The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-09-06
WILL STAND OR
EALL By BURTON.
lRoo sEYELT sstLL sT' IsE N
cLE1EL ASp FIstiT:

This eIs the Opinion Of; washington
Politicians, Who Consider the Con-.
sressman's Decision to Oppose
johnson for Mayor the Beginning
of a Fight to the Finish Between
the President and Senator Foraker
Hot Contest Anticipated.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6.-The an
nouncement made by Representative
Theodore Burton that he would be tile
Republican candidate for mayor Of the
city Of Cleveland, was the principal
topic of gossip in political circles here.
The feature Of Mr. Burton's announce.
ment is, of course, the statement that
he becomes a candidate at the request
Of President Roosevelt and Secretary
Taft. He promises TO make public
at the proper time, the letters writ
Ten him by the President and by the
Secretary Of War.
President Roosevelt has apparently
decided that he will stake everything
in his fight to eliminate Senator Fora.
ker from political life in Ohio on one
throw Of the dice. If Mr.. Burton is
elected mayor of Cleveland it will make
him the master Of Republican politics
in Ohio; If he is defeated 1t will wipe
him out Of politics. And as Mr.. Bur.
ton announces that he is the Presl.
dents candidate and Secretary Tafts,
it follows that the President stands
u falls with Mr.. Burton.
Naturally, the municipal campaign
in Cleveland will be the center of all
political interest this fall. Cleveland
is the largest city in Ohio. On ma
tlonal issues 1t is invariably RepuG'
llcan; on State issues 1t can generally
be depended upon for a good Republi'
can majority. In It's own matters the
city of Cleveland has elected to per
nit Tom L. johnson to work OFT ais
own theories and tads.
Mr.. johnson has been elected mayor
of Cleveland for three successive
terms and is candidate for re.elec
ton. 1t is not accurate to say he Is
Democrat or, indeed, to class hin
in any school of political thought. Ne
is simply Tom johnson, and his plat
form is Tom Johnsonlsm. 1t includes
three.cent car fares and all sorts Of
fads and reforms in municipal admin
istration.
The people of Cleveland nave "stood
for" Mr.. Johnson's vagaries year aft
err year in spite of the fact that the
municipal debt of the city has con
stantly increased and that, indeed, Il
is today, according to a recent. dCcI
sion of the Supreme Court of Ohio, be
yond the limit allowed by the State
laws
Have Been Matched Before.
Yet no man will predict hastily thai
Burton will defeat Johnson. The mer
have been matched at the polls three
times. In each case It was fight t.
represent the city of Cleveland in Con
gress, johnson beat Burton once
Burton beat johnson twice. Still I
is doubtful If even with the prestige
of having defeated Johnson twice, am
with all the credit that is justly duj
him because of his splendid record II
Congress-, both as a national states
man and as the champion Of Glove
lands local interests, Burton can de
feat Johnson this fall.
Senator Foraker is strong in Cleve
land The organization of which hi
and Senator Dick are the head has al
ways dominated Republican polite
in'Cleveland. 1t must be remembere'
that Senator Hanna, even when Presi
dent Mckinley was in the Whit
House, remained absolutely ciphe
in Cleveland politics. And this, toe
although Hanna employed in his stee
mills in Cleveland more than GOO
man and never had strike; an
that he was interested in n score O.
more of other large Industrial enter
prises employing tens Of thousands 0
men, none of whom ever mad occasion
10 complain of their hours or thei
wages In spite of all this, wheneve'
there was a question Of political su
premacy in Cleveland between Messrs
Hanna and Foraker, Foraker invaria
bly, remained absolute master of thu
field.
\ The question of Burton's success
next fall, therefore, Is simply a ques
ton Of how much of his old-time powe
in Cleveland Foraker retains. The
friends of President Roosevelt ii
Washington recognize that Foraker
will not permit the election of Bur
ton, II he can help it, for no man cal
be expected to dig his own politica
grave.
Foraker's Challenge Accepted.