New-York tribune., 1907-11-30
FORAKER IN OPEN WAR
TO FIGHT TAFT IN OHIO.
UW GiCe Up Senatorship to Make
Contest for Presidency.

Washington. Nov. Ex-senator Foraker made
it clearly known to-day that he will contest the
Ohio delegation to the Republican National con-
vention with Secretary Taft. This decision IS
contained in "a letter to Conrad J. Mattern. vice
president of the OHIO Republican League, who
sent him a copy of the resolutions adopted by
the advisory and executive committees of the
league indorsing Mr.. Foraker for the Senator
ship and the Presidential nomination Mr.
Foraker says he Will "fOregO the double honor
proposed and accept the support for the Pres
idency offered by the committees He also de-
fends his course in relation TO the railroad rata
bill and insists that the necessity for the rail-
roads OF the country to spend millions OF dollars
annually in increasing their facilities makes this
a bad time TO hamper them unnecessarily hy
legislation He says he is gratifed by the IN
dorsement of the committees because II Is a
fat rebuke to the suggestion that the Office OF
United States Senator is TO be stripped Of st
the real honor attached 10 it by making its IN
cumbent a mere agent to register the decrees
of somebody else. The letter follows;
To the Hon. Conrad Mattern. vice-president Of
the Ohio Republican League Dayton. ONO
Dear Sir: 1 write to acknowledge the re-
ceipt Of your letter Of the 22d inst, with copy
inclosed, stated, of the resolutions adopted BY
the advisory and executive committees or the
Ohio Republican League OF Clubs at JOINT
meeting held at the NeiH House in Columbus on
November % denounCing the proposition that
should be eliminated" from public life and rele-
gated TO private citizenship because in the dis
charge of my duties as Senator have been
unable IN three instances TO agree with Prest-
dent Roosevelt, and pledgins> me their support
as candidate for reelection to be my own sue
cessor, and also declaring that am their choice
as a candidate for the Presidency.
I am informed that there were ninety-eight
members Of the committee out of a total mem
oership Of one hundred and five present IN per-
son or by proxy and that the resolutions were
ADOPTED by a unanimous vote and with much
-
present as published in the newspa pers show
that all sections and counties OF the state were
represented and that among these representa-
I'VE, ives are many who have for years been well
known 70 the whole state as prominent leaders
OF OF me Republican party. would not be insen-
SIDle 70 Such mark of confidence and esteem tc
could be, and could not be If I would
NOT CANDIDATE FOR TWO OFFICES.
But I do not want to even appear 70 ba -
candidate for two Offices at the same time and
IheTe1ore Iorego tla double honor proposed. and
WIN heartfelt APP recitation accept the sIIppoTr
Tor the Presidential candidacy which the con-,
4IItees nave so generously rendered.
a,-T-tk{ - ileess, want 10 say that far beyond
80 80 eIIiiS personal 10 myself, am gratifed byr
me action taken. because 1t Is a fiat rebuxa to
She suggestion that the Office OF United states
senator IS 10 be stripped Of all the real hor.g-
attached TO it by making its Incumbent a r,,sr,
agent 10 register the DEGREES OF sor1sbof5,, 49,
instead OF the representative Of a s4a+a l1I.aI
Win the constitutional duty of legisIati1~ -
coTdlug 10 his best Judgment for the vysIfare,
Vi great nation, accountable to his cOustifII
alsEa
regard 1t Of far greater importance 10 Hn6CI,i
anu protect the dignity and usefulness ~ tbs
bi9 t Ia once taan that any particular man
S.iosiu oe CHOSEN 10 MI it. As our fathers ere
ated It the place is one OF the most fn1porfapt
"a IA iIe government and any man might well feel
nIsIIy hohored TO hold il. but If il is to be de
graded into mere agency no seIf-respeCtins-
man can desire to hold IT,
DEFENDS HIS COURSE IN CONGRESS-
mot not only stand for the broad principles in
rolVtu, out also stand ready 10 submit 20 my
Tor TuTfcr
ton in the three instances when was unable
10 agree with the President. but my entire veC-
ord may have made mistakes. but no speech
% Note OF other act VIII be found that Is not
IN accordance with a conscientious judgement
formed by the aid OF The best light at the time
My action on the question of joint statehood
ana IT the Brownsville matter your committees
nave approved 1 believe the great nlaiorirvr
of Republicans do everywhere
There doubtless are many who criticIse nv
vote on the rate bin, but if the assII-snces VIII
which my mail is filled coming as TbeI- 10 f rII-,
every section OF the country. are not rliseadin.s
me NUMBER or these critics is rapidly diminish
Ing
In the debates on that measure I tool, Mains ,,
point out that II the government took tIDor it
SER the outy and responsibility OF making rates
- Wo"iV OF necessity have 10 determine not Ouly-
how much a railroad should be allowed 10 r1aLe
oul also now much it should be allowed IN sDeDd
no" ulucn Tor operation. for extensions for
equipment and for every other item Of rscss
Safy eXpendlture-an OF which il is inDossibI,
for government to do sllccessfI11IJ- ana sstt,
tdcterly, and that the result would inavirsbI,-
De that Just at the time when a rapidly fncress-
ing business for the roads was uaI1inE n reCes
Sary 1or them TO raise hundreds OF millions an
nuaIly for increasing their tracks cars aT5 So,
eIdI iaclhtles we would impair the Confidence
~ investors IN their stocks and bonds and
H'I pilly MAKE II impossible for the,
roads 10 sell the additional securities necesssr,-
TOT sucn purposes but lead many OF the holder.
oI lHern' Ooth at home and abroad. to ,Iisne.,
OF what were already Outstanding ana So, =
consequence the market would be so larveI-
ONeIsuppHeu that their values would shrjnt
Is TlfS
hstit panic and disaster would take the placa ~
CHIECsnce and prosperity. To saw 7 toI5 vo,f
so IS always ungracious, but II Is 7 tr1Is+ nAr-
mlsslole 10 point out that from the dsy- tba
rate Dill passed the trend has been in the al
I~ecuon ~ predlcted, and, while other things have
contributed. that measure has q f,II lAT s
responsibility for the unhappy financial an5 IN
oustriaI conditions with which we have bes1
overtaken -'0 "7S"