The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-02-26

that he would accept the nomination II il
comes to him, but also Il am candidate:
nominate me
The general drift OF opinion among ali
shades OF Republicans is that the Roose-
Welt statement means a split in the
Republican party, which absolutely in
sures the election Of a Democratic Presi-
dent unless some compromise is reached.
President Taft will never consent now to
yield in Roosevelts favor unless he IL
absolutely outvoted in the Chicago con-
vention. and Roosevelts supporters de-
clare that his statement NAV he taken as
positive assurance that he Is in the fight
TO the finish.
In the opinion Inexperienced Republi-
can politicians this means "A bitter per-
sonal campaign between the President
and his predecessor. with resulting
situation that will make it impossible
for either TO obtain the cordial support
Of the other after the nominee shall have
been determined in the Chicago con Ven
ton, With such split confronting the
party there will be only one hope of sue
cess, aud that will be in the selection OF a
compromise candidate II Roosevelt car
ries out his present intention. such u
solution, in the opinion Of political OBJ
servers. will he the only chance FOR Re-
publican success.
This decided turn in the situation has
again revived talk of Associate Justice
Charles T.. Hughes as possible com
promise candidate. II is the belief in
Washington that, the President in the
event of isoosevelt's gaining the upper
hand in the Chicago con vention would
throw his support to Hughes or to some
other candidate before he would see the
honor conferred upon Roose welt.
The President is said to have received
Roose velt's statement not in anger but
in great pain. The receipt Of the state
ment meant to him the blasting forever of
friendship that had for years been warm
and intimate The President was the.
last to acknowledge that Roosevelt hal
turned upon him and was seeking to
undermine his political strength. To
those who talk ed with him the President
expressed no concern over his own politi
cal fortunes II is the fortunes of his
party that are worrying him.
The President has expressed the fear
to more than one of his friends that the
fight that has been started will result
in the undoing OF the Republican party
in 1912. Yet the President himself has
been forced into a situation where he will
he obliged to wage a bitter fight. and
he intends to do it with all his strength
The President and his advisers will try
to avoid personalities, although they
appreciate that Roosevelt is certain to
ray and do things that will require
direct reply from Mr.. Taft. The Presi-
dent feels that his back has been forced
against the wall and no avenue has been
left for him except a personal controversy
with his predecessor and former political
sponsor. He will try to meet the situation
with dignity
Opinions differed among the Republi-
can progressives in regard to the effect
Of the Roosevelt statement on the polit
ical situation. Some of the progressives
of the more conservative type declared
that the statement was the biggest mis-
take that Roosevelt has ever made and
that it. together with his Columbus speech
would drag him down to a humilating
defeat. The men who expressed this
opinion were warm Roosevelt supporters
and have been on the verge OF publicly
announcing their support OF the Colonel
They declared that the stat tement show ed
active candidate and that it is a repudia
ton OF the attitude that he had adopted
until recently. The progressives who
viewed the statement in this light had
urged Col Roosevelt to refrain from issu-
ing any statement and to wait for the
country to call him.
These progressives are lk ely to decline.
for a time at least. to take any active
part in the Roosevelt campaign and to
leave it to the eight Governors who have
drawn Roosevelt into this situation to
make the best they can OF il.
Progressives Of the more radical type.
however, hailed the Roosevelt statement
with favor. Senator Brstow of Kansas
said
Il think Col. Roosevet's statement is
direct and to the point. | am glad to
have him put it that way ! agree with
him that the Republican nominee at the
national convention ought to be selected
as nearly as can be by direct vote of the
people in Presidential primaries II a
majority Of Republicans OF the nation
want Col. Roosevelt nominated he ough,
to he the nominee. Personally | prefer
Senator La Toilette TO any other candi-
date. but ! will cheerfully abide by a
decision Of the ma ajority Of the Republicans
Of the nation and earnestly hope that
Presidential primaries will be provided ir
every State where there is an organized
Republican party"
Senator Clapp of Minnesota. radica
progressive. said:
MIR. Taft finally laid down the issue
squarey on popular government. Col
Roosevelt not only took it up in his Colum
bus speech, but emphasizes it in his state.
ment, in which he expresses a desire tha
the question of the Republican Presiden
tial nomination shall be submitted to tn,
people. This makes a squar issue be
tween the two men. have believed fol
the last year or 40 that the issue OF popular
government is the big issue before tn,
people and there is no question now bu
that it will have to be fought out.
Senator Cummins of Iowa. who has re
garded Roosevelts Columbus speech with
disfavor. was only lukewarm in his com
ment on the Roosevelt statement to night
The statement. said he. lis definite
The struggle is now on. The fight will be
interesting"
Representa- tives Norris Of Nebraska ant
b, LiDdbergh of Minnesota. two OF the Radi
veal Republican insurgents in the House