The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1907-12-05
Joe Foraker Debutante.

The formal entry of Senator
Joseph B. Foraker into the presi-
dental race has had the same eff
feet upon the Taft camp as would
the explosion of first-class Rus
sian bomb. Up to the last, even
after the famous meeting of the
League of Republican Clubs, the
Taft managers co1soled themselves
with the belief that their chief
would be Ohio's only candidate
and that all the noise was made
for the purpose Of forcing COM
promise under the terms of which
Foraker would receive unopposed
the state convert tion's endorsement
for senator. This view was to
them IA happy one, since 1t always
left open the way to peace, hut
that il was mistaken one is now
conclusively shown by Senator
Foraker's letter to Conrad J. Mat.
tern, OF Day ton, vice president of
the Republican league, in which
the senat accepts the indorse-
ment for president unanimously
rendered him by the advisory and
executive committees of the league
at their rece.t meeting at Colum-
bus.
The letter leaves no room for
doubt as to the senator's candi-
dacy. 1t refers to the resolutions
adopted by the league, in which
to his prol osed forcible "elimina-
tion" was expressed and in which
his record as senator was approved. :.
Considerable space is devoted to
the rate bill and the tariff, the
senator making clear his position
on both subjects. The present
deplorable business conditions are
shrewdly attributed in q large
measure to lie railroad law, and
Just as shrewdly the past prosper
ity of the country is attributed to
the present tariff schedules, thus
placing him directly Mt issue with
Senator Taft, who is outepoken
for tariff revision. In the sena.
tors opinion tinkering with the
tariff is both unwise and danger
Gus, and there can be no doubt
that in this view he will have the
sympathy and support of the big
manufacturers of the state who
are supposed to be benefciaries of
the protection system. The letter
closes with the statement that
after the national committee has
lSsticu lts chll tio SoudOoI wall re-
quest the state central committee
embody in its call requlrem ent
that all delegates to the state con-
ventlon shall be elected by direct
vote at proper primaries.
The Foraker letter means that
Ohio has two candidates for presi-
dent, and it also means that in the
selection of delegates to district,
state and national conventions the
state will witness one of the most
spectacular campaigns in her his
tory. Overtures for peace, if they
come at all must come from the
Taft crowd; but it is too late for
peace. Reconciliation is ali but
impossible; the war is already on. 4.
Each county will be battlefield,
and when the smoke clears away
many an ambitious fellow will be
found laid away in his political
grave. In such contest it is i'm.
possible to predict any other result
than a divided delegation to the
national convention, but in what
proportion the division will be
made remains to be seen. Keen
political observers belonging to
neither faction hold to the view
that Taft is losing ground daily
and they believe Foraker will be
able to land at least half of the
delegation. They reason that the
experienced politicians throughout
the state who are back of the SEN
ators would not get into the game
did they not know reasonably we'll
the sentiment of the party and be-
lieve they had bright prospects of
winning The big fight, of course,
will be for control of the state con-
VentIon, since the faction in pos
session will have the power to
name not only the "big four" but
the entire state ticket as well.