New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-05
NO OHIO PRIMARY.
NAY SPLIT DELEGATION.
stiff Fight for Delegates IN Each
Congress District.


This statement be made with absolute as
surance
II there was anything needed 10 tie Grape TO
the hope for such contest in the state, that
supplied by the statement OF Governor An
drew L. Harris, who says that he believes with
the Attorney General that II is impossible 10
hold a state primary under the present laws OF
the state. This statement has been accepted
the word with the bark It. and the Re-
publicans laying plans for the capture
of the state for this and that candidate IN the
old-fashioned way.
There will be frills and furbelows in
the fight between Foraker and Taft. This state
Inent. made a week ago in this correspondence.
is verified by the developments of this week.
There will be fight in each Congress district.
along practical lines, for II is TO be organized
force against organized force.
That the delegation will be divided is
probable. And It is expected that this fact Will
be demonstrated after the beginning of the
year.
Last year a number of the Congress districts
set new marks They established precedents
as TO times for holding district conventions.
While Congress was yet in session and the Leg
islature in the early days Of its existence
conventions were held and Henry T.. Bannon
nominated for Congress in the 10th District.
Ralph d. Cole in the Sth and Albert Douglas In
Inc l1th. The nrst TWO were denominations, tlai
of Douglas was a defeat for the dean Of the
Ohio delegation. Charles H. Grosvenor.
With these early conventions as a precedent.
there Will be number OF districts lined up for
eaIly conventions next year. Both the Foraker
and the Taft forces will seek TO demonstrate
strength in the early hours OF the fight.
When the challenge was first made for a pri-
mary II came from the lips of Senator Foraker.
who declared his hope that the question OF the
states preference for President would be set
tea in the state convention, after the delegates
thereto had been elected by primary.
Then the Taft men began TO talk OF general
state primary. and since that time there has
been nothing heard in the state except the ques-
ton as TO whether not Ohio Will hold gen.
eral primary this year
WHERE OPPOSITION DEVELOPED.
It became manifest Immediately after the |
challenge was issued by Senator Foraker that !
The various county and city organizations Of
the state did not take kindly TO the primary |
.6ea Under the new amendment to the state |
constitution only municipal and township cleo |
t.ons are held in the odd numbered years, while |
.,.e county and state elections held in the |
even numbered years. The idea of the Legis-
,ecure was 10 divorce municipal from general |
elections in the interest OF correct municipal |
government.
Naturally. therefore, the party leaders in all |
Tho cities where municipal elections to be |
he.i object TO any fight in primary or conven-
ION which might interfere with their campaign |
-,ars for the municipal elections the coming |
:aI
Immediately after his return to Ohio Senator
Foraker yielded 10 this sentiment, and said that
lie WAS willing TO make his fight at the time
w..n II would be least harmful TO his party.
Then The Taft men demanded primary this
Z wi
doing Some persons assert that they made
their demand only after they knew that the
party leaders would not stand for it, The Tart
:len themselves disclaimed any such intention.
and said that they wanted to settle for once and
cor ali the question of supremacy in the state.
TIE claim is that If Foraker orr Taft. or any
other Ohio man, IS to gain any Roadway in the
national fight he must be able TO say TO other
states that he is backed by his own delegation.
This, they say. would he impossible If the fight
IS 10 be left to the Congress districts.
The Taft men say they will contest In each !
district in the state. and at work per-
fecting their organization in each county. with
view 10 the capture OF as many national dele
safes possible. And in this work OF organiza-
lion they viii not overlook the state committee.
They want the organization and they want it
badly. For, that they sure where SEN
ator Dick is lined up, they after his scalp as
deprive Senator Dick Of control of the party
machinery and they would construct a machine
Of their own, with a slate for the state conven-
lion and prepared slate for national delegates
at-large from the state If they to win
these they must control the state convention
and be able 10 indorse Mr.. Taft by resolution.
BITTER FIGHT FOR DELEGATES.
This means bitter fight for delegates to
Doth the Congress and state conventions. and
there will be no let-up now.
From the developments OF the last week it
becomes clearly evident that the two United
states Senators are forced to fight for their po-
HucaI lives. II they have hopes OF any nature
10Y tne future. they must win in this fight. II
lheir friends are to be loyal they must stand up
N this contest. If the old organization, built
Tor Mckinley by Hanna, with the aid OF Dick
ana John r. Malloy. is to endure IT must rally
us forces for the present fray. 1t Is fight for
survival. a fight 10 prevent political burial
Senator Dick realizes this we'll as Senator
Foraker. The old line organization men realize
- ana they are awake 10 every that the
Iaft men make. They watch former Governor
Herick and those OF his followers who have
hnsd up with the Taft-Burden people. They
nave shut their eyes to the past differences with
foraker' and are fighting one man for his
success and the power that goes with their own
organization. VIII they win? They say they
VII and they confident. But the Taft-Her-
t'eh-burton people are also confident.
senator Dick has returned from the East
"here he went after a few days at home last
week and has opened headquarters for active
campaign work. From suite OF rooms IN Akron
nc Is conducting fight for Foraker delegates
Fos only in Ohio. but in other states as we'll
aDIn west and East he is daily receiving callers
selection