New-York tribune., 1907-03-27
FORAKER PLANS FIGHT.
TO ASK OHIO PRIMARIES.
Wants States Choice for President
and Senator Determined.
rrrom 90 Trlbune Bureau.l


comes out at a time when the Secretary IS on
mis- way to Panama. Senator Forakers state
roent does not, however, call for a reply from
she Secretary OF War In Il he declares that
he wishes for no favor from the Republicans
Of Ohio which does not come with their fHll ap-
proval and 10 that end he announces ms III
,en,ton Of asking the State Central Committee
TO issue cEI for a primary election 10 choose
6elegstes 10 state convention which shah
norinate candidates for the state offices and
the senatorship and express ohic's preference
with regard 20 the next Presidential candidate
His statement follows:
have been so busily occupied that have
had neither time nor disposition TO even t@hlnK @
about politics. either state or national especially
politics that belong to next year.
Il seems 10 me premature TO be now dlsouss-
ing what is so far ahead. However IN view OF
the interviews and announcements OF one kIlu
and another that are appearing IN the news
papers ] feel that i may with proprlety say tnaI
j do not want any political honors from the re
r,blicans of Ohio without their hearty approVa!
IN order that there may be no doubt as 10
their preferences I shall at the proper time re-
quest the Republican State Central Cominlttee
10 issue a call for a Republican state conNen-
zion 10 he composed Of delegates elected py
the Republicans OF the state at duly authorlzeo
primary elections. for the purpose not only OF
nominating candidates for state oHlces 10 De
voted for at our next state election, but also
10 determine the preference Of the RepubllcanS
OF Ohio 10 candidates for United states Seha-
tor and for President.
II this suggestion should meet with favor. Il
should be provided that the primary elections
shall be held at a convenient time long enough
after the call therefor has been issued TO enaoIe
all who are interested in the work or the con-
vention so TO be chosen 10 appear pe1ore Gle
people and discuss the public questions about
which we are all concerned. so that the people
who are interested may act intelligently IN tne
selection Of their delegates. thus bringing this
selection as nearly a direct popular vote as
is possible under the laws now in force.
have no opinions 10 conceal from my con-
stituents and there is point in my public
record as 10 which / not ready 10 render
them fun account
PLANS FOR CAMPAIGN.
Senators Foraker and Dick are supposed 10
control the State Central Committee by ma
1ority Of nearly two-thirds. and the programme
which has been perfected by the Senators IS
understood 10 include a call for the proposed
convention, TO he issued next month. to pro-
ifde for the election OF delegates next Novem-
ber and a convention 10 be held early next
winter. instead Of next spring, as would be the
usual order.
Senator Foraker's statement that his action
Is forced by the interviews and announcements
which have already been made is taken TO re-
fer 20 the announcement Of Secretary Taft and
the interview given 70 the press yesterday by
ar. Torys
The statement follows close on the advances
made by the friends Of Senators Foraker and
Dick looking 10 combination for the pro-
motion Of the interests Of Secretary Taft as a
Presidential candidate and Of the two Senators
as candidates for reelection. These overtures
have been rejected by the friends of Secretary
TAFT and this has met with the approval Of the
President. Mr. Taft holds that, primarily the
selection Of Presidential candidate is matter
Of national politics. whereas the selection OF
Senators is purely a state affair. Moreover. he
hos ~ sF-r III
opposite OF all that Messrs. Foraker and Dick
have represented. and for that reason he has
not considered that 1t would be fair to his
friends 10 enter into an alliance with them.
His friends viii not, however. oppose the re-
election Of either Senator.
Mr.. Taft Will not, on the othe- hand, enter
into any combination for the promotion OF the
interests Of Representative Burton who is a
candidate for the seat in the Senate now oc-
cupied By Mr.. Foraker and this despite the fact
that Mr.. Burton is one Of the ablest and most
loyal supporters Of Mr.. Taft. Mr.. Burton. how
eve-. realizes fully the propriety of Mr.. Tafts
course. and is perfectly willing make his
aght for the Senate without the assistance of
The Secretary Of War.
gR TAFTs FRIENDS SURPRISED.
Senator Foraker's announcement has taken
Che friends Of Secretary Taft entirely by sur
prise. although they have no fear that If full
and fair expression Of the views Of the Repub-
hcan voters Of Ohio can be obtained by the
method proposed by Mr.. Foraker their candidate
VII come out with flying coivrs. On the other
hand. il is appreciated that the Foraker move
Is shrewd one. from political point OF view.
Evidences of the widespread popularity Of Mr..
Tart have recently been multiplying rapidly,
even in places where IL was not realized that
The Secretary well known. For instance A
recent poll Of the legislatures Of Nebraska and
south Dakota gave Mr.. Taft 80 per cent Of the
total number OF votes cast while the remaining
20 per cent were scattered among ten candi-
dates, one Of whom was Justice Moody. while
M Foraker received none. It has been predict
ed by various political authorities that as the
TAFT sentiment grew in other states. Ohio would
onquestionably come into line and would ulti-
mately doubtless cast its solid vote for the can
ooate whose nomination. it was realized was
possible
Ar. Forakers plan however 2 il Is carried
INTO effect would result in Ohios being the frs
state 10 declare its preference and instruct It,
delegates. and this might operate to some ex.
tent al least. TO prevent the voters Of the stat,
trom realizing the wide extent Of Mr. Taft,
popularity before they were called upon 10 vote
should Mr. Foraker's plan go into effect Il
oSSlio doubtless mean whrlWind campaign II
Dlto between the time Of the call for the pri.
nleLg election and the day set for voting Sec.
stlarg TAFT has engagements including one n
ne philippines, which Will occupy most Of hi,
aine between now and next December, although
-l'ee could. ~ course be broken II such a cot,rs,
were deemed expedient
IN any case. the Foraker statement will serv,
% precipitate the political contest which vii
- WITH the national convention Of 1908 an,
promises 70 set the political pot boiling consid
Clement W SuSh TX
NEVER TOO OLD TO BE KISSED"