The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-27
Hotter AND MORE NOT
Grows the Times = HeraId'S
Fight on Senator Foraker.
is CALLED A PIRATE
ScaIdi1g Story of a Scan
daIous Claim Case.

course in politics has run parallel with his
! course in business and professional life.
One invariab!e rule has governed his atti-
tude toward man and things-What is
there in 1t for Foraker?
Tradition and vague impressions where
the man is not known have it that he is a
fighter, faithful to party, to principle and
to rfiends. A fighter? Yes-for Foraker
If Joseph Benson Foraker ever fought
for a genuine principle or for a friend. or
ever fought at ali when he did not think
he would win and win wholly for himself,
Ohio has forgotten the date.
Yet It would be unfair to call Foraker a
traitor-unfair to the real traitors. In and
out Of politics he has been, rather. a pirate.
Face him with shotted guns and he scut-
ties away below the horizon. or, If crowded
into a corner, he becomes as rank gutter
as ever fawned on his conQuerer, but al
ways alert for a chance to use the stiletto.
Put the odds on his side or give him vic
tory, and he will reve. in his power.
Foraker hoisted the black flag unmis-
takably first while he was governor in 1888.
when John Sherman was a candidate az in
for the presidential nomination. Ohio re-
publicans were with Sherman 10 a man
all Ohio republicans except Foraker and
his machine.
Within a week Foraker has boasted of
his his loyalty to Sherman in that prelim-
mary campaign. Here Is an incident.
vouched for by men who have pretty good
memories:
In the Hamilton county convention OF
that year the work of which went toward
selection of delegates to the national con-
vention, Henry Lewis. father of Eugene
Lewis, the present county auditor. tradi-
ton runs, was picked for chairman by The
Foraker-Cox machine.
The convention was for Sherman to a
man. Lewis opening speech to the con-
vention was a Foraker speech, limiting that
the dashing governor would make fine
presidential timber and ought to be Ohio s
choice.
There were plain signs of protest from
the delegates against this fcisting of For
aker. Thereupon Lewis skillfully passed
from eulogy of Foraker to eulogy of Sher-
man and there was no outbreak. The lis
teners thought they had misunderstood
the speakers first intent.
A friend of Foraker who was Gin the
know'-Foraker will remember his name
reported in person to the governor what
had happened and denounced Lewis as a
snake in the grass for making such a
Sherman speech.
Foraker smiled slyly and assured his i'm
pulsive worshipper that Lewis was 'all
right" and knew his business better
than to give away the machines plans in
an open convention.
Foraker was not for Sherman in 1883 or
at any other time" is the fiat statement
of any number of Clncinnatians who were
in his train at that time. j. c. Harper.
Phil Roetinger, Prescott Smith, E. n.
Clingman, Judge Swing. D. w. McClung-
any one OF these and more could give con-
vincing details Of what he did and said. il
they were so minded, but they are not
"sdueaers."
Foraker went to the 1883 convention in
Chicago to beat Sherman. He told his con-
fldants that he would swing the delegation
to Blaine il the Maine man would let his
name come before the convention. Fail
ing in that he had hope, and so told his
friends. that he could repeat the Garfield
act Of 1SS0-win the nomination for himself
with n speech presenting the name Of
Sherman.
The Ohio delegation Of that year was put
up TO knife Sherman. His true blue friends
were kept at home when possible.
Up in the Springfield congressional dis
trict Sherman. knowing tho machinery to
be in Foraker's hands, made personal ap-
peal to have his old friend Judge Lawrence
put onthe delegation. Judge Lawrence
was brutal.y turned down in defiance Of
Sherman and in defiance OF the ethical rule
that states favorite son should have the
selection of his own delegates.
Foraker took the delegation to Chicago
as wet blanket on Sherman's candidacy.
'Oh. yes. we are for Sherman" was the
| stereotyped talk of his clique. sherman
| is from our state. you know. and We have
| 10 he for him. but and 50 on.
! The merest novice in politics k-ows what
/ that does TO a candidate. and Foraker
! jol;ed about It.
Il thought you told me you would stand
! by Sherman while he hah a button on his
coat" said one who had interviewed him
! before Harrison was nominated
| u never knew" said Foraker, "that John
! had any buttons on his coat"
A''oheE t4cU 10 KNIFE sherman again
in 1871. when the legislature was being
chosen which would elect United States
/ senator. Foraker wanted to be senator in
! Shermaa's place
In Hamilton county the Foraker-Cox
/ machine was on top. and could have named
Foraker candidates for the legislature. but
| II looked like a chosen election. Ben Rl,t-
! teTworth was a power II ba reckoned with
! In Cincinnati and Butte-wo-th was fer
Sherman. To avoid conlict II was agreed
that Sh'rmaa's friends should take half
| the legislative candidates.
Then Foraker. backed BIZ Cox. went
among the candidates. and BY threats Of
| political extinction and by promise Of iohs
secretly extracted from all promise 20
! support Foraker for senator Ii worked.
AL @; the Hamilton county DELEGATION ex-
oePt W II. Dix did vote for Foraker. ard
| the Forake--CoX machine mas crushed Dix
The Ohio campaign Of 1853 was the occa-
sion Of the Wood halo; box forgery. For
aker was nominated that year IN defiance
Of reason and precedent Good state off,.
ials were always given second tcrm-no
more.
To he'll with precedent" Foraker Is re.
ported to have told a friend VINO called "a
talk with him about a candidate for gov
ernor. We have the organization and !
want 20 be governor 4 Third time. II will
be 4 unique distinction"
Feeling rose against Foraker's p-ssun,r.
tuousness. The tide was against him
Ihen p2pea7ed the ballot box contract
which Foraker launted through Ohio nc.
cusirg his opponent, on the word Of = con.
iessed rascal. Of being In corrupt dea1