Evening star., 1907-09-04
BURTON OF OHIO
TO RUN FOR MAYOR
viii Oppose Tom Johnson in
City of Cleveland.
WHAT INFLUENCED HIM
Letters From President Roosevelt and
Secretary Taft.
TO SMASH DEMOCRATIC VOTE
A Campaign of Reform and Against
Corporations Along National At
fairs Lines by President
70 SMASH DEMOCRATIC VOTE
WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION,

Official and political circles were very
much interested today In the statement
from Cleveland, Ohio, that Representative
Burton of Ohio will run the republican
candidate for mayor of Cleveland against
Mr.. Tom l.. Johnson. democrat, who has
held the office for three terms In the re-
publican stronghold of northern Ohio. The
greatest interest. however related to that
feature of Mr.. Burton's announcement in
which he declares himself as the candidate
OF the national administration for this
purely municipal office. and attaches him
self to the Roosevelt-Taft combination in
ONO
Letters From Roosevelt and Taft.
In his statement expressing willingness
10 be the candidate of the republican party,
Mr.. Burton declares that he has received
letters from President Roosevelt and Sec
retary Taft, whose opinions had Influenced
him in deciding to make the run. He prom
ises to make the letters public at an aus
picious time.
From this politicians today drew the CON-
clusion that Mr.. Burton will use to the
utmost advantage the prestige of the na-
tonal administration in endeavoring to
smash the great democratic vote in Cleye-
Iand They inferred that he will draw upon
the popularity Of Taft as we'll as the Presi-
dent and Will make the campaign for the
city off1ce an echo of the great Roosevelt
Iaft campaign in Ohio and in the nation
so far as 1t can be done
ONO people in town said that undoubtedly
MT Burton is looking into the future and
mas MS ambitious gaze fixed upon the som
atorsh1p. If he should win in Cleveland.
the ohioans said, and oust the democrats
from an office they have controlled for
ufee mayoralty terms, he would be a big
man in republican politics Senator Dicks
term expires In 1911 and Mr.. Burton is SUD-
posed to have his eye on a senatorial seat.
II has been the boast of the Roosevelt
Iaft political managers in Ohio that they
would eliminate entirely Senators Foraker
and Dick, and Representative Burton has
been mentioned as the prospective wearer
or the toga of Foraker or Dick, whichever
one should come handiest. The elimina ton
OF FORAKER is said to be imminent now
than II appeared to the Roosevelt faction a
while back, and some Ohioans think that
Mr.. Burton probably has concluded that
Senator Dick would be an easier victim
than Senator Foraker
Campaign OF Reform.
The text of Mr.. Bur;ons statement indi-
Gates 10 politicians here that he intends to
make campaign for reform and against
corporations along the lines followed in ma
tioHal affairs by President Roosevelt He
intmates that the old rings in the re-
publican machine must not control the
election of city councilmen. and the whole
tone Of his statement is interpreted by the
politicians to forecast Lively reform"
campaign.
Mr.. Burtons career in Congress, where he
has made a name for himself. has been
based upon independence of party rule and
leadership. He has been an "insurgent
more than once against the dominant lead
ership OF the House. and It never has been
possible to fix his possible position on any
party question without first consulting him
and after he has consulted his own judg-
ment. To some of his friends, therefore
Mr. Burton's course in tying himself to the
Roosevelt-Taft kite was surprising, as they
had supposed he would be more likely to
go into a campaign on his own account and
ask fear or favor OF no man.