Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-19
Two Serious Mistakes in Sec
retary's Campaign.
FORAKER AND THE LEGATEE
Elimination of Former Must Be
Patched Up; Latter a Handicap.
MEETING IN NEW YORK CITY
County Committee to Indorse
Hughes, Protect Administration
and Struggle for Control.

sN Nv $3.50 IVA S0ASAOAs
When Secretary Taft lands in New York
tomorrow from his trip around the world
he will go into conference at once with
his political friends and hackers and will
be informed of what has happened in ma
tional politics in his absence from this
country. He will be given some informa-
ton which will cheer him and some which
will not be encouraging, although it might
have been foreseen. Some well-posted
politicians in Washington think that the
first development after his arrival will be
a. change in his political managers and
the method of campaign.
Men prominent in national politics here
are almost unanimously Of opinion that
IL ever there was a presidential prospect
inherently and intrinsically worthy and
favorable that had been manhandled and
mismanaged it was Secretary Tafts.
OF course there are differences of opin-
ion as to whether the damage is irrepa-
rable, but there is no question that it is
material.
Two Serious Mistakes.
Looking back over the experience Of the
see the results of two serious mistakes in
the Taft campaign:
First, the proposition that Senator Fora
ker must be eliminated from Ohio politics
and that the Taft organization must be
built up on the ruins of a political struc-
ture which was in existence before Mr.
Taft was out Of college.
Second, that Mr.. Taft was the residuary
legatee of the present administration, the
0f he; to- lo, ;,,t lo
tive office, to carry on the work cut out.
Politicians say that the immediate and
inevitable result of the announcement of
these two propositions was to hamstr ng
Secretary Taft in his own state and to
make him the target of the friends of ey-
cry other man who aspired to the presl-
dency. The first essential to all who did
not yield immediate acquiescence to the
Roosevelt-Taft plan was to cripple Taft.
He must be fought before any other man
could have aAchance. The word went
down the line 70 first dea! with Taft and
then fight it out among themselves for the
nomination. ..--.-..
The immediate effect was to deprive Sec
many elements which would naturally
have gone to him If his candidacy had
rested solely upon his own merits and
not been coupled with two propositions
which were obnoxious. Strong sentiment
was at once developed against the sugges-
ton that the President sh:>ld designate
his successor. The idea was declared 10
be un-American, and to prec .ude the conf
mendable and honorable ambitions of
other men who had a right to enter ma
tional politics.
Regret at the Handicap.
On every side regret was expressed that
Mr.. Taft should have so handicapped him.
self. 1t was recognized that he was ad-
mirably equipped to be candidate. or
magnetic personality, of the highest in
tegrity, of pronounced executive and ad-
illustrative ability, demonstrated by bril-
liant service to his country, 1t was re-
allied that there was every reason why
he should be a candidate on his own ac-
count without favor of any man.
Ohio resented the demand for the elimi-
nation of Senator Foraker. That resent
ment was reflected in the elections In
Cleveland and in visible and pronounced
change of public feeling throughout the
state. Wherever the Taft boomers went
in other states to solicit support they en-
countered not only the opposition OF the
friends of the favorite sons of those
states, but were met with the suggestion
that it would be better for Mr.. Taft to be
assured of his own state before asking
iavors elsewhere
In such states as Missouri, Michigan
and Nebraska. having no candidates of
their own and where Roosevestism Is
acute, the support of the Roosevelt fac
tons was swung to Taft. But in the
states which nominate and elect republi-
can Presidents-New York. Pennsylvania.
Indiana, Ohio and in New England-the
other result followed.
Some of Mr.. Taft's friends will urge
him. upon his arrival, to patcn up the
feud with Senator Foraker-if it IS not
too late--to cut loose from the heirshlp
and residuary l-gatee proposition, and to
go into tue fight on his own account.
Meeting in New York Tonight.
Politicians here were all agog touay
over the coming m citing of the New
York republican county committee In
New York 'city tonight, at which there
will be a lineup of the various factions
in New York politics. The principal ef-
fort will be to indorse Hughes Tor the
pr, sidential nomination. The secondary
motive will be 10 protect the prestige of
Pres. mt Roosevelt and the national ad-
,linistration, with a view to saving some-
thing for the Taft boom in the future A
third cons Iteration, but by no means I'M
important and which will affect all others
will be a struggle between the Odell
Roosevelt and Hughes factions for con-
troll of the county committee.
The presence OF a number OF New york
politicians in this city yesterday and to-
day and their frequent conferences with
President Roosevelt, and the use OF tn
long distance phone between Washington
and New York all served to indicate the
keen inter- st which the national admins
tration as taking in the NV Yorkssi,ua-
don. Among the big New York republic
ans who have been in Washington with
III the last twenty-four hours are State
chairman Woodruff, Speaker Wadsworth
of the ass mbly, Col. Mike Dady. tbs
Dig Brooklyn lead~r. and Job Hedges of
New York city
Mr.. Heuges Is the, man who nominated
Mr. Hughes for governor at the Saratoga
convention. He Is friendly to Gov.
Hughes, but Is not tied to his chariot. He
left at / o'clock today for New York to
attend the meeting of the county commit
| lee OF which he is a member. Mr.. Hedges
expects that some kind of a reso u.ion
will be adopted favorable to Gov. Hughes.
Thinks It Too Early.
| Col. Dady, this morning in discussing
| the proposition to indorse Gov. Hughes
for the presidential nomination, expressed
the opinion that it is too early to take
such acton. He said that if he were
managing the Hughes boom he would not
ask for Endorsement. and he felt very sure
that it would be Impossible to get the
| Brooklyn organization to take such ac-
ton at this time.
| State Chairman Woodruff will dine with
the President tonight and makes no Sc
\ Of fa "a he 10 In tSto,