The Washington herald., 1915-02-07
Political Situation.


aid few days ago to the effect that the Repub-
lican party might do worse than again nominate
former President Taft created considerable COM
ment in political circles here.
While it is considered improbable that Mr..
Taft will accept another nomination contingency
might arise which would bring him prominently
before the next convention. He is now a resident
of Connecticut and is easily the most prominent
Republican in the State The. suggestion has
already been made that when tie Connecticut dele
CATION is named next year it shall be headed by
Mr.. Taft 1t is an honor which he might not
voluntarily seek but if the Republicans of the
State should ask him to serve he would hardly be
ungracious enough to decline. In the convention
he would be naturally distinguished and should
deadlock occur there would certainly be serious
consideration of his name.
And a deadlock is most likely For the first
time in nearly thirty years the next Republican
national convention is to be marked by free-for
all race. Not since 1888, when after long fight
Mr.. Harrison was finally selected, has there been
a convention the outcome of which not prac-
tically assured before the convention met. In
1892 Mr.. Harrison, seeking denomination,
trolled majority of the delegates; in 1906 Mr..
Hanna had sufficient votes to nominate Mckinley
before the roll was called; in 1000 Mr. Mckinley
had opposition for second tcrm in 1904
everything was conceded to Roosevelt; in 1908
the fight against Taft was futile from the very
beginning; and in 1912 the contest narrowed
down to TAFT and Roosevelt with the former sue
cessful so far the convention concerned.
But this year the prize is in nobodys hands. 1t
will be the preteSt struggle for nomination that
the Republican party has seen in more than
quarter of a century.
Dozen Favorite Sons
There are favoritc sons from New England to
the Pacific Coast. The list embraces all sorts
and conditions of men. 1t is interesting to glance
at its personnel:
Massachusetts-John D. Weeks.
New York-Charles s. Whitman.
PennsyIvania-Martin G. Brumbaugh
Ohio-Myron T. Herrick Warren G. Harding,
Frank B. Willis, and Theodore f. Burton.
Indana-Charles w. Fairbanks.
Illinois-James R. Mann and Lawrence Y.
Sherman.
Iowa-Albcrt B. Cummins.
Michigan-WiIliam Alden Smith.
Missouri-Henry T. HadIey
Idaho-William Z. Borah
1t is difficult to predict at this time who would
capture the Ohio delegation but in Illinois the
probability is that the State would unite upon Mr..
Mann. All the other States may be expected to
endorse their favortc sons and this would insure
a lively contest in the national convention Any
ono who wanted to speculate with anything like
precision upon the final outcome would have to
know which man in the list was the second choice
Of majority of the delegates.
The shrcwd managers OF at least three of these
asprantS endcavoring to place their can
didates in this favorable position. The contest is
already on There is certain to be no choice upon
the first the second or perhaps, the fifteenth
ballot. At some moment, however, the break will
come and then the delegations will leave their
iavorite sons and vote for the Republican held in
next highest esteem. His name may be in the list
already given it may be some one whose name
has not been mentioned. More than one conven-
tion has been held in which dark horse was the
winner.