Ogden Standard-Examiner | 1920-06-06 | Page 11 | Taft Predicts G. O. P. Victory

I Believes Johnson to Meet Defeat; De-feat; Talks to Salt Lake Interviewers SALT LAKE. June 5. Predicting a Republican victory, but remaining non-commital as to the probable outcome out-come of the Chicago National Repub-4 Repub-4 lican convention. William Howard ' Taft. former president of the United Slates, discussed the political situation hero today. 1 2? Governor Sproule of Pennsylvania was praised as an administrator of justice while the probable defeat of Hiram Johnson was practically pro-phicised pro-phicised by Mr Taft. Regarding the Democratic situation, he said, "I really believe that if Jefferson Jef-ferson were to come to life today, he would have difficulty in finding where1 he stands." Mr. Taft spoke as follows when asked about the convention": ",l shall not go to the convention. In fact. I have never been to a Republican Re-publican convention and only once was in attendance at a national political polit-ical convention. It was when 1 was law reporter on the Cincinnati Commercial Com-mercial In 1SS0. All members of the J staff were pressed into service and I had to report the Democratic session when Hancock was nominated. As for I a possible- 'dark horse' candidate at 3 the present convention, do you ever remember a time when the Republican Republi-can party has nominated a 'dark ' horse'?" He was reminded that it c was done In tno case of Garfield jj "But that was -10 years ago," he added. -i In regard to the league of nations t Mr. Taft said: fl "I liopc the majority of Republicans j at the Chicago convention will stand 0I v by the majority of Republican sena-ie sena-ie c- tors in favoring "the treaty with the ,a Lodge reservations. Already 35 of the Lr -13 senators a'ro ih favor of that ar- a rangoment. There are only 14 left J and out of that 14, I-a Follotte, John- j son. Borah, Gronna and Norrls all have to almost make affidavit to W prove" they are Republicans." i Prohibition, h? predicted, will play li but little part c the Chicago gath- J crlHg. Ij Mr. Taft would also make-no guess ii regarding the Democratic convention.