New-York tribune., 1901-10-12
THE OHIO CAMPAIGN.

With the county 10 county canvass begun last
Monday by Senator Foraker the campaign in
Ohio has entered its final and most aggressive
stage Prior to the senior Senator's appearance
on the stlmp interest in OhiDs "off year strug
gle had visibIy dragged. The party conven-
tionS which put State tickets in the field met on
unusually early dates. and at the season when
campaign activities should normally have begun
all partisan discussion was hushed in the
shadow of the tragedy which robbed the nation
of It's President and the State of one OF its
noblest and best loved sons. After due and
nroper pause the contest has been resumed on
the lines originally laid down for it, and in the
few weeks which remain before election it
promises 10 develop a spirit and energy recog-
nizable this year in the politics of no other
State.
From a national point of view Republican
victory in Ohio this fall is of the utmost conse-
quence Even were a few State offices alone
at stake. the moral effect of a Republican re-
verse would be extremely disastrous. Denying
its real beliefs. and cloaking its genuine pur-
poses behind programme of ''eXpediency," the
Democratic party in Ohio is seeking power on
a platform of false pretences which owes its
only vitality TO its partial surrender TO the
theories of State socialism pressed upon the
Columbus convention 10y Tom l.. Johnson The
success of the Democratic State ticket this year
would mean. therefore, not much the re-
habilitation of the conservative and anti-Bryan
elements which nominated Colonel Kilhourne
and buried the free silver issue as IT would the
creation of a new party accepting the socialistic
doctrines and devoted to the political fortunes
of the present restless and ambitious Mayor of
Cleveland Colonel Kilbournes triumph would
be a triumph in almost equal measure for "con-
servative" false pretence and for SOcialiStic
radicalsm: and ii is scarcely conceivable that
on State issues. pure and simple. the voters Of
Ohio should wish to exchange for an expert
ment with Democratic nostrumS the efficient
and sagaciOus administration which the State
has enjoyed for two years under Governor
Nash
There are. however. other than State in
terests directly involved in the Ohio contest.
Senator Foraker will be a candidate to succeed
himself before the legislature to be chosen
next month. and his fight for reelection has
deservedly attracted national attention. Ohio
can i'll afford at this juncture to lose the ser
vices of her senior Senator Though still
practically two years from the end of his first
term Senator Foraker has risen to the front
rank among the leaders in the deliberative
branch of Congress. Both an orator and as
counsellor his place among his colleagues has
been quickly and decisively established. Called
upon in his second Congress to assume the
management OF the Porto Rican bill-one Of the
most difficult and trying pieces of legislation
attempted In recent years-SenatOr Foraker. by
his tact. skill and courage, secured the passage
against great odds of measure which, though
yenturing in untred and puzzling paths, stood
successfully every test which its constitutional
critics could bring against ii. To few Sen
atOrs Of equal experience has it been given TO
win so complete and striking triumph and in
Mr.. Foraker the Republican party. not of Ohio
only but of the whole nation has since justly
recognized a statesman of genuine capacity and
force whose career of usefulness it counts
seeing continued and broadened. To the
try at large. therefore, the result in Ohio next
month will be peculiarly gratifying if it guaran-
tees beyond question another term for this dis
tinguished Republican leader in the United
States Senate.