Evening star., 1912-01-13
Some Republicans Asking Why
He Is Party's Hope.
NOT CERTAIN OF STRENGTH
Fail Of Conviction That He Could
Lead to Victory.
ASK FAIR PLAY FOR TAFT
Talk of His Being Weak With
Seats of Disaffection.

Some republicans on Capitol Hill are
unwilling to pass unchallenged the sug-
gestion, sedulously circulated, that Col.
Roosevelt is the sole hope of the repub-
lican party, and his nomination for the
presidency the only salvation OF that
great party. Nor are they confident that
his nomination would assure victory to
the republican tickets. national, congress
sional and local.
These republicans observe that many
of the academic discussions of Roose-
velt's present attitude and possible fu-
ture course branch out from the premise
that if he can be induced to take the
nomination. or decides to seek it and
gets It, republican success is certain.
Why this cock-sure dhtum that he can
lead to victory? Why foreclosure of the
possibility that some other candidate may
do it also? Why does 1t devolve upon
and responsibility. to heave out the
hogged-down machine? Why isn't it up
to Mr.. Taft to do 1t. especially since a
faction Of the party charge that Mr..
Taft begged the machine?
Some Growing Restive.
These are some Of the questions that
republicans on Capitol Hill are asking
one another. They are getting restive un-
der the reiteration of Roosevelt's indis-
pensability to the republican party.
The effort to "bluff'' hdr. Taft out Of
the presidential race which was made by
some of the colonels enthusiastic sup
porters week or so ago and went to
smithereens upon the Presidents prompt
avowal of intention to stick until death
was construed at the time to be a move
to relieve Col Roosevelt of the odium of
attempting to wrest the nomination from
the President. No politician hereabouts
doubts that If Mr.. Taft had hung in the
wind for moment the Roosevelt boom
would have been given definite form.
Now come these other tactics = the
Macedonian cry for help: Roosevelt must
save the party and he alone can do it. "
II that outbreak from what some repub-
licans think Is a Roosevelt claque should
swell into the form Of a public diapason
1t would furnish an excuse, 1t Is said, for
the colonel to come reluctantly to the res
cue Of his ''perishing" party.
Afraid Of Third Tern.
There are republicans who say that no
matter how Col. Roosevelt should get
the nomination. his candidacy would be
confronted by the deep-rooted American
antipathy to the third term; more than
an antipathy, indeed. a tradition. poll
cy as so.idly grounded as the Monroe
doctrine. The plea that there had been
an intervening term would instant be
met by the charge that Col. Roosevelt's s
effort in behalf Of Taft in 1903 was for
the purpose Of furnishing that hiatus
and excuse.
There is growing disposition among
republicans to insist upon more fair play
for Mr.. Taft. They do not all agree that
his course has been the wisest, but they
admit 1t has been courageous.
If he did not go as far as the progress
sives would have desired and veto the
tariff legislation, neither did he listen to
the standpatters and refrain from ad-
vocating reciprocity. 1t is not denied
that his position on the tariff at this
time is good republican doctrine. accord
know what Col Roosevelt's tariff policy
is? ii is asked.
Always the Next County.
Some republicans Of late have been try
ing to get at the foundation of the loose
talk about "Tafts weakness with the peo-
ple." Wherein does it lie, what is alleged
against Taft, they have been inquiring of
their constituents. Here is a sample of
many of the replies: "Oh, Taft is all
right in this section. He has made a
good President, conservative and dignif1ed.
and we've nothing against him. but over
in the next county they are sore on him. :"
TITS always over in the next county F"
said a republican senator today who had
been prosecuting such inquiries. He went
on to add that even the magazines which
have exploited this alleged weakness of
Taft never particularize. but only describe
in general terms what they admit to be
bi,t pofb hing .tip tho air -