Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-11
PLANS OF TAFT PARTY
important Consultation at the
White House.
DISCUSSING THE NEXT STEP
Whether to War on Foraker the Mo-
mentous Question.
COMING CONFERENCE IN OHIO
The Senator's Friends Will Demand
Endorsement in Return for
Support Of Secretary.
DISCUSSING THE NEXT STEP
COMING CONFERENCE IN OHIO

The Ohio political situation. while assur-
ing Secretary Taft the presidential delega-
ten. is SO full of pitfalls as to cause careful
consideration by the President and the
Tafts There is believed to have been an
earnest discussion of the situation at the
White House today in which the President,
Secretary Taft and his brother. II. w.
Taft of New York, took part. The two
Tafts were with the President prior to the
cabinet meeting, and Secretary Taft was in
attendance at the cabinet meeting until a
late hour in the afternoon.
The situation is summed up briefly in the
question: Can the Tafts afford to oppose
Foraker for senator and determine that
they will crush him?"
1t is freely admitted by some of the
stanchest friends of the Tafts that they
may tread on exceedingly dangerous ground
IL they oppose the Cox program of in
dorsing Foraker for reelection to the Sem
ate Whether they like it or not; whether
the President likes 1t or not, 1t Is asked
wouldn't 1t be better for party harmony
other term as senator, rather than run the
risk of again opening up q bitter factionai
contest in the state, In which Taft's chances
of losing the state in the election, even II
nominated. would be considerable?
1t Is freely admitted that the Tafts
share the desire Of the President to have
Senator Foraker landed high and dry po-
litically, and put out of the game of politics
in Ohio for some time to come. 1t Is like
wise conceded that they may now have 1t
in their power to do this. The question,
therefore, is whether they will attempt to
exercise the power, and whether the Presi-
dent would like to see them do SO.
Next Weeks Conference.
The questions must be answered one way
or another at the conference Of state lead
ple in the conference will insist that II
Taft is Endorsed for the presidency For
aker shall also be indorsed for return to
the Senate. refusal to make the In
dorsement of Senator Foraker win un-
questionably mean hostility to him, al
though some OF the Taft leaders suggest
q resolution indorsing Taft for President
and declaring that the senatorship should
be settled later. 1t is known. however,
from sources close to Senators Foraker
and Dick that they will not accept any res
olution that attempts to ignore the sena-
torial end of the situation. and that they
will openly and frankly fight Taft If they
find an inclination In the conference to
WELD the knife on Foraker.
From source very close to Senator For
aker, 1t Is said, his friends In the committee
will go into the conference prepared to
unless Foraker is likewise Endorsed. The
outlook. therefore, is that the conference
will result in bitterness.
Feeling Outside Ohio.
The effect of fight on Foraker would not
be helpful to the Taft efforts In states out
side of Ohio, 1t was declared at the White
House today by a visitor there. '.Inde-
pendent men in all parts of tie country will
not be disposed to sympathixe with Secre-
tary Taft If he permits the crushing Of
Foraker simply to please the President" is
the way the man put 1t. There are thou
sands of men who do not believe that a
senator should be put out of business mere
ly because he has differed with the admin
istration In some matters. They feel that a
presidential race should be conducted along
higher lines
The President will, il l. said. have a num-