Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-23
AROUSES THE REPUBLICANS
Advice to the Negro Voters in Wilber-
force Address.
THE TAFT BOOM LOSING GROUND
Foraker's Influence Must Be Consid-
cred to Insure the Success of the
Party in Ohio.


Special Dispatch TO The Star.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 22.-The address
of Senator Foraker at the commencement
exercises of Wilberforce University this
week has caused the republican leaders of
the state to pause in the course political
events have been taking in the past two
months. The advice of the senator to the
colored republicans of the state to consider
before casting their votes who had been
their friends and who their enemies, and
to cast them accordingly-folIowing so
closely upon that given by Secretary Taft
in his address at Akron a little over
year ago to the republicans of the state In
general to bolt their party whenever in
their opinion the nominees were dictated
by bosses-is causing them to wonder what
is going to be the outcome SO far as the
party is concerned. If the advice, of both of
these distinguished republicans is to be
taken.
Something must be done to stop this
contest, said E. NJ. Fullington. deputy
state auditor and candidate for the noni-
nation for state auditor next year, in
speaking of the matter with Senator For
aker's speech at Wilberforce directly in
mind yesterday-'or there will be no re-
publican plurality in this state. If we
should go into state election under the
present circumstances the democrats would
the sentiment of all the republicans who
have it in mind to become candidates on
the republican state ticket next year.
Feeling Among the Negroes.
No one who was present at the Wilber-
force commencement and saw the recep-
ton that Senator Foraker was given can
have any doubt as to the feeling Of the col
ored people of Ohio, who are, of course, al
most solidly republicans, toward him. That
they will follow his advice can. not be
doubted at all. While the total colOred
vote in the state is very small compared
with the grand total vote, ii is almost as
arge as the normal republican plurality in
the state
That Senator Foraker has very con-
siderable following among the white repub-
Ecans in the state and will have 1t regard
less of what action the state orgaEiza ton
of that party takes must be conceded, and
it is certain that they will not view the
attempt Of his enemies to eliminate" him
from politics with equanimity. II the
campaign of next year Is conducted upon
any such program there will be large de-
lection from the republican vote in Ohio.
While Ohio is normally a strong republic
can state, 1t Is well to remember that only
a dozen years ago 1t came within a thou
sand votes of going democratic in pres!-
Dental year, and in fact one of the demo-
cratic candidates for elector succeeded in
being elected, causing Ohio to cast vote
dency-the first since the civil war. The
cause of it was very much such stua-
ton as now confronts the republicans in
Ohio.
Going Slow on Taft Boom.
The Taft boom seems to be losing ground
in this state. 1t was predicted three weeks
ago that the county republican commit
tees would follow each other in rapid
succession with resolutions indorsng Secre-
tary Taft for the presidential nomination,
but no county has adopted such resolu-
ton for more than two weeks. The re-
publican county committees of Van Vert
Saturday and the friends Of Secretary Taft
expected them to adopt Taft resolutions.
In Wood county the name of Secretary
Taft was not mentioned at all, and in the
Van Vert meeting when 1t was proposed
to adopt a Taft resolution there was such
vigorous opposition that the proposition
was quickly withdrawn.
Though Commissioner Eorys claims that
no effort was made to capture the Ken
lucky state republican convention for Sec
rotary Taft, and says that he regards the
declaration of the platform as TO the presi-
Dental candidate as favorable to MrIaft,
the friends of the Secretary here are evil
IDENTIFY dissatisfied with the action. They
are inclined, in spite of the declarations of
Mr.. Vorys, to regard it as Taft defeat.
Kentucky being sister and neighbor
state without a 1dNOrlte son, IL was looked
Upon as fair game for the mana cement
of the Taft boom to capture and that it
did not do so as a failure.
The talk about state convention this
year for the sake of having the party
speak out for Mr.. Taft as its candidate for
the presidency is not heard now. 1t seems
quite clear that it is not the intention to
hold it before the municipal elections in
November, and it is probable that by that
time all necessity for it will have passed.
The suggestion that the selection of dele
gates to the national republican convention
this year and before the issue of the call
for it might lay the foundation for seri-
Gus contest in the convention. seems to
have been sufficient to cause the plan for
such state convention this year to be laid
aside.