The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-06
BREACH IN RANKS . OF OPPOSITION IS WIDENING STEADILY Acute Situation Develops Following the Vigorous
 Taft Interview ORGANS IN EAST
 IN GREAT ANXIETY Bolak Following So Closely Upon Heels of Gary Dinner Regarded
 As Peculiarly Unfortunate. Independents Amused
By HUGH w. ROBERTS


 Washington, January 5.-(SpeciaI.) The breach in the anti-demOcratic orr ganizatiOn is widened and in the Opin- ion of Colonel Roosevelt, MT. Taft is a mOIIycOddle. a Byzantine IOgothete and various varieties of an undesirable citizen. In the opinion of MT. Taft Col OneI Roosevelt is "progressive- will ing to return into the republican fold provided he is permitted to write the party platform and name the presi- dential nOminee-in other words, q prOdigaI son whose return is cOntin- gent on the slaughter of the fatted calf.
 The acute situation was developed when MT. Taft expressed himself very freely in the newspaper of c. P. Taft the Cincinnati Times-Star As is re. called. the Harvard professor declared that the republican party was a part! with a principal, a party willing to re ceive the surrender and promises tC 1 be good" of those who deserted in 191: etIlu Iflou6 pOSSiDic d NiCtOly but a party determined to offer n conditions in return for the surrender of the bull moose leaders, alone o that former organization who stil hold out" MT. Taft, in other words very broadly insinuated that the afore- said leaders were obeying a natural impulse to inveigle the old organiza- tion into a bargain out of which they 10 'nia
 "ORGANS" ARE FRANTIC
 To democrats in the east, the break, following so fast on the heels of the Gary dinner to the colonel a dinner significant of the probable favor with which predatory wealth regards the efforts of Roosevelt to close his political career by serving third time as the nations chief executive, was most unfortunate. The defection of Taft, in their opinion, was most in opportune in that it came in that very instant in which they were about sue cessfully to weld a wooden handle on tc a pewter spoon.
 Anti-democratic organs in the east are making haste to smooth over the differences newly developed between the leaders of the rival factions. The Washington Post frantically waves the flag of peace, and in tone is positively convinced that irrespective of present differences or those which will develop during the days of the republican con- vention, MT. Taft and Colonel Roosevelt will eventually be found urging the people to stand by the nominee of the party whoever he or what his platform might be.
 Democratic newspapers are hilarious They behold in the defection another convincing argument that the old line republicans will not stand for RooSe- welt, and Roosevelt will not stand for any other individual. The indications are, therefore, that democrat will be elected-provided, always, the demo- crats are correct in their deduction.
 THE CRUEL WORLD
 The attitude of independent news papers respecting the bold stand of MT Taft and it's probable effect on the anti democratic horde, seems to be one ot inordinate amusement. This position is illustrated in the following facetious editorial, MT. Tafts Delusions," printed in the New York World this morning:
 MT. Taft is still an old fash
 toned person with a fossilized mind.
 He thinks that a political party
 ought to have a principle in defeat
 as well as in victory, and that haV-
 ing principles it ought not to sell
 out. Consequently he is opposed to letting Roosevelt either frame the next republican platform or name the candidate for President "There was a time when this sort of doctrine held favor, but times change and parties change with them The average republican poli- tician is not worried much by prin- ciples. What he wants most is to get back into power. If Roosevelt seems to offer bridge, he is not dis posed to quarrel with the means by which the end might be reached. As for differences of principle be- tween RooseveltiSm and republican, ism, they do not worry him. He l knows by expereince that Roose- l welt has no principles that are not | improvised to fit the occasion, and 1 that the situation cannot change l faster than the cononel. Progress | sivism looked like a winning card | in 1912, and so the colonel was l progressive. If the 1916 tide turns 1 towards reaction, the colonel can | be as stout a reactionary as Barnes 1 or Penrose or Uncle Joe Cannon. 1 gro MT. Taft, the game of Good l Lord and good deViP is offensive, | but MT. Taft was never successful politician. He was never capable
 even of betraying friend, and if his greatest ambition in life was to
 play the demagogue, he would not 1 know how to begin. A party of
 great moral ideals cannot afford to ! listen to the advice of such old fogies if it is to get away with the | sWag"