Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-24
: FORAKER QUESTION
Viii the Senator-Eleot 60 to St Louis or
Not.
Why His Friends Think He Had Bet
ter Remain Away From
the Convention.

The Foraker question-and 1t may be
timely to say that the Foraker question
relates solely to the attitude of Mr.. Foraker
toward the Mckinley presidential boom
row presents an entirely new phase. Shall
the newly elected Senator head the Ohio
delegation to the St. Louis convention? 1t
is for him to decide. The Mckinley people
-Cnce SO distrustful to him-are now anx-
tous to have him take charge OF their
favorite's interests at st. Louis, while Mr..
FCraker's own friends are counseling him
to remain at home. Mr.. Foraker himself
Is represented as being in doubt about the
matter.
The argument against the appearance of
Mr. Foraker at the republican national con-
vention runs on this line: The Mckinley
people in Ohio are too confident. They ex-
aggerate the strength OF their favorite be-
fore the country. They seem to believe
that his candidacy has only to escape the
suspicion in the convention that in past
conventions hung over Mr.. sherman's can
didacy to win. But let the st. Louis con-
vention be convinced that Ohio. through
here delegation, Is speaking words Of sin
certify in asking for Mr.. McKinley's nomi-
ration, and 1t will be made.
What the Foraker People Say.
The Foraker people cannot concede this
proposition. 1t puts too great a RESPONSE
bility on the delegation, and they are advis-
ing Mr.. Foraker not to assist in assuming it.
He is an orator and If he goes TO the con-
vention a great speech will be expected Of
Elm. He Is good politician, and effective
work will be expected of him. II he goes,
LIS friends assert that he will Loyalty meet
every expectation within reason, and do
unto Mckinley what he would have Nc
k1nley do unto him. But what will be the
result If after all this service Mckinley loses
Ea mo TtySr nf Oh.
the Foraker people fear that the service
lacked sincerity. Men in defeat are seldom
logical. They lay about them in an extra
ordinary way in an effort to fix the re-
sPonsibiity for the disaster. 1t would be
useless to remind the Mckinley people that
Mr.. Foraker had gone to the convention at
their instance, or to point to his activity
there they will be able to see but one
thing, ard that thing the defeat of their
favorite.
If He Stays Mt Home.
On the other hand, what will be the
criticism incurred by Mr.. Foraker II he
decides to stay at home? Will he not be
charged with ingratitude? VIII not the
opponents of Mr.. Mckinley in other states
seize upon the decision to the detriment
Of Mr.. Mckinley? VIII they not refuse to
accept 1t as a precaution against misrepre-
sentation and make it the very vehicle of
Misrepresentation? VIII they not point to
the absence OF MIR. FORAKER as lnconteStibie
proof that Ohio is lukewarm toward Nc
kinley? If Ohio really wanted her man
nominated" the anti-McKinley people will
say, "she would have sent Foraker here
to plead for him: Those buckeyes are a
strange set. They are always fighting
among themselves. Sherman could never
command his brethren, nor could McKin-
ley, it now seems. We are sorry for Nc
kinley, but it would be foolish to nominate
him when it is thus made plain that there
is division In his own household"
Not Presidential Quantity.
The suggestion that Mr.. Foraker may
become a presidential quantity himself is
not seriously considered. He need not, it is
thought, remain away from St. Louis on
that account Ohio is as much committed
to Mr.. Mckinley as she could become to
anybody. She will appear at the conven-
ton bearing Instructions for Mr.. Mckin-
ley, and If she is to enjoy any consideration
at all before that body, she must stick to
them. She could not afford. to withdraw
AIr. McKinley's name and present that of
Mr.. Foraker. Any performance on her part
smacking IN the least of hocus-poeus would
Of itself be disastrous to her and to all Of
her