The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-22
Result of Straw Vote PIeasss
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NOT AFRAID OEs$$o' &.RO vOTE
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Slump of Ne. Voters Away From Foraker Is Pleasing Taft Men and They Believe Foraker Will
 Be Eliminated.
BY J. R. HORNADY.

Columbus, O., September 4.-(Special.)- The men behind the Taft presidential boom in Ohio are delighted with the ap- parent strength of the secretary of war in the southern states, as shown by the straw vote of Chicago newspaper. Out of GOT ballots, S5S were favorable to Taft. and his friends take this to mean that the south is lining up strong behind the Ohioan. Fairbanks, whose followers have for some time been more or less active in the south, received but 51 straw votes, while Foraker landed 42; Hughes, AS, and Cannon, 27.
 Reports received at the Taft headquar ters in this city indicate that the straw vote' gives pretty good index to the sit uation in the south. where the republican machines are for the most part in the hands of administration men, and are, therefore, supposed to be working in be- half of Taft, the administration candidate.
 The Taft forces have also been com torted by recent developments which tend to show that the negroes are not going to be as troublesome as was at first thought. The way they threw Foraker down in this city has had a wonderfully cheering effect, and it is confidently believed that they will also forsake him in the Cleve- land fight. If the negroes will not stand by Foraker in municipal contests. it is ar- gued, there is no reason to believe they will stick to him in the state and national contest. At the same time powerful ef- forts are being made to plaeate the col-
 
 lieved by the Taft managers that this ele- ment will be in line when the time comes for the election of delegates.
 Rejoicing of Taft Men.
 There is, of course, much rejoicing among the Taftites over the various and sundry lambastings administered to For aker of late. Every blow de0lth the bellig- erent Ohio senator is instantly reported to headquarters, and the cheerful inforna- ton if kept going so long it will serve to damage that gentlemans political fences. The latest handful nc hair yanked from the Foraker political head was pulled out by the bakers at the meeting of the national organization in Chicago. Information has reached the Taft head quarters that the position of Foraker oil the pure food law was the subject of criticism before this body. Foraker. how ever, is not abashed by these things, so far as outward indications go. He has practically a cineh on the senatorial JoD. unless the democrats wrest the state rom the republicans at the approaching cleo ton, and he is credited with knowing that his chances of reaching the presidency are exceedingly remote. Therefore, he has little to lose, and so long it amuses him to put the screws to the President and his candidate, he will go about re- Ioicing in the conflict and making as much trouble as possible for those opposed 10 him.
 The triumph of Tom Johnson in the democratic primary in Cleveland is pleas ing to his friends throughout the state, and they are confident that he will be able to lay Congressman Burton snusly away among the political has-beens when the regular election comes off.
 G. 0. P. Dreaming Dreams.
 In Cincinnati, where the republicans have been dreaming dreams about oust- irg the democrats by the use of Nick Longworth, considerable doubt is enter tained as to the willingness of the latter to risk the experiment.
 The novelty of national administra- ton mixing up in municipal politics has made some ward and township workers in this state right giddy, and has served to awaken national interest in local fights. The situation is causing the democrats more amusement than alarm. Some of them, however, would like to know just where presidential interference in munich pal affairs will stop-will the nations chief executive be satisfied to merely mix In mayoralty fights. or will he carry the weight of his influence into the alder manic contests and the sanguinary battles over such jobs as road supervisor and pound keeper? In other words. they want to know what's the limit in the Presi- dents little game of politics, or as some express it, the Presidents game of little ranlitina