The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-01-24
TAFT AND
FORAKER
tFrom Saturdays Advertiser)
(Mail Special to the Advertiser

dental election, but almost every week
some little thing happens here In
Washington indicating that different
Republicans are grooming for Roose-
velt's shoes. Aspirants are really shap-
ing their careers with the hope that the
moving current will come close enough
TO bear them within reach of the high
honor.
Possibly the most significant devel-
opment in that connection since Con-
gress met, has been with Senator For
aker of Ohio. He has been doomed fit
fully in times gone by, for he has been
distinguished figure in every Repub-
1ican national convention since that
of 1884, when James G. Blaine of Maine
bore away the nomination. An attrac-
tive orator and vigorous parsonage in
general politics, Senator Foraker is
known to the entire country. The pop
ularity with which Senator Taft was
hailed when invited to President Roose-
velt's Cabinet seemed for a time to
eclipse Mr.. Foraker. They both come
from the same State and an impress
sion that Mr.. Taft might be Presi-
dental possibility put a quietus on
whatever Foraker talk there had been.
But among the knowing people here
Secretary Taft does not seem to have
stirred the enthusiasm of the country
Intensely. He is as charming a man
personally as ever sat at the Presi-
dents council table. The newspaper
correspondents, who to some extent
shape the popular sentiment regarding
public men. admire his frankness and
FRI Oft I'M
Taft's speeches In the campaign are
not regarded as manifesting great ca
pabilities. He failed badly in framing
the administrative bill for the Philip
pines. 1t was so loosely drawn that
Senators found 1t full of dangerous
loopholes. 1t was practically redrawn
in Senator Allison's committee room
with Secretary Taft as an onlooker.
OF course his ambition Is for the SUI
preme bench and it is thought alto
gether probable that President Roose-
welt will appoint him should a vacancy
occur. He recently wrote a letter to
some inquiring friends that he was not
thinking about the Presidency In 1908
in any serious way, but all candidates
do that at such an early stage.
On the other hand Senator Foraker
has apparently been trying to concili-
ate powerful influences in his own
State of Ohio. Correctly or incorrect
ly, his efforts have been interpreted
as indicating an intention to secure the
ultimate support of the Ohio delegation
to the next national convention. The
Senator also has the political friend
ship of President Roosevelt, although
l.. ,,,;it
that President Roosevelt will help him
to delegates is another question. Be-
fore Senator Hanna, his Ohio colleague,
died, Mr.. Foraker was taking the Presi-
dents part. 1t was often represented
that Senator Hanna did not approve of
the Presidents course in given in
stance, but Senator Foraker was al
most invariably on such occasions
found taking the other side. Then
came Senator Hannas unexpected
death and the President has been dis
posed to stand by Senator Foraker in
patronage matters, rather thar with
the opposing Ohio faction. Next to
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts Sena-
tor Foraker is now regarded as the
Presidents chief spokesman on the
floor of the Senate
SENATE TO HAVE TWO CANDI-
DATES.
So it seems that for the next four
years the Senate is to have two pros
pective candidates for the Presidency
Although Mr.. Fairbanks will cease to-
be Senator when he resigns next
March he will virtually be of the Sem
ate as its presiding officer. There is
no secret about his aspirations to the
nomination. He made a splendid i'm
preston in his long speaking tours of
the last campaign. 1t is said that he
is about to inaugurate a literary bu-
reau at indianapolis to quietly further
his candidacy during the next four
years. Like Senator Foraker he is a
native of Ohio, but has passed most of
his life in Indiana. Senator Foraker
is a veteran of the Civil War and if he
lives till 1908 will be 60 years old. Sen
ator Fairbanks has a little advantage
of him in years, being now So, so that
in 1908 he will be Sc. Both were born
on farm. as they are careful to say
in their Congressional biographies.
But while the Senate will have two
candidates for the Presidency the Cabi-
net, as matters look now. will have
three candidates. Secretary Shaw of
Iowa, who will be even 60 years old in
1908. has had a lightning rod up for
three or four years and has not taken
it down. Like Foraker, he has been
Governor of his home State two terms |
and is one of the most effective stump
ers in the party. 1t was generally sup
posed that President Roosevelt took
him into the Cabinet to preclude his
becoming a Presidential candidate in |
1904. He has quite as wide an ac-
quaintance as either Foraker or Fair
banks and possesses popular traits. |
Secretary Shaw and Secretary Taft will |
remain in the Cabinet of the next adj |
ministration. but it is not certain that |
Secretary Shaw will remain after Feb
ruary L. 1906. He is said to have an
ambition to serve an even four years
there. which he will not have completed |
until the date mentioned.
CONTIGUOUS CAREER.