The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-13

ca to-day, six or tho South Carolina
delegates which had been classed for
tho President are given to Mr.. Roose-
welt. they having declared that they
would vote for Mr.. Roosevelt in the
Chicago convention. This left MIR
Iafts total Just where 1t was at the
| close of last week.
Chief interest for the moment CEN
tres In California, where the prImar-
les Will be held on Tuesday of this
week. Tho Golden State has for two
weeks been in the throes of a spec-
tacular campaign. According 20 the
Heraifs Information, Mr.. Roosevelt
STANDS the best chance of getting the
delegates at-large. AS for the rest of
the delegates. 1t is anybody's battle
Inc Presidents best opportunity for
victory lies in the split which Senator
La foiiette is making In the radical
vote In the party. Senator La Foil
otto is powerful factor In the Cali
iornia contest and expects to get some
delegates for himself
|, TWO hundred and ninety-two Re-
publican delegates are yet to be elect
ed and under ordinary conditions II
would seem TO ne a fair Inference
mat the President out of.that number
could get the ninety needed by him. 1t
IS practically certain that he has lost
the forty from Texas. Returns from
the precinct conventions show the
Roosevelt men in control It must bo
considered. however. that OF tho .5n
oelegates now lined up for the Prost-
dent only about 800 bear instructions
1t IL the possibility of some of these
uhihstructed delegates performing
VIVA. IN politics would be regarded as
the band wagon act. In case Mr.. Roose-
welt won In California and Ohio. which
Us giving concern to the Taft manar
/, ers
Ohio the Rig Battle Ground.
But 1t IS In Ohio where the bip hlovs
VIII be struck. Both the President and
MT. roosevelt already nave made cam
pa'ens there and stirred I'D the old
home of Presidents from end to end,
And so vital is the contest regarded
that ooth VIII again visit it, Mr.. TAFT
YIN spend the last nine days before
the primaries In Ohio and will make
eighty speeches In addition 70 =,
eefpolations from the end of his car.
senator La Toilette also Will snend
several days within the borders of tho
state directing his shafts at Mr.
! roosevelt Before Mr.. Roosevelt on
,ered the conflict Senator La Follette
hao big following in Ohio. Now. II
mas all gone to Mr.. Roosevelt or
OF the Heralds CORRESPONDENTS viz
.nat inc President is stronger i'm Ohio
than lie was month ago. Mr.. Roose-
welt. he adds. is weaker.
MI Roosevelt Is assured OF tho six
| tceh delegates yet to be elected from
west virginia. he is assured also OF
inc twenty from North Carolina In
minnesota there is fight for the
."ehty,lour delegates. The President
| mas gained strength there !, resuit
OF MS new fighting attitude.
In New Jersey, where the third b,r
ia
~ they Will choose twenty.eipht dol
eSates. There the Roosevelt movement
according to the Herald's dcspatchns,
is growing. The Taft managers did not
regard 1t IS formidable month ago.
! VOW the Taft managers say that the
hoUseNeit noom must not be taken
100 lightly" Mr.. Roosevelt expects 70
make u campaign there before the pri-
marles. After the unexpected develop-
'nents in other States where he has
made speeches. the politicians I'm New
Jersey hesitate to make iron clar pre-
dictions They say they would not be
surprised If Mr.. Taft got ali the dele
gates. Conditions there arc ms tnov are
in other direct primary States-all at
sea so far as the political leaders are
concerned.
Southern Delegates.
From Georgia and Alabama comes
| word that the delegation Will stick
10 the last for President Taft. From
Louisiana comes word that the dele
gates have formally announced that
they VIII vote for Mr.. Roosevelt. They
| say that six more will follow them.
| From the strictly political point of
view the contest is the most remark
/ able ever known in the present par
/ ties. Republican leaders both here and
/ in Washington are up In the air."
The Roosevelt gains have amazed
/ them. They say that they will have n
| majority. but add that in a battle
which changes so kaleidoscopically as
has the present they hesitate TO make
any prediction. They declare that their
! chief concern is the fate OF the party
which may hinge upon the present
| struggle. One thing they say which
might possibly happen is that the unin-
structed delegates. with those for Mr.
| La Toilette and Mr.. Cummns. might
! link with New York States unin-
structed delegates and maintain n bal
ance OF power.
/ In Washington many OF tho party
men openly express their disapproval
i OF Mr.. Roosevclt's methods and open
! ~ criticise the President for alleged
weakness. Many of them say they
J would like to turn to third man,
but that, they assert. might result in
just enough delegates jumping to Mr..
Roosevelt to insure his nomination.
The situation has overnight. so to
speak. become puzzle. and 1t has all
/ the leaders OF both factions guess
! ing" Ohio. by the politicians. is looked
to TO solve the puzzle.
Speaker CInrl<'s strength Grows.
| For the time being the Democrats
are out of the spot light, although
their contest has NIL the elements OF IL
genuine battle. Speaker Clark's
strength continues to grow. His chief
victory for the week was to win in
the primary elections III Maryland and
gather In the sixteen delegates. This
was a disappointment to the managers
for Governor Woodrow Wilson. The
Washington (State) Convention in
structed Its eiesates--twenty- eight
in number. with half a vote each-for
Speaker Clark. Puerto Rico Instructed
its six delegates for Governor wilson