The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-03-29
ROUT OF TAFT
A STANG PAT JOLT
(By Winfield Jones)

President Taft in the North Dakota pri
maries was a severe jolt to his man
ayers in Washington, and even they
privately believe that the result proves
I that Taft cannot be elected if he is
nominated at the Chicago convention
Roosevelt managers here emphasize
this idea and about the headquarters
of the democratic presidential candi-
dates emphasis also is given it. The
feet that on the basis of the first H.
600 votes il North Dakota from which
returns were had President Taft got
about one in forty was the subject of
much felicitation among the demo
cratic leaders about the headquarters
and at the capitol
Naturally, democratic asseverations
we're fervent that it wuold be good
fortune for the democratic party If
the presidents denomination was fore
ed on the public by Manager McKin-
ley and his lieutenants.
At the Roosevelt headquarters there
is frank admission that La Toilette car.
ried North Dakota, but whatever dis
appointment might be felt because OF
this was completely over-shadowed by
the feeling that the lesson of North
Dakota as to the weakness of Presi.
dent Taft with the rank and file of
his party would not be lost on the vot-
ers from this time FORTH and that it
would not be lost on the Chicago con.
yention.
"Is it possible" asked the Roose-
welt leaders, that the republican party,
with the North Dakota result before
it and the utter weakness of the pres.
, ident disclosed, is going to Chicago
next June and nominate man who
will drag the party down to certain
defeat?"
The weakness of President Taft, it
is pointed out by Senator Dixon and
by Ormsby McHarg, as revealed in
North Dakota, extends to many other
states. In Montana, it is said, Presi-
dent Taft has even less strength than
in North Dakota. In Washington he
is as weak. So also in Oregon. Like
wise, in practically all the border
states. Mr.. Taft has a tremendous
tide of opposition from republicans OF
all factions and varieties.
The reputation Of President Taft
in North Dakota can best be inter
preted when t is recalled that in 1896
that state next to Pennsylvania gave
the highest pro rata part of its vote to
the republican party. In 1900, only 50
per cent of the people voted the dem
ocratic ticket. In 1908, President Taft
carried the state by substantial ma
iority. In other words, President Taft
has been utterly repudiated in a rock
ribbed republican. state. 1t is not q
democratic state or doubtful state
considered in the light of presidential
elections since 1896.
It is pointed out that if states like
Oregon Nebraska, Wisconsin, and
New Jersey, which have presidential
primaries, by their returns later on
emphasize the weakness of President
Taft even fraetionally as much as the
North Dakota outcome has emphasized
it, his candidacy will have been made
impossible. There will be nothing to
it then, but Roosevelt.
The only factors in the North Da
kota contest were La Toilette and
Roosevelt. La Toilette won easily
but the Roosevelt forces made a good
showing considering the fact that La
Toilette visited the field in person. and
made a personal appeal to the voters
and considering the fact the Roosevelt
forces have by no means made the
effort that has been made by the La
Toilette leaders in this state.
Is it not conceivable that the Taft
managers believe the republican party
with President Taft at the head of il
can carry state like North Dakota
in the face of such a scathing rebuke
of the administration? The republi
can leaders do not seriously expect
Mr.. Taft, if he should get the nomina
ton, to carry North Dakota in the
election And If this is the sentiment
in North Dakota is it conceivable that
the same opinion does not obtain wide
ly in other states of the west and
northwest and along the northern Dor
der?
In the light of the North Dakota re
turns, it is easy to understand the
subterfuges the Taft leaders are re
sorting to prevent primary where
they can. There need be no further
argument as to why the Taft forces
don't want to let the people decide
their case. No wonder the admins
tration throws up its hands in horror
at the notion of letting the people rul'