New-York tribune., 1907-11-04
HOT CLEVELAND FIGHT.
Presidential Boom and SenatOrship
InU0IUed an Election.
LRr relerraph . rhe Tribune.l

Cleveland Nov "A possible Democratic Presi-
Dental nomination and equally possible Repuo-
lcan United States Senatorship depend on tne
issue Of the rnayoraty campaign at the polls IN
this city next Tuesday.
If Tom L. Johnson realizes his ambition 10 no
reelected Mayor, giving him a fourth consecutive
term he Is certain to be aspowerful contender 10,
the Presidency in the next Democratic Nauohal
Convention. His supporters realize this and are
straning every effort to land him again IN the
City Hall by a majority even exceeding that or
14,0OO which he obtained over William H. hoSu'
the Republican nominee. two years ago.
on the other hand. the political career or sen
ator Foraker hangs in the balance because OF tle
candidacy of Representative Theodore T. Burton
for Mayor the Republican ticket Congressman
Burton has been in the IN the party uprising
against Senator ForakH. If he IS elected Mayor
it IS an open secret that his friends will put him
in the running against Senator Foraker VIXEN the
election of the successor to the latter whose term
expires in 1909. comes before the Legislature.
While Ohio has national fame the mother of
Presidents, Cleveland is known to skilled poll
ticians especially since the period when the late
Mark Hanna was in power, the abiding place
Of the keenest wire pullers and the most astute
political prophets in both parties in the state
For the last six weeks the rival wire pullers have
been working tooth and nail. but now, on the evo
Of the election, the prophets are at loss This
in itself is sufficient TO show the intensity of the
contest.
Congressman Burton hmselfpis serenely conf
dent. As political barometer he mas a reputd-
t!on for accuracy. justified by long years of eN-
perience and prophecy. He even went so far at
one time to tell his close friends that Tom l..
Johnson would defeat him for Congress, and the
returns showed him TO be right Tonight his pre-
dictions the other way, but they are not given
to the newspapers. lie has told his intimate
friends that he thinks he will win next Tuesday
by from 1000 5000. and the rank and file Of tho
Republican party agree with him. They point 10
the record breaking registration, and triumphant
y proclaim that the stay-at t-home vote is coming
last and that this awakening of the public
cannot anything else than the political burial
of Mayor Johnson.
Mayor Johnson has two most powerful assets for
at the polls The first is personal political
machine largely captaiued and mainly manned by
municipal employees. and the second his catch
penny slogan Of three-cent fare His advocates
saying nothing about the first but have hRrped
continually the second. They have pointed ont
at ward and precinct meetings that the fat fare OF
three cents must prove of inestimahle value to
the working people and undoubtedly have recruit
ed strong following. Whether this following Will
he sufficient 10 overcome the popular revolt against
enormous increases in municipal expenditures dur
inc his incumbency OF the mayoralty the count
of the ballots on Tuesday night can alone decide.