The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-01-21
TAFT AND
FORAKER
Long Shot at Future
Possibilities for the
Presidency.
tMail Special to the Advertiser)

| WASHINGTON, D. c., January s.
1t is indeed a far cry to the next Presi-
Dental election, but almost every week
| some little thing happens here il
| 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
a distinguished figure in every Repub-
| lican 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-
velts 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
does
stirred the enthusiasm of the country
intensely. He is as charming a man
personally as ever sat at the Presi-
dents council table. The newspa per
correspondents, who to some extent
shape the popular sentiment regarding
public men, admire his frankness and
general friendly attitude. And yet Mr..
Tafts 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 it 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 Su-
preme bench and it is thought alto
S6Inpr
welt will appoint him should 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
Iy, 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
whether he will have this to an extent
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. It was often represented
that Senator Hanna did not approve of
the Presidents course in a given in
stance, but Senator Foraker was al
most invariably on such occasions
found taking the other side, Then
came Senator Hanna's unexpected
death and the President has been dis
posed to stand by Senator Foraker in
patronage matters, rather than 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 a Senator when he resigns next
March he will virtually be of the SEN
ate as its presiding officer. There is
10 secret about his aspirations to the
nomination. He made a splendid i'm
PRESTON in his long speaking tours of
he last campaign. 1t is said that he
S about to inaugurate q literary bu-
eau at Indianapolis to quietly further
lis candidacy during the next four
ears. Like Senator Foraker he is a I
ative of Ohio but has passed most of
lis life in Indiana. Senator Foraker
: a veteran of the Civil War and if he
ives till 1908 will be 81 years old. Sen
tor Fairbanks has a little advantage
f him in years. being now -. so that 6
\ 1908 he will be So Both We're born I
n a farm as they are careful TO say 5
/ their Congress ional biogra plies.
But while the Senate Will have two I
andfdates for the Presidency the Cabi-
ct. as matters look now. Will have /
hree candidates. Secretary Shaw of
owa. who will be even so years old in Il
40S has had a lightning rod up for a
Il
f