New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-19
FORAKER'S TART REPLY
RESENTS BROWN'S WORDS.
Calls Chairman's Statement "Rdnk,
Dictatorial, OfensiUe Bossism.
From The Tribune Bureau.l

IFrom Tribune Bureau.l
Washington May Ex-senator Foraker MADE
a sharp rejoinder to-day to the statement maze
public in Columbus Ohio yesterday by Chair
man Brown of the Republican State Central
Committee embodying his views and those OF
Governor Harris and other state officials re-
specting Ohio's choice of a candidate for the
Presidency. The Senator said
The state officers have a right to their prefer
ence and to declare it when they like. but such
declarations do not dispense with the necessity
for a convention, nor change my opinion that
the voters should be given chance TO be heard
before final action has been taken.
If the Republicans of Ohio are all or over
whelmingly" even by a bare majority in
favor of Secretary Taft his friends need not
either fear the primaries or be in hurry about
holding them.
No one need suffer. certainly not wrongfully,
If we proceed in order. instead of trying to rush
conclusions by unofficial announcements and
declarations.
So far as the control of the state organization
is concerned, I have never made any claim to
that. have always supposed that organizations
were mere party machinery. and the per
sonal property of any one. not even the chair
man of the State Central Committee.
As to the rest of Mr. Browns statement, it IS
ultHcuit 10 make polite answer. For rank,
that unless l straghtway declare for Mr.. Taft
shall lose the Snatorship That may be, but
II 50, the faCt has no terrorS for me.
l said at Canton that | would not be dictated
10 by any kind of a boss big or little inside or
outside the state. I meant that announcement
for. just such bosses as Mr.. Brown. and for just
sutf performances he is giving
To be specific, l emphatically resent his dicta-
lon and give him notice that my choice for the
Presidency will be named by the next Ohio Re
publican convention that is lawfully held to
nominate state officers and that, so far l am
personally concerned, | shall abide the action of
that convention to whether l shall be a candi-
date again for any office, and if what that
office shall be.
MIR. TAFT CONGRATULATED.
The statements of the Governor, the Secretary
of State, the Attorney General and the Auditor
Of the State of Ohio. together with that of
Chairman Brown. TO the effect that the Republi-
of the for William H, Taft for
President and that the Senatorship "is ques-
tion to be settled hereafter. and any Republi
who is Il candidate is entitled TO a fair hear
ing before the party and the people" are accept
ed by politicians in Washington as finally de-
'termining that Secretary Taft will have the
solid delegation of his state in the next national
convention and Mr. Taft has to-day received
many Congratulations from all parts of the
country the evidence that he will go into the
convention with the solid support of his own
state.
The statement Of Governor Harris IS regarded
by persons in close touch with conditions in
Ohio as Of especial Importance The Governor
is regarded a man of exceptionally high
character. commanding the respect of all the
members Of his party and OF many Democrats,
and that he should have found the Taft senti-
ment strong as 10 lead him TO make this pub
lie announcement ia regarded as proving the
strength Of me TAFT forces.
Senator Forakers friends find comfort in the
fact that tho statements of the Ohio leaders
merely defer the question Of the Senatorship to
future time. and do not declare for the elm
tary Taft has never sought TO eliminate Mr.
Foraker hut has insisted that the question Of
the Presidential candidate and that of the SEN
atorship should be treated separately. each on
its own merits. and he has urged his sup
porters TO refrain from attacking Mr.. Foraker
the situation is satisfactory to the Secretary Of
War.
Some OF Senator Foraker's friends believe that
the iudlcious course for him to pursue Is to join
with the officials of his state and declare HIM
self in favor of Secretary Taft for President.
without longer attempting to obtain from the
Secretary and his friends any pledge to support
the Senator in his desire for reelection. Such
a course on the part of the Senator would II Is
said by those well posted on ohio politics. gain
for him much strength, it would demonstrate
a nlagnanimity which would be appreciated and
would remove any suspicion that he is seeking to
prevent Mr. Taft from gaining the Endorsement.
Attention is also called to the prediction con-
tanned in the statement of Chairman Brown to
the effect that Senators Foraker and Dick make
any efforts to becloud the fact that Ohio is n
unit for Mr. Taft for the Presidency they may
force the calling of a convention which would
he hostile even to Mr. Foraker's aspiration to
succeed himself. The opinion is expressed by
many politicians that when Senator Foraker has
thought the matter over carefully he will see
the wisdom of complying with the suggestions
of Mr. Brown, although at present he is eX-
ceedngly angry at that individual and also at
Governor Harris and the other officials who
have declared that the sentiment of the party in
Mr. Taf