Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-27
FORAKER DEFENDS HIMSELF
Probable Action Of Ohio Convention Draws
Statement from Senator.
STILL THINKS olO LAW SUFFICIENT
Does Not Intend 60 Ask Party for an
Indorsement and Has Hopes II
VIII Not Condemn His
Actions.

political situation in Ohio, devoting con-
siderable attention to the probable action
Of the approaching republican convention
in that state with respect to those OF the
congressional delegation who had differed
! from the president on some matter, Of legis-
lation. He said:
! II am sorry to learn that the republicans
OF Ohio are having some sharp contro-
versies, but the subjects of difference do
| not seem TO me very important l can
not think. therefore, that there is likely
to be any serious injury done to the party.
| whatever may happen to individuals.
80 far as endorsing me is concerned.
that is not important to anybody except
myself. and 1 shall try TO accept with
equanimity whatever may be the action
! OF the convention. II IL true I opposed
the presidents policy as embodied In the
| Hepburn bill, but not. as 1t is commonly
stated In the newspapers. because l was
opposed to governmental regulation and
supervision of railroads, for the record
will show that I have done as much in
| that behalf as any other Ohio man in con-
gress. but because / thought the Hepburn
bill unwise, unjust and unconstitutional.
MY contention was that, under existing
law. which helped enact, having been a
member OF the subcommittee that framed
II. especially II amended az It should be.
every serious wrong eff every kind prac-
ticed by the railroads can be remedied and
that all evil practices can be broken up.
as nearly as law will enable us to break
them up
Everything 1 said in that respect has
been already fully justified and vindicated
| by the many successes the attorney gen.
eral has met with in the numerous pros
| hn boa fad "a, he n nj
months. until which time-long after the
debate commenced. no one seemed to real
ize, not even the governments own Of
fcials--the excellence of the laws we al
ready had
OLD Laws Applicable.
Existing laws have been found, accord
ing to the judgments rendered in these
proceedings, to apply to every kind Of re-
bate or discrimination between individuals
or localities, no matter under what name,
form or guise praoticed that anybody has
yet complained about.
when somebody finds some evil practice
that existing laws do not forbid and pro-
vide an expeditions remedy against and
heavy punishment for. may change my
mind as to the correctness of my action
| as to whether II was wise or not. but not
until then. 's
This Ia great subject. full OF trouble
some questions. both; of law and. OF policy.
that cannot be propersy discussed n an
interview. Excepting the rate bill. sup
ported the president as to every other
measure he urged upon congress except
only joint statehood for Arizona and New
Mexico. 1 opposed that except on con-
dition they should be allowed to deter
mine by vote In each territory whether
| MT int L hf.h h.
/ great majority Of the people were opposed
to the idea of the president forcing joint
statehood upon these territories against
their protest.
But, however this may be. as to myself
I shall not make any requests OF the oon-
| vention nor any complaints to it's action
whatever that may be; but I cannot for
bear suggesting in this connection that ~
the convention should try to conform to
the rule prescribed by Mr.. Burton of en-
dorsing less cordially than the president
those who may have differed from the
president az to some mattsr-no matter
how honestiy-it would have some hard
problems to solve"
Cites some Examples.
For instance. II Senator Dick-is to be
endorsed less cordially than the president
because he did not agree with the president
| about the Philippine tariff bill, what is
the convention to do as to General Keifer
and the six other distinguished Ohio re-
publican members Of congress who Joined
with that sturdy old veteran In opposing
and voting against the president as to that
measure-one Of them. Mr.. Nevin, who rep
'resents the district in which the convention
| will be held? Are they also to be par
TALLY rebuked' by endorsing them less cor
daily than the president and their coll
! leagues who voted with the president?
And how about Mr.. Burton himself?
Would he not be hoist by his own petard?
Does he not now and then kick over the
traces and differ from the president and
from his party? Is he TO be endorsed less
| cordially than the president because he
has opposed the presidents policy OF in
'oreasing the navy8 Is not the navy so to
speak the apple Of the presidents eye
the biggest OF his big sticks-and are not
the people with the president as to his
naval policy by an Overwhelming majority?
Take another case The president and
Secretary Taft made known to congress at
the last session that unless we restricted
them to America they would go abroad to
purchase supplies and materials to be used
In the construction of the Panama canal
when they could buy them cheaper abroad.
|
they were to be used In Panama and not
brought into the United States. saving the
tariff duty besides
II think l may safely say that with a
great majority OF the American people this
proposition was not popular. Certainly, to
republicans generally IL seemed tnoon-
sistent with all We have been contending
for with respect TO a protective tasin.
Justines the Action.
''The idea OF constructing the most ma
jestic work in progress in all the world, the
greatest ever undertaken by any nation, a
purely American enterprise to be built by
Americans and paid for by American
money. and going abroad to buy materials
and supplies, thus giving patronage to for
eisn manufacturers and giving employment
to foreign labor instead OF buying In Amer
lea. from Americans. and giving all these
advantages to our own people. seemed SO
unpatriotic and. under the circumstances,
so indefensibis. that congress adopted a
resolution prohibiting it except In cases,
II there should be any such. where the
president might deem IL necessary to do so
to escape extorticn.
I'm the senate ihis resolution received the
support OF every republican. In the house