The times., 1901-04-03
OHIO REPUBLICANS WORRIED.
Tom l.. Johnson's Sweeping Victory
Gives Cause for Alarm.

The election of Tom L. Johnson as
! mayor of Cleveland and the other Demo-
cratic gains In Ohio gave severe shock
! to the Republican leaders from the Buck
| eye State who are still in Washington,
and who have recently been outlining
! plans and making states for the State
campaign this fall Although Mr.. john
| son s opponent was a McKisson man and
consequently allied with the faction
which antagonizes Senator Hanna in his
home town. yet the junior Senator and
his forces united in his support for the
purpose of thwarting the ambitions OF
Tom l.. Johnson.
1t is now conceded that Mr.. Johnson
will be the central figure in the campaign
this fall, whether he is a candidate for
the Senate to succeed Senator Foraker
! or makes the race for Governor to sue
| ceed Governor Nash The Republicans
admit that with his great wealth, his tact
and power of organizing and uniting
all factions of the Buckeye Democracy he
is an antagonist greatly to be feared.
Consequently there is not a little unrest
among Ohio Republicans and the feel
! ing is also shared at the White House
Senator Hanua's consolation is found
in the fact that il is Senator Foraker
seat in the Upper House which is at stake
in the next election instead of his own.
AS there has never been a complete re
Cancellation between the partisans of For
aker and Hanna, the latter's grief at the
defeat of his colleague would not be SO
great were it not for the fact that 1t
would mean the rise of Johnson to com
manding position in national politics.
Should Johnson be chosen Senator or
Governor, it is conceded that he would be
f1ra n
cratic National Convention for the Presi-
dental nomination. The players at the
political chessboard are looking far ahead
and they greatly fear the rise of Cieve-
lands new mayor Senator Hanna, as
well as any man. knows that Johnson Is
a stubborn fighter. The Republicans have
already begun plans to defeat his Sena-
torial aspirations by a gerrymander OF
the State. committee of the State or
ganization already has the matter in
hand and believes it has figured out a
reapportionment which will give the Re-
publicans control of both branches of the
Legislature for the next ten years at
least.
There are thirty-eight senatorial dis
tricts in the State and the plan eontem-
plates making twenty-eight of these Re
publican districts. while 1t is proposed
that nearly three-quarters of the House
of Representatives shall be members of
the same party. The same scheme pro-
poses to reduce the normal Democratic
Congressional districts to three, with
fighting chance for the Republicans in
one of these.
BY this process the Democrats could
carry the State by a large majority. and
yet be unable to secure majority of the
Legislature or of the delegation in Con-
gress.
Should the gerrymander bill be pushed
through the Legislature and made to take
effect III once, so as to be operative at the
election this fall. it would greatly hurt
the chances of the Democrats, although
it could not affect their chances of elect
ing a Governor With Tom l.. Johnson at
the head of the Democratic ticket this
fan it is conceded that the Republicans
would have the biggest fight on their
hands in that State they have had since
James e. Campbell was elected Governor