The Washington herald., 1907-07-30


Benson Foraker tonight, on the eve Of
the meeting of the State central commit
tee at Columbus tomorrow, Is out with
strong open letter.
This communication Is the Senator's
protest 10 the committee and the party
against the proposed Endorsement by the
committee OF Secretary Taft's candidacy
for the Presidency.
Senator Foraker's protest, which is in
the form OF letter to c. B. Mccoy, of
Coshocton. Ohio, member of the State
committee, throws down the gauntlet to
Secretary Taft 10 make his bid for the
support of the State in his candidacy on
the sole issue of tariff revision. It is the
tariff and not railroads and trusts, says
the Senator, over which there is differ
ence Of sentiment in the party.
The letter is also interpreted as a denial
Of the assumption that Secretary Taft is
the only candidate the people of Ohio
have for the Presidency. Senator For
aker saying that the reason he has not
announced himself for the support Of
the people Of his State is because Of his
feeling that it is more dignifed 10 wait
until the party invites a man to become
its leader for such an honor.
Statement Creates Interest.
Senator Foralzer's letter to Committee
man Mccoy has created much interest
among Republicans. and the action of the
committee at its meeting in Columbus to-
morrow is being eagerly awaited.
The letter. which was made public by
senator Foraker this evening. is as fol-
lows:
I learn from the newspapers and
otherwise that a resolution is likely 10
be offered at the next meeting Of the
State central committee, TO be held in
Columbus tomorrow, July 30, indorslng
Secretary Taft as Ohio's candidate for
the Presidency, and have seen it stated
that d resolution is likely also to be offer
ed indorsing me as a candidate 10 be
my successor in the Senate of the United
States, and IN to-day's papers is pub
lished what puTpOrts 10 be an authorized
interview with Gov. Harris, favoring this
proposed action in indorsing Secretary
Taft, and expressing friendship and
good will for myself, with respect to a
continuation of my public services. but
disclaiming a desire to be himself in
dOrsed as his own successor in the gov
ernor's office.
In this same interview he announces,
as he has heretofore announced that he
is in favor of revision Of the tariff
Inasmuch as you are a member Of the
State central committee, I take the lib
erty OF addressing you, and through you
the whole committee and all the Re
publican voters Of Ohio upon the ques-
tions so brought 10 our attention.
Opposed Plan at Dayton.
AT the Dayton convention Of last year,
which was a large representative body.
consisting Of eight or nine hundred dele
gates, chosen in the usual way, it was
proposed by a great number OF the dele
gates To indOTse candidate for the
Presidency. I opposed the proposition on
the ground that it was not only prema-
ture but also on the ground that the
chosen with reference TO that question
and that it would be an assumption OF
jurisdiction and authority that did not
properly belong TO them. and that their
action could not be binding upon the next
State convention, which must meet before
the National Convention Of 1905. and that
no action should be taken by that con-
ventiOn or anybody else that would fore
q no
TO be heard on that all-important ques-
ton
The present state central committee
composed of only twenty-one members
one from each Congressional district.
were chosen by that convention. They
were not selected with reference to Presi-
Dental preferences. They were chosen
to be simply the machinery of the party.
representing its organization and empow-
cred TO call the next convention and to
transact such duties as the last conven-
ton and the statutes OF the State have
imposed upon them.
NOt C0mmIttee's Duty.
"The selection of a candidate for the
Presidency is not one OF those duties.
Their action in now indorsing a candi-
date FOR the Presidency would not. there
fore, as Gov Harris well says, be binding
upon anybody. not even themselves, but
It would be wholly outside OF their juris-
diction and unauthorized It would be
only the same as the individual opinions
of SO many citizens of the State.
''In fact. there would be much less ex-
cuse for a committee Of twenty-One mem
bers not chosen with reference to Presl-
Dental preferences to settle question of
that character than there would have