The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-06
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1912.
REPUBLICAN SITUATION.

Students Of American politics are
greatly interested in the republican
situation today. A few weeks & the
contest for the republican nomination
was confined to Taft and LaFollette.
Later Roosevelt injected himself into
the race. Now there is talk Of a dark
horse.
When the field was confined to the
present occupant of the White House
and the Wisconsin senator-the criti
cisras most frequently made by La
Toilette supporters was that Taft was
too easy going, too re~actionary, was
owned BY the trusts, had no sympathy
with the common people, was against
the interests of the farmers-and
guilty Of most of the other crimes in
the calendar.
The boosters for Taft were quite
confident that LaFollette was crazy
in the head. an anarchist, ultra-radi-
cal, n a physical wreck. In addition
he was held up as a 'bossy' sort of a
person, who had selhshly used every
one in order to advance his own po-
litical smbition-and had shown the
basest ingratitude to those who had
helped him. Outside Of that he had
never been in the penitentiary.
Now that Roosevelt is in the race,
the colonel is getting a proper pam
ninEI The chief criticisms of the man
from Sycamore Hill are that he is
bomhastic, egotistical, has lied about
accepting a third term. reversed
himself politically and in his person
al friendships. Above all his detract-
ors insist that he is animated by hate,
revenge and vindictiveness in making
the race-that he really feels he has
no chance Of securing the nomination
but hopes to prevent Taft from land
ing a second term.
All these charges and counter at
tacks are amusing and entertaining to
the democrats-if somewhat mortify-
ing to republicans. 1t is evident that
there is a bit of truth in the charges
made against all three men-hut not
to- an exaggerated degree, in either
case. Neither Of the three men are
without their faults. Each possesses
MANY virtues.
1t seems quite a foregone concIu-
sion that LaFollette can never be NOM
inated-not, at least, in the year Of
1912. His r~adicaIism, physical, mental
and nervous condition preclude that.
There are a lot of devoted followers
who will stick to him till the finish.
Their loyalty may be commendable-
but their judgment is very poor.
While Roosevelt will he a popular
hero in many western states, it is un-
likely that he will win the nomination.
He viii make gains in the south and
secure divided delegations with Taft.
Hewil have many supporters in the
western half OF the country. He and
IlaEollette will divide the insurgent
Wpte-but neither will be able to make
q great deal of Roadway against Taft
i4 the really stalwart states.
zone Of the strange anomalies Of the
campaign is that the candidacy of
Roosevelt has strengthened, rather
than weakened, Taft-while it has at
least split the i~nsurgent vote in two.
BY this statement it is not meant that
Roosevelt will not take some delegates
that would otherwise have gone to
Iaft--but that his decision to contest
against his former chum and friend
has caused Taft's friends to rally more
spidly to the support of the man in
TIE White House. It has 0 n
verted many lukewarm supporters of
the president into enthusiastic shout
eFs--and strengthened him in other
ways.
BY all h traditions of the republi-
can party Taft is entitled to renomin-
aflons He has made good on his per-
sonal pledges as well as those Of the
republican platform. Outside his adj
vpcacy Of the reciprocity measure the
rspublicans of the west have no great
gFAsyance against him. Those who
are convinced that reciprocity would
haEo seriously handicapped the agri-
cultural interests Of the western
ssates admit that as a nationwide
movenent-reciproeity had its good
points
The chances for Taft's renomina-
tEoa ere certainly better than those of
ether Roosevelt or La Toilette. The