The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-06-24
COMPLICATION OF CANDIDATES

Tire snlit in the republican party
1oots good to democrats and seems to
insure democratic success, but 1t real
Nv calls for a bigger democratic ma
iorttv next November than would
have been needed had there been no
division.
Mr.. Tafts nomination was a ma
chine victory, pure and simple, naoe
possible by votes from office holders
in states that haven't cast repuo-
lican vote in the electoral college since
1876, and probably won't cast another
by 1876. No doubt that RooseVeIt Is
the choice of the white republican
voters in the northern states he peat
Taft in his home state, and IN every
other state where the people mad a
chance to express themselves. These
people are justly enraged by the un-
blushing way in which they were CIV
en- a cold deal in the convention. They
will either vote for Roosevelt or the
democratic candidate, and 1t will be
very little use to figure on either Till
the votes are counted.
OF course Mr.. Roosevelt may not
run, after all. His nomination at Chi
cago by the boilers, and prospective
candidacy as an independent, are con-
ditional- When matters have cooled
down a little, he may decide not tC
run, and in the Stars opinion 1T viii
be best for the democracy IL he doe!
not.
1t is foolish to doubt Mr.. Roose
velt's immense popularity. Right herr
in Ocala, we can find a hundred dem
ocrats who would rather see him pres
ident than any other republican, am
we can find fifty democrats who woul'
rather see him president than an.
democrat except their favorite candi
date. II he runs, he is going to carr
some states; he may carry more state
tlan Taft, and tho he can hardly oh
tain a majority OF the votes in tn
electoral college, his candidacy ma
force the election into the House O
Representatives.
The House is at present democratic
and IL it was left to the personal vote
of the members, it would undoubtedl
choose the democratic nominee. a Bu
IL the House votes on the question,
will vote by states, and it happens tina
republicans control just as man
states as the democrats.
Under the same article of the const
tuition that gives the House the dut
OF electing president, II the electors
college fails to do SO, the Senate elect
the vice president. The Senate has
good sized republican majority, an
would undoubtedly elect a republica
most likely James SchOolcraft She,
man, Taft's running mate and tt
present vice-president, who as pres
dent of the Senate has made himse
very popular with the members.
II the House fails to elect a pres
dent, the office will be filled by the vii
president elected by the Senate.
So while 1t is not exceedingly pro-
able, it is entirely possible that Sum-
Jim Sherman may be the next pres
dent of these United States. He
just about such another man, al
would make just about such anoth
president as Chester A. Arthur. Und
his protection, machine politics al
preferred interests would have Il
right of way, and the clock of pr
gress would be set back a dozen year
The democrats at Baltimore tn
week can prevent such a calamity
nominating a man who can draw 4
vote OF the, .progressive north as WI
as hold the solid south, and so swe
the nation.