Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-30
| THE TAFT FORCES
CLAIM THE VOTES
For Secretary's Endorsement BY
State Committee
IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE
Meeting Held at Columbus This Aft
ernoon.
FoRAKER'S LETTER MAIN TOPIC
Claims of Leaders Of Both Sides.
Joint Endorsement Now Declared
Impossible.
ORAKER'S LETTER MAIN TOPIC

Special Dispatch to The Star.
COLUMBUS. Ohio. July 3O.-The TAFT
forces today are claiming that they will
have at least sixteen and possibly seven
teen votes for Endorsement of Secretary OF
War Taft for the presidency when the state
central committee meets this afternoon to
consider some contests from county boards
of elections.
The utimatum of Senator Foraker and
his bringing forward the tariff question to
the exclusion of every other issue is being
discussed today to almost the exclusion Of
even the Endorsement of Taft.
Foraker Stands pat on the tariff ques
ton and is not for revision. Taft. Gov.
Harris and other republican leaders in
as 1t can be done The issue is fairly
drawn. and many members Of the state
committee say today that Foraker is go
irg direct against the demands of the
people of Ohio regarding the tariff. in
that Ohio fayors Taft and tariff revision
The charge is openly made here today
that Foraker is working for the vast In
tereStS in the east that are benefited by
the political tariff. and that they are in
touch with the senator and know that he
will finally announce his candidacy for
the presidency In hope Of dividing Ohio
and thus possibly defeating Taft. the re-
viSionlSt and the Presidents known choice
for the high office.
FORAKER suggestion Accepted.
The instant acceptance by Manager Vorys.
for the Taft force. Of the challenge issued
by Senator Foraker for primary to settle
the Endorsement matter. Is heartily Endorsed
by all the followers Of Taft who have ex-
pressed themselves. and the ultimate out
come of the fight will probably be decided
by a state primary. The Taft men are In
sisting that Foraker's letter will give them
three additional votes In the committee to-
day and possibly four: They insist that
they have thirteen members pledged to vote
for a resolution iHdorsing their candidate
for the presidency. and when the resolution
is offered they claim that they will have
sixteen or seventeen votes.
The Taft people had hoped up to the mo-
ment that the Foraker letter was received
here that a joint Endorsement could be had
as solution Of the entire situation. but
have formerly declared that this is impos-
sible and any Endorsement now must be
for Taft and for Taft alone.
This will demonstrate that Taft has the
state committee and that the control of the
old organization has passed from the hands
of the senators and into the control OF
Walter Brown and George B. Cox. 1t will
emphasize the fact that the big Cincinnati
leader has a new grip on the political ma
chinery of this state which he has never
before had. 1t Will intrench him for his
fight in Cincinnati and Hamilton county,
and makes him the commanding figure in
the state.
There are apparently eight votes upon
whom the opposition to any Endorsements
whatever are relying. Outside these there
is nothing publicly announced for the For
aker- Dick support. If there are other votes
they are under cover. and the Foraker
Dick leaders fail to claim them. Vorys is
sure Of the outcome.
Taft Leaders Embarrassed.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
COLUMBUS. Ohio, July Ex-senator
Forakers address to the party through
his letter to Representative Mccoy this
morning has embarrassed the Taft move
ment leaders seriously, but they have
been hard at work since rallying and
strengthening their lines. and at noon
claimed that they had the situation well
in hand again and would have 10 out of
the II votes In the committee against
tabling the Taft resolution. On the d.
rect resolution they predict a still larger
degree of unanimity. The resolution Is
being prepared with great care In the
Taft headquarters. with view 10 meet
ing the views of all the committee
The friends of Senator Foraker by no
means concede that this committee will
indorse Secretary Taft Charles L. Kurtz
Is In command of the antf-Taft forces, and
has opened headquarters in the Neil house.
where the state committee Is to meet at
l 80 pm.
The Taft managers will try to bring up
the 1aIt resolution as soon as tiic commit
tee meets, giving it precedence over the
main business of the meeting. the decision
of the election board contest.
Taft Men Claim a Gain.
BY Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio. July 3O.-The friends
of Secretary Taft are claiming today an ad-
dition of three votes In the state central
committee because of the letter Senator
Foraker sent to c. d. Mccoy last night
Politicians generally today say that For
aker's letter places him squarely In the
fight for the presidential nomination. The
Taft men say they will have at least thr-
teen votes In the committee for the indorse
ment of Taft for the presidency, and that
they may have sixteen to seventeen. The
Foraker leaders are insisting that they can
prevent an Endorsement of Taft when the
committee meets this afternoon at 100
O'Clock. They do not give out figures.
1t is generally conceded here today that
Senator Foraker's suggestion in his letter
OF n primary to settle the matter of Ohto'S
choice for the presidency and the accept
arce of the challenge by Arthur Forys,
manager for Taft. means a state primary
early in the fall to settle the fight The
matter will not be decided at the meeting
Of the state committee today. it is stated.
although some of the Taft men are urging
that the question of primary be taken
up
y The plan of the Taft leaders is to spring
the Taft resolution of Endorsement as soon
as the state central committee meets. The
resolution of Endorsement has not been
framed yet the Taft leaders are holding
1t off that ii may be worded so as to con-
form to the views of the minority of the
committee. This afternoon the outlook was
that the Foraker letter to c. b. Mccoy
would prevent unanimous Endorsement Of
Taft by the committee.