Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-14
FRIENDS GROWING FESTIVE
Chafe at the Position in Which BE
Has Been Placed,
HOW HE WILL LOSE SUPPORT
Damaging Result Of Association With
the Plan Of discriminating
Foraker.

In the best Judgment Of politicians
hereabouts the situation in Ohio repub-
lcan politics is distinctly detrimental
to the best interests Of Secretary Taft,
in a national sense. Through no fault
Of his own. save by acquiescence in
President Roosevelt's crusade of exter-
mination against Foraker. Secretary Taft
is put in a dubious position in every
state.
As the situation stands now, 1t Is bitter,
deadly and determined fractional strife in
Ohio. National politicians are we'll aware
of what that means. When Secretary
Tafts friends go into other states asking
support for the Taft presidential boom the
first question pumped at them will be:
Are you sure your man can carry his own
state If the existing fractional troubles con-
tinue" And there can be only one answer
to that question,
Taft's Friends Festive.
Secretary Taffs friends In the city are
growing FESTIVE under the unfortunate po-
sition in which the Secretary is being placed
through his association with the Roosevelt
program of determination for Foraker. It
Is no exaggeration to say that the belief
prevails among well-posted politicians that
Secretary Taft Is the inherent possessor Of
ton which put him well in the front ranks
with other availables-that is, il he should
choose to draw upon those resources in his
own name and not In the name of President
Roosevelt. The yare his In the first place,
and his friends say that he ought not to be
placed In the position Of having to have
the 20. K" of ct. r.
For that involves the diverse proposition
that IL perchance President Roosevelt
should not want Secretary Taft to be the
nominee, II, which Is not beyond the bounds
of possibility. some change In temper should
turn the presidential mind to another can
didate, he, the President, would have the
right to swing his potential influence
against Secretary Taft and deprive him
Which is unthinkable to the Secretary
friends because they would still insist that
the inherent assets Of Secretary Taft were
still existent.
Taft an Innocent Sufferer.
Secretary Taft is preserving dignified
silence throughout the contest, and there
is no personal animosty between him and
Senator Foraker. But it is not to be de-
MED that he is being used to the limit, while
thus standing silent, In the Presidents
propaganda of revenge on Foraker. and
constantly to the Secretarys own disadvan-
tage.
1t may turn out that President Roosevelt
can succeed in crushing Senator Foraker,
but most politicians are agreed that 1t will
involve the sacrifice of Secretary Taft.
The question has immediate significance
from the facts that efforts are now being
made to push the Taft boom IN other states.
The politicians say that from now on, 'wher-
ever those efforts are exerted. they will be
met with the objection that the dangerous
fractional fight in Ohio initiates against Sec
rotary Tafts availability as candidate.
Leaders Express Dissatisfaction.
Another phase of the affair. There are
increasing rumors of dissatisfaction among
republican leaders in the states over the
determination of the President to dictate a
candidate to succeed himself and in addi-
ton thereto it is said there will be more
trouble IL the President persists in his pol
icy- to dictate the defeat of a United States
senator.
The whole outlook is regarded as very
ugly and full of trouble. There are NUT
terings which indicate coming storm, and
republicans of national prominence are very
uneasy over the trend of affairs as dictated
from the White House.