Evening star., 1912-01-10
Word Abroad for Early Con-
ventions in the States.
ALL THE LEADERS HOPEFUL
Instructed or Sure Delegations to Be
the Watchword.
SECRETARY HILLES DIRECTING
No Fear That Roosevelt Will Oppose
denomination of the President.
Harmony Plans.

Secretary Hilles, President Taft's pre-
convention manager, has passed the word
along the line that the Taft leaders In
every state must hold early state conven-
tions and select delegates to the repub-
lican national convention tied up by in
structions for the President. These or
ders. 1t is now known. will be followed to
the letter In many states. There will be
early state conventions in all directions,
and by the end of April or early in May
the nomination of Mr.. Taft will be prac-
tically cinched by instructed or certain
delegates. The Taft lineup may possi-
bly, tell the tale even before that time.
Mr. Hilles and the Taft leaders are no
longer worried over the possibility that
ex-President Roosevelt will get into the
game in opposition to the President.
they are absolutely confident, from in
formation they have from sources con-
sidered authentic. that Col. Roosevelt
is not to permit his name to be used
in that connection now or at any other
time nor before the Chicago convention.
1t is considered prudent, however, that
the President shall have his renomina-
tion assured as long before the con-
vention as this can safely be done.
Two important reasons for this are that
il will set the disturbing Roosevelt talk
at rest. and that it will conduce toward
the lining up of all classes of repub-
licans for the November election.
The prompt "cinching' of the renomi-
nation for the President is not SO much
the object of the move as is that of set
thing the matter early, SO that factional
differences may be adjusted by the mas
ter minds of the party. The Taft leaders
are growing more and mere confident
each day that their man will have a
splendid chance at the polls in Novem-
Der. and they want all the time they can
get to lay plans for getting the elements
together. The insurgent republicans OF
the west win support Taft in preference
TO. any democrat who is named. 1t is
held. but time ana conciliatory methods
will be necessary to do this.
No Strife With Insurgents.
President Taft has been emphatic in
his orders that there shall be no lam
basting Of the insurgent leaders or Of
their followers. He gave the same
orders as to President Roosevelt
when there was warm talk that Col
Roosevelt would oppose him. The
President therefore. is said to be in q
taetful position for the future with
regard to the republicans who are now
hghting his denomination. II they OPP
pose him. In November 1t will not be
for the reason that he has hurt their
feelings or their vanity by attacks
upon them.
The Florida republican state conven-
ton for the election of delegates to
Chicago will be the first one to be held,
the date having been hxed Tor Fen-
ruary s.. There 10 no opposition to the
President in Florida, and he will have
the solid delegation
Maryland republican leaders now
have under adyisement the holding OF
the convention In that state In March
and an early date Is almost sure to be
selected Secretary Hilles has talked
with Collector Stone, Internal Reve-
nue. Collector Hanna. also state chair
man. and Naval Officer Pusey. and they
understand that the administration
Tennessee and other Taft states are
arranging for early conventions. Rep
resentative Mcguire Of Oklahoma hav-
ing announced that the state conven-
tion there will probably be held in
March
Paving Way for Harmony.
AIvah Martin, republican national COM
mitteeman OF Virginia. and Representa-
tive Bascomb Slemp. state chairman.
were in conference today with Secretary
Hilles. who has also talked with the
leaders Of the opposition faction in that
ate He Is smoothing out all differences
between the factions and paving the way
for an early and harmonious convention.
Both factions are for Taft. The Virginia
state convention will be held at Roanoke
March IL.
Mr. Hiiles has been proving himself one
of the most artistic wrinkle smoothers In
the country. Not only is he bringing into
line hostile state factions. but he Is laying
the wires to satisfy insurgents and others
showing disanection toward the President
now. His success in his present efforts
is declared to be unusual.
Evidences OF a general lining up for
Taft throughout the country are seen in
the resolutions Of republican committees.
clubs and other organizations that are
reaching the White House. Many clubs
are leading the way in crystallizing senti-
ment. II is the only method that Is SO
far being used.
Hanna Method Suggested.
Republican leaders at the White House
nave been urging Secretary Hilles to fol-
low the Mark Hanna style of political or
ganization. This would mean the selec-
tion of responsible man or set OF men
in each state to conduct the fight in each
and furnish the nucleus for a rallying In
I'll directions. But nothing has been done
up TO this time. Mr.. Hilles and the Presi-
dent evidently prefer to see voluntary
railying OF the Taft forces. This is going
on in q fairly satisfactory way. although
il is not as rapid as would be the case in
the event of Individual state leadership
with the direction of one man to force
Endorsements along.
PLAN FOUR STEAMERS.