meet the situation
with dignity.