The Washington herald., 1907-03-28

Washington is stiIl talking about the
last example Of Foraker auGacity.
The Ohio Senator has made the stakes
'all OF nothing for the greatest gamble
Of present-day politics.
II he loses. he must retire to private
life; but If he wins be VIII have made
himself what he has never been 50 far
a real Presidential possibiIty-and have
kept his Senate seat as WeE The couserv-
ative Republicans undoubtedly would flock
to the standard OF the man who could
beat President Roosevelt's choice for his
Successor in that mans own State.
TO carry Ohio against Roosevelt is what
Foraker proposes TO DO. and that after
fighting this same popular Presidents pol
icies in Congress for two years. If the
Senator can do this he viii be the un-
questioned leader Of the conservatives.
Moreover such victory for the reaction
would go FAR toward helping on the road
10 success this movement 10 Wrest control
Of the Republican party from Roosevelt
in 1868
II Taft loses he stiH has a chance for
the Supreme Court before March 4, 1893
II Foraker wins. Burton still holds mis-
seat in Congress and he can have another
try at a Senate seat when Dicks term
expires. But for Foraker. IT is all or
nothing, and he offers to play the game
with the special set Of dice Taft and
Burton have been preparing. a primary.
1t will be the first time in American
political history that presidential candi-
dates have gone before a primary.
Burton Favors Election by People.
It is no loager a secret that Burton has
been quietly organizing a fight for the
early passage OF a primary law for the
nomination of Senator'S through the next
session of the Ohio legislature. And
while Burton has never told his best
friends that ne would be a candidate
against Foraker, and while it is possible
that the Cleveland man had not decided
that question himself. those IN his con-
hdence have believed ne would enter ms
lists II the decision was made by popular
vote Of the party
Incidentally. ii is said that Secretary
Taft has beer urging Burton to run
against Foraker for more than a year.
Now Foraker has forced the hand
Of Burton as well as that OF Taft The
call for primary will require Ohio Re
publicans TO name their choice for both
President and Senator. and the TAFT
boomers must make a prompt choice OF
a Senatorial candidate
Taft and Burton viii have no OppoT-
tunity TO refuse the Foraker challenge
even if they wish 10 do so. The two
Senators control the State central com
mittee. which VIII issue the cali. That
committee is the governing authority OF
the Ohio Republican party until another
convention meets. Foraker will 60 10
Ohio as soon as the Brownsville hearing
ends, which probably will be three or
four weeks. At once on arrival he VIII
ask the State central committee TO meet
and he viii lay his proposition before that
body.
Call VIII he Issued.
There is no doubt as 10 the committees
action. and with its issue of the call the
fight will be on. Then Taft and Burton
must either do battle or the Presidential
Endorsement and Senate seat are Fora
kers by default
A good deal OF suspicion was expressed
by shrewd politicians yesterday that
some sly game lurked behind the chal-
lenge TO a primary At the White House
there was disposition TO view the bust-
| ness in that light But Foraker makes no
secret of the details Of his plan. and it
seems difficult 10 pick flaws in IT, Fur
thermore. Senator Dick has an siterna-
tive proposition that looks fdirer still
Foraker now advocates d popular choice,
TO be made in each county on the date of
next falls municipal elections. which
| come III November. between a Taft and
Foraker list Of State convention dele
gates. The State convention would then
make its Presidential and Senatorial in
Id0Tsements according as the majority fell
| Dicks proposition is to have each Repub-
| lican voter offered his choice next fail
between two ballots, one reading Choice
for President, Joseph Benson Foraker.
choice for Senator, Joseph Benson Fora
ker," and the other bearing the names of
Taft and Burton, the candidates receiving
majority of the popular vote of tae
whole party 90 be given the Endorsement
of the state convention.
But Dick would not have the State con-
vention delegates themselves selected so
far in advance Of the convention as next
/ November FOraker's criticism of the
Dick plan is based on the fear lest the
| losers might not consider the result bind
the State convention. one or the other OF
/ these plans viii be settled upon before
the State central committee is asked TO
issue its call
Senator Dicks Position.
Dick. manipulation of conventions
though he IS. and usually regarded as
hostile to primaries. stands heartily with
Foraker on this primary proposition.
Both believe that a stump our OF the
senior Senator through every county in
Ohio, which is the plan. will beat down
enough OF the opposition 10 the Senators
to win victory.
While he is saying no more for pubiica-
ton. Senator Foraker stamped about his
library last night. talking Informally. his
white hair bristling. his eyes bright.
swinging his arms, laughing, pleased as a
boy It has always been a pet Foraker
saying that ''The next best thing 10 a
good fight is harmony" He has 2 sort
OF superstition that his health is never so
good rs when he is on the stump.
Taft and Burton have made other plans
for the summer. The Secretary is slated
10 engineer the beginning of popular gov
| ernment in the Philippines. while the