The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-03-29
IS SURPRISE
vorys as Taft's Manager
an Unexpected Fea-
ture of Campaign.
ACTIVE WORK BEGINS

ent of Insurance Vorys had accepted
the management of the Taft presiden-
tial campaign of Ohio. Until Mr..
Vorys was mentioned for this place
there was no intimation either upon
| his own part or the part of friends
that he was even a passive supporter
| of the secretary of war. Indeed he
has heretofore been regarded as rath-
er belonging to another faction of
the Republican party and therefore the
surprise at his appointment and ac-
ceptance is increased. While no doubt
is expressed as to his ability to sue
cessfully fill the position and bring
about a strong organization in sup
port of Taft it is fact that in the
past Vorys has not taken that part
in politics which called for manag-
eriala ability His conduct of the in
surance office has, however. demon
strated splendid executive ability and
J called into display the talents he
will now have to use. 1t is as to the
effect his appointment will have upon
feet his appointment will have upon
the future of the-party in Ohio and
especially upon the future of those
ticians are wondering.
There is no denial of the statement
that Governor Harris urged Commits
sioner Vorys not to accept, basing
his opposition upon the belief that it
would be best for those connected
with the state administration to keep
away from factional differences in the
party so far as possible and at least
not to take an active part in them.
Several conferences were held be-
tween the governor and Vorys and at
all of them the latter was urged not
to accept. 1t is also probable that
the governor intimated that too close
application to the Taft campaign
might detract from his work as in
surance commissioner. Mr.. Vorys
on the other hand maintained that
the fact he held public office was not
to be construed into a refusal to take
part in politics. He saw nothing in
compatible in acting both as commits
sioner and manager of the Taft cam
paign and as he is earnestly in favor
of the latter for president he believed
his duty was to accept the offer. There
fore he took it and announced he
would not resign as commissioner.
From this time on he will fill both
places.
Coming into the limelight in this
strong way has already started talk
of Mr. VOTys as a candidate for gov
ernOr at the expiration of the term of
Governor Harris and the management
of the Taft campaign can easily be
made helpful if he has ambitions
looking toward the governOrship. The
immediate effect of the situation has
been to awaken the followers of Gov
eTnor Harris to the probable oppOsi-
ton he will have for nomination and
start them upon a vigorous campaign
in his behalf. Thus the lines between
the governor and his superintendent
of insurance are to be sharply drawn
Should the followers of Secretary
Taft be able to control the next state
convention 1t would not be outside
of the usual course In politics, for
them to nominate for governor the
man who has made their control pos
sible and Mr. Vorys would be the
recipient of their favor and the bene-
ficiary of his own work. But the
Of 10 rric
will be far from any easy one. He
has a remarkably large following
throughout the state and is particular
ly agreeable 10 the people at large.
In his contest there will enter moth
ing OF opposition to Secretary Taft
1t will be entirely away and apart
from anything bordering on factional-
ism and have any eye to but single
purpose, his own nomination.
There are men shrewd in politics
who see in the Taft movement an
entire change in the management OF
the party in Ohio and look for such
a complete change as will take old
leaders out and place in their stead
new and young men. This Of course
is upon the presumption that the
Taft people will be able to control
the state convention of next year
Others not new to politics fear that
out OF it all will come such a con-
ditiOn that no Ohio man will be nom
mated at the next national convention
and say that it is almost certain that
neither the secretary of war nor Sena-
tor Foraker will be able to have the
solid support of the Ohio delegation
if both decide TO go into the presi-
Dental race and certain it is that
TAFT is going. Indeed he has already
gone.
The Taft campaign is to be car
ried on vigorously from this time
Headquarters will De established and a
system or work pursued along the line
of that followed by a state COMMITTEE
during a state contest. The Foraker
headquarters may follow later.
PRECEDENT Roosevelt has decided
that he cannot visit Ohio during the
coming state fair and deliver an ad-
dress This is a source Of keen dis
appointment to the fair managers. the
merchants OF this city and the peO-