Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-30

also to be offered Indorsng me as candi-
date to be my own successor in the Senate
of the United States and in todays papers
is published what purports TO be an au-
thorized interview with Gov. Harris favor
ing this proposed action In indors.ng Sec
rotary Taft and expressing friendship and
good will for myself with respect 70 con
tinuation of my public services, but dis
claiming desire to be himself indorsed as
his own successor in the governors Office
Party Without Authority.
Eat the Dayton convention of last year,
which was a large representative body, 1t
was proposed by a great number of the
delegates to indorse candidate for the
presidency. / opposed the proposition. not
only on the ground that 1t was 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 jurisdiction and
authority that did not properly belong to
them, and that their action could not De
binding on the next state convention which
must meet before the national convention
OF 1908, and that no action should be taken
by that convention or anybody else that
would forestall the people or deny them the
right to be heard on that all important
question.
The present state central committee.
composed of only twenty -one members,
were chosen by that convention. They were
not selected with reference to presidential
preferences. They were chosen to be SIM
ply the machinery of the party, represent.
ing its organization and empowered to call
the next convention and transact such du-
ties as the last convention and the statutes
of the state have imposed upon them. The
selection of candidate for the presidency
is not one OF these duties. Their action in
now indorsing candidate for the preslden-
cy would not therefore, as Gov Harris
well says. be binding upon anybody, not
even themselves. but 1t would be wholly
outside their jurisdiction and unauthorized
1T would be only the same as the indi-
yidual opinions of so many citizens of the
state. In fact. there would be much less ex-
Cuse for committee OF twenty-one mem
bers not chosen with reference to preslden-
tial preferences, to settle question or that
character than there would have been for a
convention composed OF eight or nine hun
bred representative republicans, and SUCH
action by the committee would be entitled
10 correspondingly less credit and respect.
Wants People to Decide.
II do not think this question should be
determined except only in accordance with
the expressed wish of the republican voters
Of Ohio, and that in view of the contro-
versies that have arisen, the republican
voters of Ohio should be given an opportu-
nifty 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.
Il don't think the state central commit
tee has any authority to pass on any such
subject, and | don't think II would promote
party harmony for il to undertake to an
t!c!pate the republican voters of the state
by speaking in advance of action by them.
Il do not think anybody. Gov. Harris
says, would regard such action as binding.
] am sure ! would not. and l do not think
II would in any way promote party good In
our state. or advance the cause of repub-
Ncansm. either in Ohio or elsewhere.
Il think II Is premature and bad policy
10 undertake In this way to inject the pres
ldential question and national politics into
Ohio politics at time when are con-
cerned with our municipal elections, with
respect to which IL should be the desire
of every republican to subordinate every
thing that might stand IN the way OF
united. harmonious and successful repre-
sentation effort. Z.
When we are through with the elections
OF this year We can take up the settlement
OF our presidential preferences.
Il shall at that time request the state
central committee to order that delegates
for the next convention shall be selected ir
all the counties at primaries In this way
we free ourselves entirely from the oft-re.
peated charge that state conventions In re-
cent years have been governed by commit
tees. bosses and small coter:es- with selfish
interests in view"
Taft Not Only Candidate.
II is claimed that Secretary Taft is the
only candidate Ohio has for the presidency