Morris tribune., 1912-02-16
SUSPICIOUS OF
C0LONEL'S BOOM
Movement in Minnesota May Be
in Interest Of Taft.
LA Toilette MEN CAUTIOUS
Slow in Climbing on Roosevelt Band
Wagon With Reins in Hands
os Taft Men,
LA Toilette MEN CAUTIOUS
Especial Correspondence

st. Paul, Feb. 13.-With United
States Senator La Toilette down and
out physically it is said and practical
ly it is certain, the presidential stu
alton in the Northwest. ceutering as it
is on the unknown candidacy of Theo-
6Ore Roosevelt, has reached a point
that calls for the best thought of the
Republican leaders. Where will it end
is the question and the thought further
prompts sitself, will those concerned
be able to pilot the craft to safety
without danger to themselves and the
hopes of the Republican party? Will
it involve the state ticket? Roosevelt
is always safe bet to tie to and those
now so industriOusly engaged in climb
ing aboard the wagon after Q brief
worship at the shrine of La Toilette
ism are to be commended for their
Sagacity, for at his best the Wisconsin
man was doomed to disappointment
as far as a Minnesota delegation was
concerned, but what bothers those in
Volved is how far they can carry the
Roosevelt game through. To speak
plainly there are any number in the
North Star state who do not believe
the Roosevelt movement in Minnesota
is on the square and there is grounds
for their suspicion. They have bunch
that the movement for the big Stick
is blind for Taft delegation, unin-
struCted of course and so made up that
1t will be easily handled by those in
charge of the convention Half doz-
en- papers over the state have aired
their suspicious as to the movement
and one influential weekly in Redwood
eounty last week went so far as to
condemn the action of several poll
ticians in the county who were circu-
1ating a petition for the organization
OF a progressive league with Mr.
Roosevelt as it's patron saint. Those
active in the movement, it was point
cd out, we're out and out Taft men
and the voters were warned to beware
of their smooth talk. In the Twin
Cities those who had the front rank
in the La Toilette candidacy admit
that the whole thing has petered out
and they further admit that the Roose-
welt movement is responsible Though
endorsing Mr.. Roosevelt for anything
he may want they are chary about
hopping ON the band wagon with the
reins in the hands of the Taft men.
Lieutenant Governor Gordon an
nounced himself for Mr.. Roosevelt sew
eral weeks ago and W. e. Lee, who
has been an out and out La Toilette
man, has also climbed aboard. One
thing worrying Taft men down here
is how far the Roosevelt boom can
be carried with safety. 1t might go
too far, they say, and then-well,
what is the use of crossing the bridge
until you come to it.
!. +. \
w E. Lee of Long Prairie, candi-
date No. 3 for Republican guberna-
torial honors, has now fairly launched
his craft on the political sea. He has
taken up quarters in the Vendome
hotel in Minneapolis and for the next
four months will direct his campaign
from that city. Nothing elaborate, -
he told the scribes, "just quiet place
where l can attend to my correspond
ence and meet my friends I am go
ing to conduct quiet campaign" Mr..
Lees selection Of Minneapolis as his
headquarters is taken by some to mean
that he intends to try and capture the
Hennepin delegation. He is confident
that he has his own district, the Sixth.
without question. There are those who
think R. G. Dunn of Princeton looks
kindly on Mr.. Lees candidacy, but If
BOb's word counts for anything he is
going to be a minor quantity in the
present precOnventiOn campaign.
While in St. Paul last week he pub
Ncly declared that he was not even
coming to the convention.
X i. 4.
There is possibility that Govern.
Or Eberhart may have to forego his
determination not to enter actively
into the preconvention campaign The
report is that quite a few of his de.
Rartment heads have advised some
activity and it may take the form of
. swing around the state. The call
for funds from the boys in the ranks,
am told, has already gone out and
- being responded to without com.
plant. Six years ago the headquar.
ters of any gubernatorial candidate
would have been busy place about
&Ais time, but that was when the
railroad pass was in existence. An
eaVelOpe, a sheet of paper and a q
cent stamp is now the medium for an
exchange Of courtesies. Neither al
q. Y. GOrdon's quarters in the Mer.
chants hotel or at the state. capitol
whore Governor Eberhart holds forth
IL the number of visitors out of the
ordinary, but the typewriters click
merrily and the mail man gees forth
with his sack well loaded.
4. + f
Report has 1t that Carlos Avery on
Hutchinson, former member OF &hs