The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-06-16
LOOKS SAFE FOR TAFT

0 uon looks reasonably safe for T,f
, He VIII probably not have many vo+,
TO spare, but it looks as tbopgb bo ri
nave enough. The action of tho Np
tlonal Republican Committee has boo
emlnentiy fair, confessedly 50 ,ycp h
inc Roosevelt leaders. II has ucces
'ariIy given most of the DELEGATES II
contests to President Taft, for the sim
PIE reason that their title WAS the best
IN most of the contests. as Senator
borah, strong leader for Roosevelt
freely admitted, the anti.Taf case.
had no merit.
ne action Of the committee yester
day IN the Texas contests and in the
state Of Washington, which comprised
'ne chief of the remaining contests to
he considered, was clearly Just and
ialr. All the talk abont the Convex
ton Overwhelming the peoples will
and giving delegations to Taft that he
was not entitled 10, is the silliest
rubbish
1t has been the custom of the Re
publican party since its organization
to entrust the hearing of the contested
delegations to the Republican National
Committee. There is no. reason why
that custom should have been changed
this year, or that it should be changed
any year 1t is necessary to have this
sifting of contests preliminary TO the
meeting of the Convention. in order
that the Convention shall have prima
facic list of delegates with which to
organize the Convention. II would he
impossible to throw these contests at
once into the Convention. for the very
plain reason that there would be no
Of comparison, no wav TO de-
ternline which set OF delegates should
vote, and ii would be mpracticable TO
ct both sets vote. But if it should be |
'ald that all delegations in contest
should be excluded and only those un.
Ilsputedly entitled to seats occ,pv
eats IN the Convention itself. then il
'onld only be necessary for anv siren
ous candidate like Col. Roosevelt to
eJ up contests enough 10 prevent the
convention organizing at all For.
Ihen ever contests for half or more
han bali OF the delegates should. be
'led, n minority only would he left
organize under that rule, and action
minority would be impossible. It 7,
evidently, therefore, an absolute ,
eeesslty that the National Committee
'ould thresh out these contests and 8
lould give the seats to those who j
rima facie are Judged TO he entitled
them I
The coming Of Col Roosevelt TO the
enc OF the Convention will doubtless t
10 spirit into the fight for him: but a
is not easy to see what he can in q
'c' 90 to stem the tide. We Judge f
le saying to be correct, that Roose- $
'it coming TO Chicago indicates that {
is himself the forlorn hope of his v
use; and that he goes In order 70 b
axe final desperate charge in the T
spslrlne hope of turning defeat into a
TORY. And then, of course, there is b
ilnai possibility that he NAV deter O.
ne TO force a nomination bv his own q,
herents, foreseeing defeat. giving ND "
y Idea of winning in the regular CON. te
htion' This is matter that his d.
utenants on the ground would not q
Il justified in determining, and it is r.
rhaps with a view OF getting his g,
al word instantly upon tins big
estlon that his presence was called ~
by his adherents. u
The National Committee will. have %
erythlng in good order for the omen. ii;
OF the convention on Tuesday. The W
'tests are now disposed Of, and moth. ;s
remains but the routine prepara- III
ns' which. in fact, are also practi- in
" complete -,
This week will be the decisive ono fu
inc Republican party in this wears th
'sldential campaign. If some means M
restoring harmony In the different oa
lions can be obtained, if Col Roosc. M
I VIII, as he has repeatedly an be
'hced. submit To the decision of the
Nentlon, then harmonious action
the party as whole will be possi
. But If the split is acceutuatcd
If there is double dealing. or av
t. then 1t would not be easy to pre- M;
Republican success this year. But nI'
h President Taft in nomination and to
party substantially unit As ms
INST all factionists and boIters TIC
re would still be good nope of a ed
publican triumph at the polls al tho To-
'tion in November next. VIC
sci