The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-05-13
Congressman harding's
Advice to Senator Dick.
AS STOCONFERENCE
Mr.. Harding Says the Plan for Meet.
ing Of Republican Leaders at
Columbus O., Is Unwise.

Dayton, o., May 13.-Congressman
Eugene Harding last night issued the
following open letter through the
Dayton Journal to Chairman Charles
Dick, of the republican state central
committee, asking that he call Off the
conference Of republican committee
men. both central and executive, Of
county chairmen and Ohio congress.
men fixed for Columbus next Wednes-
day. Mr.. Harding puts as the princi.
pal ground of his opposition to the
conference idea, that the call was is
sued without any reference whatever
to the known wishes ofSthe mass of
voters in Ohio. who are given no
voice In the deliberations of the con-
ference. Mr.. Harding's letter follows:
with no desire to force a mere
opinion or theory upon the attention
OF the public, and with the single pur-
pose of reminding certain unduly ex-
cited republicans In Ohio that they
are forgetting a valuable lesson In
very recent political history. | beg to
enter my earnest protest against the
call issued a few days ago by Senator
Dick (confessedly on his own initi-
ative) for conference Of the state
committeeman. congressman and 9TH
ers. to be held at Columbus on May 10
for the purpose of endorsing the nomi-
nation of certain prospective candi-
dates for certain conspicuous Offices.
THE chief ground of my opposition
to this call is the fact that 1t was not
issued with any reference whatever to
any alleged knowledge OF the present
wishes OF the republican party OF
Ohio, beyond the suggestion (every-
where heartily approved) that Will.
lam n. Taft is Ohio's candidate for
president. AS to Gov. Harris candi.
dacy for reelection, II Is the popular
concensus of opinion that he will
have no competitor. Senator Foraker
| has covered the ground In his state.
ment that he wished nothing from the
people of Ohio which was not free
handedly given.
I'm view OF these facts 1t Is hard to
understand why the junior senator
should deem 1t necessary or OK.
pedient to call meeting that
judging by present ndicatlons--can
only result In increased party dissen.
sion. The experience of the past
should teach all politicians that while
they may ignore the voters in called
conferences, they cannot prevent
them from making their appeal at the
polls.
Therefore. ] again record my oppo.
sltion TO a call in which the voters of
the party in Ohio have no consent or
participation. They have already en-
phatically repudiated the star cham
per method of making nominations,
and ] feel sure that they will disap.
prove with no less indignation the die.
tation OF called conference in whose
deliberations they have no instructed
de gates. hope, therefore, that |
will not be charged with presumption
in suggesting to Senator Dick that he
avert the threatened party division by
calling on the proposed meeting at
Columbus, sEgE 8N 81
without question the feeling
stated by Senator Foraker is shared
by Secretary Taft and Gov Harris.
Why, then, should not the adherents
of all these distinguished gentlemen
rest content and calmly await the
party referendum?
-. EUGENE HARDING,
Member Of congress from the Third
district" ssi.ai.. s