The Washington herald., 1907-03-29
DOVER ON The FENCE
Assumes Neutral Position In
Ohio Fight.
CRANE TRIED TO MAKE PEACE
Massachusetts Senator Carried olive
Branch Back and Forth Between
Political Beuigerents Several
Times, without Suceess-COmprO-
misses Were All In Taft's Favor.

The early forcing OF the Republican
Presidential fight by Senator Foraker has
uncovered preliminary efforts by both
sides to control the party's national COM
mittee That body is to have role Of
unusual Importance TO play in the drama,
and it is even possible that its members
may name the candidate.
This explains the eagerness on both sides
10 capture Elmer Dover, the secretary.
Mr.. Dover was here yesterday and issued
a strict neutrality proclamation. He has
been in Ohio but once recently, and then
he was in Columbus over night for a talk
with Charles P. Taft, Of Cincinnati He
made no new discoveries about Ohio con
ditions on that occasion, and he did not
go there for INSTRUMENTATION stories
from New York to the contrary notwith-
standing.
Mr.. Dovers Importance ana that of his
committee colleagues in the present sit
uation arises from the number OF pros
pective contests over State delegations,
particularly from the South, that will'oe
decided by them prior to the converting
of the next Republican national conven-
tion. In the fierce fight that is to be- with
"A large number OF candidates. no beaten
faction in Southern State, at least, will
rest content until the national committee
has actually seated the rival delegation
Committee Anti-ROoseyeIt.
Despite Mr.. Cortelyou's skill IN filing
vacancies, the present Republican Nation
al Committee Is regarded as anti-Roose-
Welt by a safe majority. Senator Scott
and others who threatened TO contest
Harry News right to the craftsmanship
after Mr. Cortelyou resigned. frankly
claimed control as against the President
Members of the old Mckinley Hanna
guard in the South are already organizing
contests in States which they have not
been able to capture, with the idea that
the committee will seat them in prefer
ence to administration delegations In
alabama and Mississippi, particularly.
this insurgent work is all but complete
In close convention the decision of the
national committee on but a few cases
might be an award of victory to some
faction or candidate.
The battle over delegation contests is
expected TO be the most savage of any
convention in recent years, but Mr.. Dover
declares he will keep out Of it. He saw
Senator Dick yesterday morning and will
see Senator Foraker before he returns
TO New York. But he viii not take up
the eudgels for them in Ohio. He has
refused the offer from Charles p. Taft
to manage the campaign for Taft dele
gates outside of Ohio. After Foraker
3
TO a finish. Dover will give his services
and support 10 the one who wins the
State delegation. But he regards the
| present situation with frank distaste.
His reply to the Taft people. and his
one contribution 10 the whole muddle
was an effort TO get Foraker and Taft
! together. A week ago he was in Wash
ington working on this, and believed he
had succeeded. His plan was TO have
Taft and Foraker go home and look the
ground over He believed that one of
them would find the situation in such
shape that he would voluntarily drop
his Presidential aspirations and board the
others bandwagon.
VIII Express No Preference.
He viii not say which he thought this
would be. and viii not admit that he
had any opinion. Both sides were assur-
ing him that they had 80 per cent of the
voters, but it is safe guess that Mr..
Dover thought 1t woald be Senator For
aker to whom the rude awakening would
come that his State did not indorse his
Presidential aspirations, and that the
Senator would be shrewd enough to
recognize such q situation and step aside.
Mr. Dover does admit frankly that he
thinks Secretary Taft. with solid State
delegation behind him. would have a good
chance 10 be nominated. He will not say
that Senator Foraker would not, however.
He quite evidently fears lest the two
destroy each others chances in such a
rough-and-tumhle finish night as Foraker
has invited. Indeed. he has not yet given
up ali hope Of a peaceful solution, but he
seems to be the only Ohio politician who
nourishes such hope. Senator Dick has
no delusions as to peace. and Senator
Foraker has no appetite for it,
Mr. Dover was not the only one who
/ tried TO arrange a compromise between
Taft and Foraker The little group who
try TO be middle-of-the-road Republicans
lugged the olive branch back and forth for
a while
Crane WouId-be Peacemaker.
It is a good guess that the soft-foo5ed.
soft-voiced messenger was Murray Crane.
the Massachusetts Senator. who is a sort OF
dove Of peace at all times. Senator For
aker finally suggested, it is understood,
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