The Washington herald., 1907-04-01
EYES ON OHIO FIGHT
Politicians Show Interest in
Taft-FOraker Contest.
INVOLVES SENATOR'S SEAT
EndeavOr to Be Made 90 Put ROose-
welt Administration ON Trial, and
"a Hand-FOraker Plans to Put Issue
Before VOters-May Send Letter.

That the state of Ohio will prove to be
dark and bloody" ground in the cam
paign preceding the Republican National
Convention of 1908 is made certain by the
acceptance by Charles P. Taft, of Gin
cinnati. in behalf of his brother. secre-
tary of War Taft, of Senator Foraker S
challenge that the fight between the two
factions in Ohio be settled at a primary
to be held in the fall Mr.. Foraker viii
enter the contest along the lines indicated
in the defiant reply of Mr.. Taft,
The battle will involve Ohio's delega-
ton to the next national convention and
the Senatorial toga now worn by Mr.
Foraker. An endeavor will be made TO
put the Roosevelt administration on trial
in Ohio. for Mr.. Taft states that this is
a direct contest between the friends Of the
administration of President Roosevelt and
his opponents.
With the issues sharply drawn IN
Ohio. one Of the leading candidates
a member of the Roosevelt admins
tration, and the other the most out
spoken and bitter opponent of some Of the
Presidents policies, the chances are that
the Presidents position in the contest.
Senator Foraker has let it be known that
he expects TO vindlcate his opposition to
the President.
VIII CrIticfse President.
That means necessarily that Mr.. For
aker will criticise and attack the Presi-
dent and his policies. No one acquainted
with President Roosevelt believes that he
will long remain quiet under any cTiti-
cisms or attacks from Senator Foraker.
The President will probably be heard
from the moment the fire is directed
against the White House, and in a way
that will cause not only Ohio, but the
country at large. to sit up and take notice.
Senator Foraker is perfecting his plans
to get into the game as soon as ne goes
TO Ohio next week. and il Is possible that
he will make a speech or two during the
two weeks he viii be at home. II is un-
derstOod that his friends have advised
him of the necessity of doing something
that will check d stampede toward Sec
retary Taft. and have urged a speech or
an open letter 10 the Republicans Of the
State as to the best means OF getting his
case before the people at once in order
10 give his supporters material to work
with.
Mr.. Foraker may do this in the form
of a communication to the State central
committee. asking that the primary be
called. His position on public questions
could be detailed in such a cOmmunica-
ton as the basis of his request for a
primary.
May Determine Nominee.
great many POLITICIANS in Washington
are of the opinion that the Ohio contest
will virtually determine who the Presi-
dental nominee will be.
If Secretary Taft, representing the So
called progressive element of the party
wins in Ohio. his nomination. il is claimed
is practically assured. 1t is contended
that if Senator Foraker should dominate
Ohio, it viii be almost inevitable that the
s0-Called reactionaries viii control the ma
tional convention, and while the Senator
himself might not be named for the
Presidency, the nominee, In all proba-
bility. would be q man OF his type. and
the party would about-face on the poll
cies that have made the Roosevelt ad-
mlnistratiOn so popular with the great
masses Of the people
Such Is the view Washington takes n
the impending conflict in Ohio. Some OF
the men who are close 10 President
Roosevelt size il up in that way
No little Importance is attached by the
politicians here to the fact that Charles
P. Taft. in accepting the Foraker chaI-
lenge, has made it contest solely be-
tween Secretary Taft and Senator For
akeT.
No Side Issues.
There viii be no side issues 10 com
plicate the struggle or 10 prevent a clear
cut decision by the party. The Senatorial
ambitions Of Representative Burton. or
of any other man, will not be linked with
now. it is claimed. be a Taft victory or
Foraker victory.