The Washington times., 1907-07-30
HAVE THE TIMES MAILED TO YOU.
TUESDAY. JULY so. 1907.
Senator FOraker'S Letter.

The unexpected can always be ex-
pected from Senator Foraker, espe-
cially when he is mixed up in a
fight. The letter which he has is
sued, amounting to a challenge to
Secretary Taft, would not have ema-
mated from many public men in
such a position as >the Buckeye
Senator. 1t seems a remarkable
thing for Foraker TO do at this time,
when there have been intimations
of a disposition of the Taft people
10 compromise by granting him-an-
other term in the upper chamber, in
consideration of the withdrawal of
opposition to Taft for Ohio's Presi-
Dental support.
Perhaps, however, Senator For
aker has better information, and
was convinced that if he failed to
press his fight at this juncture he
would be dumped later on, after the
Taft people had comfortably got
what they wanted. The letter
makes plain that the Ohio fight is
by no means to be regarded as
ended, even if the State committee
today declares in favor of Taft by
an approximately unanimous vote
1t is not conceivable that the Sena-
tor was without information when
he wrote to Committeeman Mccoy,
of the division of the committee.
The Senator very cleverIy maneu-
vers into position where he seems
TO be lined up with Governor Harris
in opposition to an expression, at
this time, by the State committee
on Presidential matters. There is
the decided tone of threat in the
statement that Il do not think any
body would regard such action as
binding. / am sure l would not"
y But it is in taking square issue
with Secretary Taft on the tariff
that Senator Foraker occupies the
strongest ground that seems to be
left for him. He points out that
the Secretary has repeatedly de-
clared for immediate revision, and
then naively suggests that most of
the leading supporters of Secretary
Taft are of the same view. This is
a square proposal to test the States
opinion on the tariff question. He
would sweep aside the trust and
railroad issues, and says as much;
what he wants is a determination
between Taft and himself on the
tariff And he intimates that if he
is properly encouraged he may later
become a candidate for President on
the issue Of standing pat and claim
ing that Dingley schedules gave the
country its prosperity.
Senator Foraker knows his Ohio
as not many men know their own
communities. He knows the fealty
of Ohio to protection, in principle
and in practice. He knows that if
there is any one State, aside perhaps
from Pennsylvania, where this
slogan is always a winning one, it
is Ohio. He wants to delimit the
battle-ground, and to force the fight
ing there. He appeals to every unit
of protection sentiment and
strength there is in the State to
prevent an Endorsement at this time,
and he threatens that if there is
one il will only result in more fric-
1ion and inharmony.
The Senator is correct in assum-
ing that tariff is, for himself, the
strongest issue. But ne is sadly
mistaken in believing he can set
aside the railroad question. On that
he has a record which the voters
of Ohio are quite as certain to re-
view and consider as they are to study
Taft's views on tariff. IF Senator
Foraker's record on railroad issues
were other than il is. he might have
q chance of winning Ohio on the
tariff issue, and if ne did so it
would be a body blow to revision.
But, instead, he will stand excellent
chance to be defeated If the matter
goes fairly before the people of
Ohio, because of the railroad regula-
ton record. Plainly, there is going
10 be a great deal more fighting be-
fore this Ohio situation is. cleared
up. Plainly, too, things are getting
into shape TO make Ohio a doubtful
State in November, 1908.