New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-28
MR.. FcRAKER's REFERENDUM

Senator Foraker's proposal to take a sort of
wholesale referendum in Ohio giving Republic
can voters the opportunity to express their pref
erences with regard to the Senatorshp and the
Presidential nomination, presages a polltlcal
contest Of the picturesque and stirring kind for
which Ohio was long noted
The Senator says frankly that he does not
want any political honors from the Republicans
of Ohio without their hearty approval Though
he leaves his precise purposes little INDEFINITE.
If may be fairly assumed that he will seek an
Endorsement from the party both as candidate
for reelection to the Senate-his present term
expiring on March 8. 19O9-and as a candidate
for the Republican Presidential nomination In
making his appeal for a vote of confidence he
will encounter a twofOld opposition, for Repre-
sentative Theodore z. Burton has taken the
field as a candidate for the Senatorship. and
from the announcements recently made by the
State Commissioner Of Insurance Mr.. Norys.
and by Mr. @. p. Taft, the editor of The Gin
cinnat Times-Star." IT is evident that the friends
Of Secretary William H. Taft will endeavOr to
secure the states support for him in the next
Republican National Convention.
Senator FoTaker's statement will be construed
as a challenge to the Taft forces TO join issue
with him on the differences which have arisen
between the two Ohio Senators and the admin
istration with which Mr.. Taft is closely iden-
titled These differences were discussed with
some vehemence at the last state convention,
Mr. Burton leading the forces which sought to
prevent the adoption Of a platform giving the
Senators as unqualified an Endorsement as was
70 be given 20 the President. The convention,
controlled by Senators Foraker and Dick, passed
resolutions sQuaring the circle and awarding
equal approval to President Roosevelt for ad-
yocating the Railroad Rate bill and to Senator
eoV 4 4 Of gOTf
could not endure indefinitely. and the recent
widening OF the breach between the senior Sen
ator and the administration and its friends
PEELED the reOpening Of the question lodged last
fall at Dayton. The clash between two irrecOn-
cllable opinions and attitudes was bound to
come, and it could hardly be expected that the
Republicans Of Ohio would be left much longer
without full opportunity to show where they
stand and which policy has their deliberate
approval.
To what extent Secretary Taft may be drawn
personally into this interesting contest is by no
means apparent. He has undoubtedly acQul-
esced In the decision Of his supporters to present
him to the voters Of Ohio as the states logical
choice for the Presidential nomination, but this
does not imply that he has any intention OF
making a personal campaign for an Endorsement
Of pltting himself In joint debate with Sen
atOr Foraker. Mr.. Taft has plans ahead which
VIII absorb his time for the next six months.
He is especially anxious to make another trip
to the Philippines, and his real attitude toward
the Presidential nomination was disclosed when
he said a few months ago that he did not seek
the Presidency and was conscious OF certain
handicaps under which he might suffer II made
candidate, but that he should feel in duty
bound to respond If the Republican party felt
the need OF his services. Mr.. Taft would prob
ably prefer to avoid entering an active public
canvass. But if Senator Foraker sets the pace
the course OF events may impel him, in loyalty
to his friends and well wishers, to appear In
defence OF the ideas and policies represented by
his candidacy. Ohio is q state in which the
taste for politics is strong and political intell-
gence is keen and active. If the Foraker pro-
gramme and the Taft programme are to lock
horns we may look for an encounter Mluminat-
ing In its results and sure to leave a material
impress on Republican policy.