Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-26
Ohio Democrats Who Are Willing to
Be the Governor.
TOM L. JOHNSON OUT OF IT
Co.. James kilbourne Still Making
an Aggressive Campaign.
REPUBLICANS ACTIVE, TOO
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

''Peeiai correspondence OF The Evening star.
COLUMBUS. Ohio, April 25. 1901.
With the announcement from Tom l..
johnson that he will not be a candidate for
governor this year, entries in the race for
the democratic nomination for governor
have been made rapidly. and the prospect
Is now for full field at the start in this
Interesting contest. John c. Welty of Can
ton, James A. Rice of the same city, John
L. zimmerman of Springfield and General
1. r. Sherwood of Toledo have Joined Col.
James kilbourne on the track. In fact, but
one of the men who stood for the demo-
cratic nomination for governor in the last
decade has declared himself out of it this
year. and that one Is the venerable A. w.
Patrick of New Philadelphia, who as cam
didate on the ticket for lieutenant COVER
nor last year went down in decisive defeat
with John R. Mclean He has announced
himself not candidate this year.
Perhaps to this list ought to be added
former Congressman John j. Lentz. for he
has made public declaration that it is not
his intention to be a candidate for the gu
bernatorial nomination. but he is not prop
erly included with those who have been
candidates for the nomination before, and
the vigorous efforts he is now making to
procure the control Of the democratic ma
chine here leads some to doubt his SINGER
tty In making the declaration
The survey Of the political field that the
occasion makes necessary shows how much
of its best material for such nominations
the democratic party in this state has lost
since 1t followed the populist leadership to
the support of free silver In 1896. Virgil
+. Kline, Judson Harmon, John A. McMa-
hon, l.. T. Neal, T. E. Powell. James e.
Campbell, j. E. Neal and j. H. Cultivate
all formerly looked upon as strong men
whom the party could call upon to lead In
its campaigns-have either quit the party
or are holding aloof from it, as they ex-
press it.. until it blows over"
Monnett a Candidate.
To compensate the party for such loss it
has made but two gains of consequence
ex-Attorney General Frank S. Monnett
and Judge L. W. Brown of Wauseon.
Though Monnett announced his conversion
to democracy only last fall, he is already
candidate for nomination by that party. He
would like such 'vindication" Of his course
as attorney general as election to that Of
flee on the democratic ticket would be. 1t
is singular fact that the Office is desired
by shouting free silver democrat, who
comes from the same town Mr.. Monnett
-Bucyrus-Gen. E. b. Finley.
Col James fNlbourne is making an ag-
gressive campaign for the democratic nomi-
nation for governor. He has had Mayor
Tom Johnson seen as to his designs on
that nomination. with the result that he
claims that Mayor Johnson is sincere In
his refusal to be a candidate. His agents,
now at work several weeks, gathering SEN
ttment over the state, assure him that the
masses of the party favor his nomination,
and he will be the nominee whether there
is JOhnson-McLean combination or not.
colonel kilbouHne has been accused of pc
nuriousness to degree that made him I'M
candidate hp
Is very wealthy man In the present case
he seems to be ready to part with money
freely II necessary to secure the coveted
nomination. The democratic organ here
the PreSS-Post-is most decided Lentz
supporter, and to be so generally leads it
to be against Colonel Kilbourne's interests
Lentz Is director of the Press-Post Pub
fishing Company, and Colonel kiIbourne
cannot possibly secure it's support. RecoR-
nizing the need Of newspaper support at
his home, Colonel Kilbourne is organizing
a company to establish democratic news
paper here. 1t is expected to appear In
a few weeks.
Hopes of the Democrats.
All this hustle and turmoil among the
democrats Is an index of their hope Of
carrying the state this year. 1t is watched
on the republican side with widespread
feeling of distrust and doubt as to the re-
suit. Indications are multiplying that the
republicans of Ohio are facing an unusual
ly hard fight and that there is great danger
that they will lose the legislature and per
haps also the state. Rev. P. A. Baker
president and general manager of the Anti
Saloon League. announces that his organi-
cation is not disposed to oppose the return
of Mr.. Foraker to the Senate Though
the senator helped defeat the Clark local
option bill last year, the saloon question
is in no way involved in the senatorial
election. However. he warns Charles l..
kurtz, who has in charge Senator Fora
ker's interests in the nomination and cleo
ton Of republican members of the general
assembly, that he must not select as such
candidates men who voted against or
lodged the Clark bill in the last session, or
the league will oppose them with all it's
power.
The slate for the republican state ticket
seems to have been changed in single
particular. Major A. B. Crtchfield of
Wooster has been substituted for L. E.
Emerson of Beliaire for clerk Of the su-
preme court. General Dick Is credited with
bringing this about, and as Critchfield was
major Of General Dicks regiment in the
Spanish war service. it seems probable.