Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-24
OHIO P70IfT lctANS
The Sherman-Fo raker Fight Expected
to Break Out.
CONTEST over TEE SENAToRSHlP
Mr.. Sherman Probably Not to Go
Into the Cabinet. .o,,...,e
A DEMOCRAT MAY WIN
Correspondence of the Evening Star.

Correspondence of the Evening Star
COLUMBUS, Ohio, November q, 1896.
ohlo politicians. are wondering whether
the surprise Of thirty years will continue
until II ceases longer to be a surprise. The
surprise Is to have two republicans in the
united states Senate. This political gen.
Grafton has never known the like. Even
the graybeards search their memories for
the incidents when there were two Senators
Tor national administration to consult in
distributing the patronage. Sherman and
Foraker as joint trustees for the state sug-
gest host Of possible complications One
is that dissensions in the party may arise
so that when Senator Sherman's successor
comes to be chosen it will be done by a
democratic legislature and the old order
will be restored.
Republican leaders in public deplore the
tendency to open up the fight for the SEN
atorshfp now. They are full of honeyed
professions about its bad effect. In pri-
vate they are bending all their energies for
the struggle. Foraker's election to the SEN
ate and McKinley's election to the presi-
dency have not ended the fractional con-
tests In Ohio. Whether Senator Foraker
ana the administration get along well to-
gether or not there will be a fight for the
senatorship. Ohio has too many able and
ambitious men for one of the great prizes
OF public life tc be won without effort
Whoever draws the prize will have earned
1t.
The General Assumption.
The general assumption is that Senator
Foraker will seek to name his own COL
league. and that he will want a new man.
probably Governor Bushnell. Grand old
John Sherman" as Foraker used to call
him, blocks the road to advancement for
Gov. Bushnell and for others. If he Is a
candidate for reelection his age and his
eminent public services will not alone be
s s to carry the party majority in
the legislature. He will have to go out and
electioneer like the younger men who want
his place. Senator Foraker and Gov. Bush
nell have the complete party machinery of
the state with Them They turned out Nc
kinley's followers Just as thoroughly as
Mckinley had turned out the Foraker
people. Now they are in position to reap
whatever advantage may be had from pos
session of state machine when the ma
uonal administration may be turned
against them.
1t is premature to anticipate a rupture
between Senator Foraker and President
Mckinley. In spite of the Indictments to
Trouble, so much is at stake that the SEN
ator may be forced into a place wnere he
will give the administration a passive sup
port, and perhaps his active aid. The mass
es Of the Ohio republicans, divided as they
are in their local affairs, have feeling
having their state affairs thrust into ma
tional affairs. This sentiment is likely 10
become SO strong that neither Senator nor
President will care to antagonize it. Har-
mony is possible at Washington with a
tacit understanding that Ohio issues are to
be fought out on their own merits.
How Good Feeling Might Prevail.
1t is stated that good feeling may prevail
right along by Major Mckinley taking SEN
ator Sherman into the cabinet and leaving
the senatorship to be fought out on open
ground. Some of Senator Foraker's friends
themselves have suggested this arrange
ment, and they take much credit to them
selves for the suggestion. Governor Bush
Iell would be willing to take his chances
with all the other candidates and would be
pretty certain to succeed. 1t is the shadow
of Senator Sherman that bars his way to
the Senate. The trouble with this arrange
ment, however, is that Major Mckinley
wont make up his cabinet simply for the
purpose of influencing the choice of Sen
ator in Ohio or any other state. Anxious
as he unquestionably is for harmony in
Ohio there is line beyond which he will
rot advance to secure it, and this line is
the SenatOrShip.
The Star correspondent has reason to be-
lieve that Senator Sherman is not proba-
bility for Major Mckinleys cabinet, and
that all the talk about him in that connec-
ton is without his sanction. He will be
treated with the highest marks Of consid-
Grafton. No appointment which would be
distasteful to him-such. for instance as
that Of General Alger to the War Depart
ment-will be made. His counsels will be
sought by the administration, and the con-
fident belief is that he will prove one of it's
stanchest supporters. But this is all out
side the cabinet and in his position as a
Senator from Ohio.
Will Sherman Retire9
With the proba bility that Senator Sher-
man will not go into the cabinet the ques-
ton agitating the Ohio republicans is
whether at the close Of his present term he
will make a dignified exit from the stage
of public life, or whether he will want to
continue on it for another six years. If he
decides to retire many handsome things
will be said by Senator ForakerS follow
ers about him. He will then be in reality
to them grand old John Sherman" But
If he doesn't retire they will seek to retire
him. Those who understand him best
think that Senator Sherman will hardly
look upon seventy-five as the age when his
faculties unfit him for the public service,
in which his life has been spent. Without
recalling Gladstone Bismarck he has
only to look across to his neighbors, Sena-
tors Morrill, and Palmer. His friends will
endeavOr to have him make up his mind
early. because this time they know that he
cannot afford to wait until the legislature
is chosen. Whenever he has gone into a
fight Senator Sherman's vigorous methods
hoSC SOhAouIOCA oPpOuChlS, WHO nave
invariably underestimate his hold on the
people of the state. 1t Is so long back that
nobody remembers the circumstances, yet
there was once a time when Charles Fos-
ter, then in the height of his power, was
thought to have majority of the legisla-
ture. But before the time for the caucus
came Foster had withdrawn his name and
was supporting Sherman. 1t is only five
years back that Governor Foraker, after a
brilliant campaign, was supposed to be the
choice of safe majority of the republican
members, yet 1t was his friends who were
forced to make the nomination of Sherman
unanimous.
Some Signal Expected.
But not one of the Senator's warmest
supporters cares to have that kind of q
struggle over again. They will all expect
some sign in good time, and probably they
will be given it. If Senator Sherman dis
appoints present expectations and decides
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