Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-23
THE ISSUE IS JOINED
Whether Ohio Shall Indorse
tht President.
F0RAKER'S POSITION
WHY HE THINKS THE CONvEN-
TION SHOULD ACT.
If There Had Been No Talk About It
All Would Have Been
Well.
F0RAKER'S POSITION

The fight in the Ohio republican state
convention for the Endorsement of Pres-
dent Roosevelt's nomination is to be
pushed. Since a faction of republicans in
Ohio has urged against Endorsement, the
Presidents friends say that the matter
has gone to such lengths it cannot be drop
ped, and that the convention will be re-
quired to act either for or against indorse-
ment
The present prospect therefore, is for
Senator Hanna, who has opposed indorse-
ment, either to yield in his opposition, as
did Senator Platt of New Lork in a similar
instance last summer, or to fight 1t to a
finish in the state convention, which will
shortly assemble. 1t is certain that the
resolution of Endorsement will be offered
and will be supported by President Roose-
velt's friends
The way the fight seems to be lining up.
it probably will be captained by Senator
Foraker on one side and Senator Hanna on
the other. The controversy is attracting
wide attention and is the uppermost topic
of conversation in political circles.
Senator Foraker has returned to Wash
fngton from attendance upon the centennial
ceremonies at Chillicothe and at his resi-
dence this morning talked with Star re-
porter upon the Ohio situation. In response
to a request for d statement of his own
position Senator Foraker dictated the fol-
lowing interview:
Senator Foraker's Statement.
Il know but little about the controversy
in Ohio in regard to declaration in favor of
President Roosevelt. The issue is unex-
pected but it is well defined. 1t was pre-
cipitated by friends of Senator Hanna.
among them his own private secretary.
giving out interviews to the effect that the
state convention would not make a declara-
ton In favor of President Roosevelt
Prlor TO those interviews had not heard
OF the matter being discussed, and 1 had
given 1t no thought whatever The reasons
assigned in those interviews for such non
action Of the convention were of charac-
ter that required notice Of them to be
taken, and when 1t became manifest there
was a serious purpose involved 1 took oc.
casion to express my own opinion
My opinion is this: If there had been
nothing said 1t would have made no differ
ence whether we indorsed him or not, but
now that the issue is raised it would he a
mistake not to indorse him.
Ihere Is no purpose on the part of anv-
body to embarrass Senator Hanna. He has
frequently announced that he is not a can
didate and does not intend to be. Talk
therefore, about smoking him ont, is on.
tirely out of place.
we have right to regard him as al
ready out, and l am sure that he SO re-
CARDS himself. He could not therefore
ing lack of confidence on his own part
In his own statements repeatedly made.
No Trouble in Ohio.
1--WE have no trouble in Ohio and will
not have on this account Whenever there
is slight difference on any subject among
the leaders in Ohio 1t Is magnified and ex-
aggerated until people outside the state are
made to think that we are at swords
points and ready To do eacb otbar ,ol;.;a,,
harm. There is seldom any ground for
such view. and certainly none in this in
stance. for no matter which way one NAV
look at the subject there is no occasion for
excitement. anger or feeling on account of
It, The question is not so vital as that.
However, the convention will have to do
one thing or the other-declare in favor of
Endorsement or refuse Endorsement, for the
issue has taken such an aspect it will be
presented to the convention"