The West Coast Times. SATURDAY JUNE 15, 1912. WILL THE DEMOCRATS WIN THE PRESIDENCY?

West Coast Times, 15 June 1912, Page 2

The West Coast Times. SATURDAY JUNE 15, 1912. WILL THE DEMOCRATS WIN THE PRESIDENCY?

Fkoji the scanty cable news which reaches this part of the world in reference to the struggle to secure .nomination for the Presidency at the hands of the United States Republican Party, it is evident that the keener the battle and the more embittered the enmity of the opposition displayed by the Conserva- . live section of the Republican party, the more determined and the firmer become the Rooscveltians, The latest development has produced an unprecedented sensation. The Radical section' of the Republican Party—tho delegates who really represent tho people—threaten, should President Taft secure nomination, to turn down the Republican candidate and throw their whole weight into the balance against Mr. Taft and in .coalescence with the Democratic side, defeat the sitting President. All political questions in America, are passing under the shadow of the approaching Presidential election, and there seems to bo strong, determined, well-organised opposition to Mr. Taft. The old Roosevelt brigade is rallying round its former hero, and a battle royal is taking place at the Republican Convention ns to whether Taft or Roosevelt should be nominated for the Presidency. The

Democrats are very confident, and the voting so far seems to indicate that Dr. Woodrow Wilson is leading for nomination by the Party which has for sixteen years staked its existence upon the silvery-tongued orator, Mr. William Byran. The consensus of opinion among political authorities seems to support the contention that whether it bo Mr. Woodrow Wilson or spine other candidate, it is probable that the next ■occupant of the White House will be a Democrat. The latest development, showing as it does that the Eadical section of the Republic Party are determined to have Mr. Roosevelt as their next nominee, and failing to succeed with the ox-President, they intend to smash Mr. Taft’s chances by voting for the Democrat. Mr Taft’s supporters can do the same were Mr. Roosevelt nominated—at least they could refrain from voting, which would, be equally as effective. This now development has ominous forebodings for the Republican Party. To win the Presidency, the Party which :Ont Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Taft to White House cannot afford to lose any of its supporters. In the 1908 Presidential election the Republicans polled 7,678,183 votes, and the Democrats 6,407,349 votes. Therefore, were the Republican section that supports Mr. Eoose-

vole fail in gaining nomination for their idol, they can defeat Mr. Taft, by abstaining from voting and vice versa. There are, however, indications that the rank and file of the Republican Party—the people that really count iq the final contest—desire the nomination of Colonel Roosevelt. This sentiment is manifest in almost every part of the country. It ia obvious that the Republican voters should be allowed to express their views and should have been permitted to choose delegates who would properly represent them in the Chicago Convention which is now in session. -The State delegations are controlled through Federal patronage, and Mr. Taft cannot possibly be elected if his nomination is merely due to the control of blocks of delegations holding Federal Offices in Southern States which never cast electoral votes for Republican candidates. The great struggle for nomination, with its recrimination, its ill-feeling, and its significance will be' finished in a few days now, but there are, as we said before, strong indications that the Democratic side has a better chance of capturing the presidential chair than it has had for a score of years.