The Washington herald., 1906-12-29
TAFT IN 1908.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PACE.

CONTINUED FROM FIRST PACE.
affairs that President Roosevelt would be
greatly pleased to see his War Secretary
nominated as his successor. Mr.. Roose-
velt's personal regard for Mr.. Taft, and
his high opinion of Mr.. Taft's abilities,
have been attested time and again.
But this does not mean that Mr.. Taft
is 70 be made the administration candi-
date, for President Roosevelt is keenly
alive to the fact that the American peo-
pie might resent any attempt on his part
70 control or dictate the selection Of the
Presidential standard bearer two years
hence. The President, It Is stated by his
close friends, viii not seek 10 dominate
the next Republican national convention,
but will adhere Tigidly TO A hands of
policy However. there can be no conceal
ment OF the fact that Mr. Taft would be
highly acceptable TO him. nor can there be
any escaping the significance Of The fact
that many Of the stanchest advocates Of
Iafts nomination are to be found in that
element Of the party known as Roosevelt
Republicans
With Secretary Taft as a tentative.
prospective candidate, interest in the i'm
pending struggle centers naturally IN
what Ohio will do, for the Buckeye Com
monwealth has another son who is figured
In the Presidential class-Senator Foraker.
FOra<er's Attitude Uncertain.
Senator Foraker is not an avowed
candidate. His attitude. as a matte: &c
fact. is very similar 70 that OF Secretary
-,
The Senator holds. so his friends say.
that the Presidency is not an Office for
place seekers, and that a mans candi-
dacy should be made by an appreciate
popular demand instead OF being ad-
vanced by himself personally. That tai
lies closely with Secretary Taft's views
as expressed by those who are in his
confidence.
Under the circumstances it is patent
that it is up to the rank and file Of the
Republicans Of Ohio 10 decide whether
Secretary Taft or Senator Foraker shall
be their candidate in the next national
convention. Both men have thousands Of
admirers and many devoted adherents in
the State. Every Republican in the State
would like to see an Ohioan as the next
incumbent of the White House. The
thing remaining to be determined, there
fore, is which of the two men, Secretary
Taft OF Senator Foraker. is the more
available candidate; which one would be
more likely to secure the nomination If
presented 10 the national convention by
an united and enthusiastic Ohio delega-
ton. and which one, If nominated, would
make the stronger race FOR the election.
such a situation viii develop almost
inevitably. i'm the opinion Of men we'll in
formed in politics. some sort of a pcpU-
lar expression as TO whether Taft or
Foraker shall be presented as Ohio
candidate TO succeed Roosevelt. Such an
expression should be obtainable in a way
that anything approaching a bitter fac
ti0nal night VIII be avoided. for it IS gen
orally recognized that a fight of that
character would lessen materially the
chances Of Ohio's furnishing the Presi-
dental nominee In 1905, IT, indeed, it would
not preclude entirely the possibility of
an Ohio mans being nominated
Will Leave 1t 10 OhiOans.
1t can be stated on the authority of
close friends of both men that neither
Secretary Taft nor Senator Foraker en-
tertains the idea that his interests can
be advanced by such a fight Neither has
any thought Of becoming a negative
candidate-that is. candidate whose
cause is pushed primarily and most ag-
gressively by way of opposition to the
candidacy of any other man. 1t may be
said, also, that anything approaching
decisive expression that a majority of
the rank and file of Ohio Republicans IS
with either of the two men would be Buf-
fcient to eliminate the other as factor
in the Presidential equation Of 1913.
1t is possible that the developments
OF the next few months may be such as
to lead Senator Foraker TO decide that he
does not want his friends to present him
as a Presidential candidate. That would
leave the field in Ohio clear to Secretary
Taft, unless the report that Vice Presi- |
dent Fairbanks is laying his wires to |
capture at least a part of the Ohio dele |
cation be true.
1T is equally possible that before the |
close of President Roosevelts admins !
tTation Secretary Taft may have the op- |
portunity to become Chief Justice or an |
associate justice OF the Supreme Court |
and Will accept il. That would eliminate
him from the list of Presidential possibn- |
tiles md would give Senator Foraker a |
clear field in the State, subject only to |
the suggested possibility of a contest from |
Fairbanks or some other outsider
THE important matter for the present
OF Ohio Republicans how
ever, is the fact that Secretary Taft's |
friends have decided to take such stems |
as they may deem advisable to determine |
the extent Of the following that can be |
rallied under the Taft banner"