The Washington herald., 1907-04-14
DICK 70 FIGHT TAFT
Goes to Ohio Next Week to
Battle for Foraker.
WILL OPEN CONTEST at AKRON
Taft's Apparent Indifference 10 the
Scramble in Ohio Causes Friends
Some worry-High Ideals of Po-
IitfcaI Conduct Sometimes Cause
Dismay-seope of Battle Broad.

Senator Charles Dick OF Ohio. came to
town yesterday and pat an end to stories
from his State that he was inclined 90 be
neutral IN the contest between Secretary
Taft and Senator Foraker for Ohio's in
dorsement before the next Republican
National Convention. He came out fiat
footed for Senator Foraker, and said that
he was going TO Ohio next week TO help
his colleague in the campaign
IT may be oyerstating il a little 10 say
that Secretary Taft is engaged In any
contest with Senator Foraker for indorse-
ment Mr.. Tart has never Indicated pub
licly that he wanted the Republican nom
nation. In fact, he has said IN the state
ment which he issued on the subject. that
while he would take the nomination If
1t came 20 him. he did not intend TO run
after it or lie considered a candidate in
Iany sense. It was his brother, Charles
J.. Taft, Of Cincinnati, editor of the
Tlmes-Star newspaper, Of that city. who
threw down the gauntlet 10 Senator For
aker Mr. Foraker took this defiance as
official and responded with an acceptance
of the challenge
Secretary Taft's High Ideals.
Secretary Tafts friends here. and they
are many, are worried over his apparent
indifference to the contest that has been
begun with view TO determining who
shall receive Ohio's Endorsement in the
Republican convention next year. His
evident attitude is that it is no business
of his to go running after the Prssiden-
tial nomination when he has enough other
things to do to keep him busy. From
the very outset Of the agitation in his
behalf he has resisted the endeavors Of
his boomers 10 bring him into the polit-
ical limelight If it had not been that
he wanted TO carry out certain important
policies as Secretary Of War. he would
doubtlers have accepted the offer of Pres
ident Roosevelt to appoint him TO the
Supreme Bench, and this in the face of
the most urgent opportunities from close
relatives and political supporters who he
knew had his best interests at heart. and
whose sincerity could not be questioned
Mr.. Tafts known independence, con-
stuued in The light of his recent course.
has given some people the impression that
ne viii be 'no mans man, but will think
and act for himself. He has a high ideal
of political conduct. so high in fact that
his frankness in stating any position he
holds has sometimes caused dismay to
those who are looking cut for his political
interests. In that respect he Is Ike Sena-
tor Foraker. and it is predicted that there
viii be an unusually interesting campaign
in Ohio If Mr.. Taft accepts Dir. F0raker's
virtual challenge TO joint debate
scope of Ohio Fight.
Senator Dick will 20 from Washington
to Akron. and while he does not con
template assuming charge Of the Foraker
headquarters there he viii start his end
Of the fght Immediately In some quar-
ters there is a disposition 10 credit Sena-
tor Dicks support Of Senator Foraker 10
q belief that the latter may ain. but Mr.
Dicks friends contend that there was
never any doubt as to where he would
stand.
The contest Is regarded by Ohio politi-
clans as involving more than "a mere per
sonal victory for Mr. Foraker or Mr.
Taft. They hold that 1t is "a fight for the
existence of the present Republican or
ganizatlon la that state of which Sir
Foraker and Mr. Dick are the head. and
that defeat OF Mr. Foraker would mean
the ascendency of Representative Burton
Of Cleveland, who las bitterly opposed
the Foraker-DicS combination Mr. Bur
ton wants 90 be Senator. When he made
his candidacy the issue in Ohio. Mr.
Foraker and Mr. Dick won out. and were
indorsed by the State convention. With
President Roosevelt and the growing
Taft faction Joined with Burton. the dan
ger to the Foraker-Dick organization is
very great, and as Charles p. Taft has
made the issue that the Senatorship. as
well as the Presidential nomination. is
involved the scope Of the battle viii be
br0adened and the conflict will become
more intense