Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-04
OHIO POLITICS
Gem GrosvenOr's Views Upon the
Buckeye State Situation.
FORAKER TO HAVE THE SENATORSHIP
All Favor McKinIey's Candidacy for
the Presidency.
GOVERNORSHIP SCRAMBLE

Gen. Grosvenor of Ohio. member of the
House of Representatives, talked at length
with a representative of The Evening star
in regard 10 Ohio politics. He said among
other things:
81 notice that there is a great deal of
political gossip from Ohio published in the
papers, some of which it seems to me Is
calculated to mislead -the general public,
although there is a possibility that in some
respects / may be misled myself. 1t Is not
always easy to separate vague rumors,
mere surmises, from facts and intelligent
differences. think. now, to illustrate, that
/ know about all there Is to be known
about Ohio republican politics; but 1t is
barely possible that I am wrong, and that
somebody else knows more about 1t than
i do.
Two ImpOrtnnt Considerations.
"T'here are two very important consider
atoms Just now being discussed in the
press inside and outside of Ohio. both look
ing to the future of republican pohtlcs
The first question is who Is to be Senator
In the place of Senator Brice? The next
ia who is to have the support of Ohio for
President? And then, incidentally, there
is the question of the governorship. Ihere
are a number of candidates announced ana
IN the ficld for governor. prominent among
whom are Gen. Harris, George K. Nash.
Judge Doyle. Gen. Keifer, John A. Cald-
well and Mr.. Hoyt of Cleveland. These
Seem to be ala of them ayowed candidates
though possibly Judge Caldwell has not
quite reached that stage. Then there is a
pretty well-detined rumor that Gen. Bush
nell Is in the field; for recently letters
were written by an earnest friend of Gen.
Bushnell from which IL can be fairly de-
duced that the generals friends will
bring HIM out at the proper time. Then
there might be added also the name of
John W. Barger. popular republican from
Pike county. who. it Is said. will have the
cordial support of large following. Asa
w. Jones of Mahoning is considering, as
/ understand 1t, the subject of being
candidate.
10 Connection Between the Offices.
II know of no connection between the
gubernatcrial contest and the senatorshp,
nor with the presidency. Gov. Foraker is
too wise politician to ALLEVIATE by any act
of his the supporters of all these candi-
dates excepting one by undertaking to sup
port candidate for governor under these
circumstances, and do not believe that he
has bad or will have any thing whatever to
do with promoting the nomination of any
guberna tCrial candidate. He has said to
me that he will not. and / have every rea-
sen to believe that he will do exactly as he
said, although his remark was not in the
nature of promise, for L have no interest
in the question; but it was a frank, candid
statement, and so completely comedies with
wise political action that L cannot bring my
mind TO believe that he or his friends will
interfere. Every man has here and there
scattered around a fool friend, and Gov
ernor Foraker may not be exempt from
that calamity. But that he will personally
interfere in the nomination of governor L
do not believe.
Mckinley Not n Senatorial Candidate.
what / have said in regard to Foraker
applies to Mckinley. While 1 am in no
sense the representative of Mckinley's per-
sonal ambitions or personal interests, 1 am
In a position to know something and very
much Of his purposes in relation to 1896;
ard / state now, without qualification, that
he will not De a candidate for Senator, and
will not in anywISe interfere to promote
the election of any man or DEFEAT the eIec-
ton of any man for that office; and that,
far the governorShlp and the state
ticket are concerned, he will take exactly
the same grounds, believing that it would
be unsuitable for him, holding the position
that he does, and looking forward as he
does, to in anywi5e interfere in the Settle
ment OF those local places. He has not an
nounced publicly shat he would not be a
candidate for the Senate. for he has not be-
lieyed up to this time that it was his duty
TO do so. He has been called upon to do SO
by the democratic newspapers, and he has
not felt that he Was compelled to respond
to every suggestion of a democratic ring
master. He has not been called upon. III
his judgment, to dance to that sort of pip
ing. 1t is within my personal knowledge
that Gov. Foraker has been assured by
parties who he believes speak intelligently
that Gov. Mckinley will not be a candidate
for the Senate.
Foraker for the Senate.
During the campaign and since, Gen.
Keifer. Judge Nash. Gov. Foster, Mark
Hanna, the nearest personal representative
of Gov. Mckinley. and 1 may add my own
name to the list. and half hundred
other prominent men, all of whom sup
ported senator Sherman against Foraker
for the Senate in the last contest, have
publicly proclaimed that the proper thing,
to do was to elect Foraker to the Senate.
and to do it without opposition. and that is
as sure to come as We live until the cleo
ton time and get republican legislature,
and the latter Is almost as sure as 1t liz
that the revolving days. weeks and months
will bring the period around. So there is
nothing to talk about. so far as the sem
atorship is concerned. And there is no
man who understands this better than Gov.
Foraker himself.
Foraker for Mckinley for President.
"Now. 1t is within my personal knowl-
edge that Gov. Foraker has expressly
stated. not in public. but to gentlemen who
were taking an interest in the matter. that
1t was his opinion that Gov. Mckinley
should have a united and unanimous dele
cation from Ohio to the presidential con-
yention.
He has said so to me, and he said il with
out compulscn, of course, and said it as
a mere incident of a friendly CONVERSE
ton. which 1 have rever even repeated to
Gov Mckinley. for I never felt that 1t was
necessary. And the idea that Gov Foraker
would first receive the unanimous support
of the republicans of Ohio for Senator at
the opening of the legislature in 1896 and
then turn around and, with the weapon Ct
his election in his hands. use it to defeat
Gov. Mckinley is not attributing high mo-
tives and generous purposes and political
wisdom to Gov Foraker, and 1, without his
authority and without his knowledge. re-
sent the inference and suggestion. He
would not do il, because of his great in
terest In republican harmony and republi-
can success in Ohio. and he would not do
1t because of the sentiment that he must
have in favor of the respectable position
of Ohio hereafter; and. while l am not in
his personal or political confidence, l cor
daily defend him against any suggestion
that he would for a moment first take the
high favor of the party at the hands Of
everybody. as he is sure to get it. and then
Eating Ohio at the convention.
Unanimous for Mckinley.
"Now. as to the support of Mckinley in
Ohio. my Judgment is that every district
and the delegates at large will be cordially
sIy- in fav Of Nc iu1a Il