The Irish standard., 1905-10-07
There is Determined Fight by Independent
Republicans Against the Boss Rule
of George B. Cox.
Since the Death of Hanna No Strong Man
HISS Arisen Able to Assume Con-
troll and Lead the Party.

''achlhe has surrendered its identity to-
N'e'ise H. CON, the Cincinnati boss.
VINO always has controlled the Renuh1i.
can politics of Hamilton county but
| VINO during the lifetime of McKinley
"'o il''hila was never able to have
much to say in the management OF the
state organization.
| This is undoubtedly a transition time
in Ohio politics. Older men who b.vo
''''" national regulations have largely
passed out of control of the party ma
r''lnely. John Sherman once had a.
'''rse personal following. He was
pressed for the presidency again and
again. and it is II matter OF record
'hat Mckinley and Hanna became ac-
uuhinted for the first time at the ma.
''''h'l convention when Sherman was
'he f'vorlte son of his state. Il
since Mckinley was killed at Buf-
lhIo' and more especially since Hanna
a'cd at Washington. there has been abb
solutcly no one man who was strong
enough and who had in himself enough
OF the elements of leader to assume ah-
solute control of the Republican ma.
chlne in Ohio. Among the anxious men
VINO huttered about the deathbed of
Senator Hanna there was but one
question uppermost, ana that was who
""uld DE able to seize the reins of
leadership when the great politica,
leader had passed away.
| That question never vet has been
answered, ana the Ohio political field
Is still virgin soil for the upgrowth of q
real leader OF men, who will have great
political reward
| Congressman Dick succeeded in
snatching the senatorial prize from
GOV. Herrick, who was in many ways
the natural heir to the place. Since
ihei Senator Dick successfully has
bccn chairman of the state central
committee, and, so far as actual prac-
teal politics goes, he necessarily must
be considered the Republican leader of
Ohio
| Foraker us senior senator from the
state, ordinarily would be recognized
as the Republican leader. He stands
mead ana shoulders over most other
men in his party from an intellectual
point OF view, and has achieved enough
national prominence to satisfy the
Icfn
Foraker never has had any real control
of Ohio politics. He was at odds with
| Mckinley ana with Hanna while both
these men lived, and it is probable he
never could secure the hearty support
lof their devoted followers. Foraker
and Cox were no better friends than
Foraker and Hanna, and there was
always Il condition of armed neutrality
in the Cincinnati wing of the party.
Foraker at the present time has
about all he can do to provide for his
own political necessities, and in view
lof that fact, although he retains a
nominal leadership, his personal force
in the Ohio political field is by no
means large
There are many people outside of
Ohio who look to Secretary Taft as the
coming Republican leader in this state.
Yet there is abundant evidence that the
secretary of war, in spite of his bril-
liant record and ability his success as
member of President Roosevelt's
| cabinet, and the manifest honesty of
his political ideals, has not as yet de-
veloped any elements of real leader
ship. If he should become a candidate
for the presidency in actual fact he
might have to contest with Foraker for
control of the Ohio delegation. AS be-
tween the two, Taft will be likely to
win, because he is really less known
and has made fewer enemies, while
Foraker is cordially despised and hated
by practically all the old Mckinley and
Hanna element.
All of this goes to show that most Of
the dissatisfaction which is so apparent
in the Republican ranks Of Ohio today
arises from lack Of able leadsrshipg