New-York tribune., 1907-04-29
TAFT AND FAIRBANKS.
PRLSSLDEN1IAL POLITICS IN THE HONE STATES OF
THE TWO LEADING CANDIDATES.
OEIOANS IN SUSPENSE.
gEam 80 COrTesponaent o. &c Trlbune.D


than ever. because of the growing impression
that the President really seeks a denomination
This feeling has gradually crept into Ohio Poll
sicisns here have been slow to accept the theory
generally held IN the East, that Mr. Roosevelt
would be willing TO break one more precedent
establish one more high water mark and make
a new record for length Of service in the White
House. But II the Ohio men have been slow in
accepting the theory they have shown a ten
llency 10 cling 20 st since II has reached the
state. and now the forces os both Foraker and
Taft are harassed by the developments and
annoyed by the promise OF a three cornered fight.
Tie last week has been the most active since
IT, fight for the Ohio delegation &c the national
convention opened in the state. Senator Dick
returning from Washington. brought with him
ar angry determination TO fight. He came to
Columbus Wednesday ana made II known 30
his followers that the fight was 20 be TO the
end with quarter neither asked given He
sent for John r. Malloy, who is secretary of ;he
Republican State Committee and who during
che lifetime OF Mr.. Mckinley and Mr.. Hanna
was a confidential adviser Of both. MallOy. with
Grin r. Gould. warden of the penitentiary and
member Of The state central committee from
the lOth district. went TO Akron. the home OF
Senator Dick. and there conferred with him over
the situation Both Malloy and Gould on their
promise and that the. Taft men and the Roose-
Welt men must now fight or get out OF the way.
Senator Dick spent an hour with Governor
Harris The ord Governor Is extremely friendly
u the Senators. although he has not TO date
taken any part in the fight in the state, nor is
he expected to- To the Governor Senator Dick
,ns le known his belief that there would be no
fight in Ohio had President Roosevelt kept his
hands of the state.
STRONG ROOSEVELT SENTIMENT.
There is Enthusiastically a strong Roosevelt
sentiment in the state. and there are many Re-
publicans who would rather see President
Roosevelt have another term than 10 see a son
Of the state in the White House. And II IS also
apparent 10 any one who follows the drift OF
rolitics that there is little 10 the Taft move
rnent except the Roosevelt popularity. Were Mr.
Taft not considered the Roosevelt candidate he
could not muster a oorporals guard in the state.
He Is viciously opposed by organized labor
whose leaders are now in the field against him:
his stand on the canteen question has won Tor
him the hostility Of the Anti-Saloon League.
which powerful organization threw the state
against Herrick at the last election for Gov
ernor; he is opposed by the negro voters forty
thousand strong and he is opposed by the state
organization an aualgamation OF the old ma
chine Hanna built 10 make Mr.. Mckinley Presi-
taired their organization since the senior SEN
ator was in the Governors chair.
Fighting such opposition as this Is no small
task for man even OF Mr.. Taft's SIZE and II
Mr. Roosevelt were 10 become a candidate or
If the impression should grow that really, after
all. M Taft was not the Roosevelt candidate
and the man whom the President has selected as
his own successor. then Mr.. Taft must drop
from consideration as a possibility.
uer ffTr v77a
their talks for publication that at the proper
-fr,e the President will declare again that he
viii under no circumstances accept another
nomination. that he favors Mr.. Taft for the
Presidency and that he desires that the secre- /
rarv have the support not only Of the Ohio
delegation. but the support Of the Presidents
friends everywhere.
There is no attempt among the Foraker-DicK
men 10 deny that such statement. II 1t should
be made would have a powerful effect BUT
they EXPRESS doubt that the President viii make ;
the statement They say they have absolute
confidence that the President really seeks an
other nomination. and that when that stage in
the fight is reached Mr.. Taft will drop out OF
sight.
From present indications the fight in the state
wiz 20 UP 20 the Congress districts That
iaeans that there VIII be no primaries 70 oeteF-
mine which Of the rivals IS 20 have the states
delegation. II also means Nilat NAAtAS "''A "
divided delegation, for neither can carry every
district In the state Both sides say they can
carry a large majority Of the districts OF the
state hut. as a matter Of fact 81 is entirely TOO
carly 10 forecast with any degree OF accuracy
what win happen in most OF the districts There
are about four which are so lopsided In senti-
,Dent rs between Foraker and Taft that IL would
require a cyclone 20 alter them. These are about
evenly divided Every other district in the state
,g lighting ground. Each district, too will be
battle Scared. for the conflict VIII wage every"
whore.
STATE WILL BE DIVIDED.
II uould SEEM therefore. that the state will |
90 10 the next national convention divided in
is allegiance as between the Roosevelt candi- |
date whether he be MI Taft or the President |
himself, and Foraker.
The most noteworthy incident OF the last week |
.s the extreme activity OF the labor organizers |
For some time # has been felt by the Taft men |
thar Organized labor would accept Mr.. Taft as |
the Roosevelt candidate even in spite Of the fact
that while United States Circuit Judge Mr.. Taft
sent 10 fail string OF union men in the famous |
Debs strike. The Taft leaders said that labor |
did not IKE that action. but that they were will
ing TO risk the War Secretary on the "ord OF the |
President Ia other words. they expected the |
good viii of the President 10 carry Mr. Tart 1
ever the shoals.
This belief however has been shattered by |
ne Mover Haywood Debs discussion and now /
the IS alive with labor leaders actlvely al
work against Mr. Taft and showing hostility 20 /
-I- Roosevelt AMI everything which has the !
sanction OF The President
Ohio Is a union labor state The labor in /
lines OF Industry where unionism is applied is 4
a.- tod Nffk a.