The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-04-11

! Neither of Republican Candidates
Have Yet Secured Majority Of Un-
contested Delegates-The situa-
/ tion In New York and Kentucky
The Tariff Board Is Endorsed by
/ Southern Manufacturers.
Especial to The Caucasian.)
Washington, D. c., April 8, 1912.
There has not been a day since the
Presidential contest has been ON in
the two great parties when there was
as keen interest in the results that
will be determined before midnight
as there is to-day.
The great State of Illinois, the
third State in the Union, Is to-day
holding a Statewide primary for
both political parties. When the polls
close at o'clock this afternoon the
die will be cast as to whether Roose-
welt or Taft are the choice of the Re
| publican voters of the State and as to
whether Clark or Wilson are the
choice of the Democratic voters of
that State. 1t is stated that the ac-
ton of Illinois to-day will have an
almost deciding effect as to the re-
suit OF the contest in both the Re-
publican and Democratic parties for
the Presidential nomination.
The People Will Rule in Illinois.
1t will be remembered that few
weeks ago Governor Deenan, of Illi-
nois, at the request of Col. Roose-
velt's friends, called a special session
of the Legislature to enact an official
Statewide primary law so as 70 get
rid Of all machine bossism in the
election of delegates, and to enable
each voter, no matter how humble,
to register his choice for President
in his local precinct home. Thus the
people of that State have this year
for the first time the right and op-
portunity to get the expression of ev-
cry voter of both parties within it's
borders. If Colonel Roosevelt fails to
get the State, it will practically mean
that he is out of the running for the
nomination.
There are only eight States with
such a primary law. The others are
controlled by the convention system,
except the State of North Carolina,
where the Republican party has pro-
vided in it's plan of organization a
simple device by which every Repub-
lican voter can record his wishes as
freely and effectively as they can in
the State of Illinois. II Colonel Roo
course, means that the fight will con-
tinue.
If Colonel Roosevelt should carry
that State, then it will be the belief
of his friends and supporters that If
there was such primary law in ev-
cry State that he would carry a ma
jority of them.
Roosevelt in 1916.
Colonel Roosevelt said in a speech
on yesterday that whether he was
nominated or not, that "his hat was
course, that he will start at once and
fight for Statewide primaries in all
the States of the Union and keep it
up for the next four years.
A wise politician to-day, viewing
the situation, said that he did not be-
lieve that Colonel Roosevelt would be
nominated this year, but he felt that
the brave fight that he is now making
means that his nomination is certain
four years from now. There are
many who are not supporting Colonel
Roosevelt this year who hold the
same belief.
Now, as to the Democratic situa-
ton, it is believed that il Speaker
Clark gets the endorsement of Illi-
nois to-day that he will rapidly con-
tinue to gain in strength and that
Professor Wilson's chances for the
nomination will be largely on the
wane.
The situation in Kentucky.
In addition to the intense inter-
est over the Illinois situation there
is in the Republican camp also great
interest in what will occur to-day in
Kentucky and in New York.
In Kentucky, both the Roosevelt
and Taft forces are claiming vic
tory. The district conventions act
to-day and will indicate the result
of the State Convention which meets
on tomorrow. Neither side has
majority of delegates uncontested up
to date, and 1t looks as IL therefore
the contested delegates will have the
balance Of power.