The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-07-30
HE PROTESTS
Against Endorsement of
Taft by Committee.
SENATOR FORAKER
Says Such Action Is Not a Part Of
Their Legitimate Duty and Would
be Binding on Nobody.


possible for him under present condl-
tions to favor the presidential candi.
dacy OF Secretary Taft is the state
ment Of Senator Foraker in a letter
given out here Monday. The letter is
addressed to G. b. Mccoy. of Coshoc-
ton member of the republican
state committee, and is intended as
the expression of the senator's views
when the committee meets at Colum.
bus to-day. The interview of Gov.
Harris in which he favors the en-
dorsement of Foraker for senator and
Taft for president and various recent
publications are taken as the text for
the letter which follows:
81 learn that resolution is likely
to be offered at the meeting of the
central committee to be held in Co
lumbus July 80, endorsing Secretary
Taft as Ohio's candidate for the pres.
idency and | have seen it stated that
a resolution is likely also to be of.
fered endorsing me as candidate to
be my own successor in the senate OF
the United States and in to-day's pa.
pers is published what purports to be
an authorized interview with Gov.
Harris, favorlng this proposed action
in endorsing Secretary Taft and ex.
pressing friendship and good will for
myself with respect to a continuation
OF my public service but disclaiming
a desire to be himself endorsed as his
own successor in the governors office.
"lnasmuch as you are a member Of
the state committee take the liberty
OF addressing you and through you
the whole committee and all the re-
publican voters of Ohio upon the
questions so brought to your atten-
ton
AT the Dayton convention OF last
year, which was a large representa-
tive body, it was proposed by a great
number of the delegates to endorse a
candidate for the presidency. op.
posed the proposition on the ground
that 1t was not only premature, but
also on the ground that the delegates
to the convention had not been chosen
with reference to that question and
that 1t would be an assumption OF an.
thorty that did not properly belong
TO them, and that their action could
not be binding on the next state con-
yention which must meet before the
national convention OF 1908, and that
no action should be taken by that con.
vention or anybody else that would
forestall the people or deny them the
right to be heard on that question
The present state central commit.
tee, composed Of q members, we're
chosen by the convention. They were
NOT selected with reference to presi.
dental preferences. they were
chosen to be simply the machinery Of
the party, representing its organiza-
ton and empowered to call the next
convention and to transact such
duties as the last convention and the
laws OF the state have imposed upon
them. The selection OF a candidate
for the presidency Is not one Of these
duties. Their action in now endors.
ing a candidate for the presidency
world not, therefore, as Gov. Harris
vel SAYS, be binding upon anybody
Iot even themselves. but 1t would be
wholly outside OF their jurisdiction.
u do not think this question should
be determined except only in accord.
ance with The expressed wish of the
republican voters OF Ohio, and that in
view of he controversies that have
arisen the republican voters OF Ohio
should be given an opportunity to be
heard before any action is taken by
any committee, or any body not
chosen by the people to represent
them in regard to this matter.
II do not think the state central
committee has any authority TO pass
on any such subject and do not
think II would promote party har-
mony for II to undertake 10 anticipate
! the republican voters Of the state by
| speaking in advance OF action by
them,
Z When we are through with the
! election OF this year we can take up
| the settlement OF our presidential
| preferences.
81 shall at that time request the
| state central committee to order that
| delegates for the next convention
! shall be elected in all the counties at
| primaries. in this way we free our.
selves entirely from the oft repeated
/ charges that state conventions In re-
cent years have been governed by
| committees bosses and small coteries
with selfish motives
Senator Foraker says that II Taft Is
| nominated for president the cam
| paign will be one for a downward re.
vision OF the tariff, inasmuch AS Taft
has announced himself as In favor of
| lower tariff. Foraker SAYS this
would ne an unWise Tnove