Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-06-01
CT ARKS
Uncle Joe Looms Large as Presi>
Dental Candidate - Selection of
Senators - Foraker's Aspirations

4
him personally. never heard him
mention the Republican presidential
nomination in my life and never heard
1t mentioned to him or in his presence,
but have by putting two and two to-
gether figured out the result as four.
1t seems to me safe guess that just
about this time last year the senator
took stock" to use commercial eX-
precision, OF the presidential equation
| and came to two conclusions which
have ever since determined his course
are three presidential candidates in the
cabinet Taft, Shaw and Root; perhaps
q fourth in the person Of Postmaster
General Cortelyou-he, Foraker, could
hope for no assistance from the White
House; (O that there is an anti oose-
welt contingent Of Republicans which
might be made available in presiden-
tial fight and that he proposed to util-
iss 1t for all 1t r. worth.
This theory first came to me when in
his opening speech in the Ohio cam
paign last year Senator Foraker open
" antagonized what was then sup
posed to be the presidents railroad
rate plan. though it would, in the light
Of subsequent events, puzsle Phila-
delphia lawyer to tell what Is the pres
idsnts plan. Many persons, remem-
boring how hot Senator Foraker was
for Roosevelt In 1909 and 1904 and
especially remembering how he helped
the president force from Senator Han
mas state convention In 1903 an in
derssment OF Colonel Roosevelt were
amazed at the speech referred to Of
Senator Foraker in opening the Ohio
campaign Of 1905. They forgot that
circumstances change and that men
change With them. In 1908 and the
early part Of 1904 the one thing dread
Cd BY Senator Foraker WAS the pres
idsntial nomination Of Senator Mar
Gus 4. Hanna, which was possible to
the hour Of his death. Senator For
aker has cherishsd the ambition to be
president and 1t Is most laudable
one, nearly as long as it was cherished
by Henry Clay, James Buchanan or
James G. Blaine. He was a brilliant
national figure nearly twenty years
ago, long before Senator Hanna was
known outside of small circle Of
business men. Senator Foraker had
seen circumstances entirely beyond
his control give the coveted presiden-
tial plum to William Mckinley twice,
and he knew that Hanna's nomination
would in all human probability and
Hanna's election to the presidency
would certainly end his presidential
hopes for three rsasons-frst, because
he and Hanna trained with different
factions. for let it not be forgotten
that there are always Republican fac
tons in Ohio; second that II Hanna
| got one term he would want two, which
would bring us to 1913, at which time
Senator Foraker will be sixty-seven,
rather old to expect drst presidsn-
tial nomination; third, the people Of
the rest Of the country might demand
slice Of the presidential pie and over
throw any and all Buckeye candidates.
That was apparently the Foraker
process Of ratiocination In 1903 and in
the early part Of 1904; hence Foraker's
activity for Roosevelt at that time.
That it was wise there can be no ques-
ton. But In 1905 Senator Hanna was
In his grave; there was no other Ohio
Republican except Secretary Taft big
enough to contest the prize with Sen
ator Foraker, and President Roosevelt
had openly declared and positively that
he would not be in the running in 1908.
II Senator Joseph B. Foraker expects
ever to be president, he does not ex-
peet or intend that William II. Taft
shall be nominated until Foraker has
had two terms. These things, even II
only inferences on my part, are clear
a. crystal. There is sort OF unwrit-
ten age limit on first presidential
nomination. Only one man, General
William Henry Harrison, was ever
elected for the first time at 30 ad-
vanced an age as Senator Foraker will
be by the time Qe1S) at which Taft
would finish his FIRST term II elected In
1908, to say nothing Of a Taft second
term. which would terminate In 1917,
at which time Foraker will be seventy
one. Tho once killed General Harri-
son IN month. James Buchanan
lacked few days Of being sixty-six
whom indicted into the presidency.
and his career therein, no doubt great
u influenced by the inhrmitiss Of age,
II not such AZ to recommend old men
for the position. While Mr.. Speaker
Cannon IL vigorous to an extraordinary
Gsgres. his age IL really the only seri-
bus obstacle IN his way to the White
House. His friends hope that his per-
sonal popularity will overcome even
that. So, In general way Senator
Foraker must reason that If he is ever
to be the presidential nominee It must
30 In 1905 certainly not later than
1912.
Now. let It be understood that I am
not eontsnding for one moment that
his judgment as a lawyer does not
form the foundation for his attitude on
railroad rate legislation, for he is rec
ognized as being in the first rank of
his profession; but, IL So unquestiona-
bly, his judgment as constitutional
lawyer and his interests as a presi-
Dental candidate conceded. Perhaps
his judgment as lawyer was infiuenc-
cd by his interest as to the presidential
nomination. It was only human nature
doing Its memorable work. One thing
cock sure, he has adhered to his theory
outlined in that aforementioned open
Ing speech In the Ohio campaign of
1905. He spoke against the bill in the
senate with marked force and cogency,
as Is his custom when he sneaks nj oil