The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-09-10
IT FORESHADOW THE Ma
rroSsL ELECTION?

a EnGtIEldII VI t+t| iN4N1A 49,
-ommfttee In the House OF
---arfvee. who has mad a ma
~~s,gtation in Congress, has am
-s that he viii be a candidate
,..-r ~ cleveland. Ohio. Ii is
mar the mayor % a city aspires
in congress and TO leadership
fror,re or Senate. but it is rare
leader IN the House is willing
.,e Washington 70 return to his
-t,,, 70 enter a contest for May
--~urtareous with the report
-. p1rtnn's announcement comes
..rsuent that his action is taken
..rsultat.on with the President
secretary Taft and in pursuance
their request. It therefore be-
not a Burton campaign but a
.-ert-Taft administration cam
and is big with the political
-euts for 1908. 1t is the
s5hio idee." Mr.. Burton new
.~...oged 10 either the Hanna or
-..raker factions in Ohio. He is
led to be d man Of ability and
r~zaruIness in public life, and 10
.-eltIous to go 10 the senate or
81 PRESIDENT JAOt1'F'iN anu iALN
. II necessary to have a leader in
around whom their forces can
-- They have picked out Burton.
u --s understanding seems to be that
81 p, fight 10 wrest Cleveland from
MI democrats who now control il.
-.. FL, use his influence to give Taft
,. s8Id delegation in the next Re-
.-....an National Convention, and
that he is to be elevated from Mayor
the United states Senate If, by
carriage of plans, Taft cannot
.. the nomination and Roosevelt is
.-..t to take it. who knows but Bur
-.. may be named as the Republican
.rF#Iate for President. 1t is easily
saan. therefore, that the Cleveland con-
.~r-aeuan is not running to be Mayor
.r cleveland, but for the bigger plum
ahead and to strengthen h Republi-
rsn cause in his city and to help the
Faosevelt-Taft cause.
Tom Johnson is MAJOR of Cleveland,
and is easily the ablest living Ohioan.
ue is a native of Kentucky and a
straight Democrat. These two facts
make Ohio Republicans wish his de-
feat. Duf LIleIe IL a drEpcI ~
They know that Ohio voted for Bryan
in 1895 though he didn't get the cleo
toraI vote, they fear 1t will do so
in 1908 if the Democrats are in con-
troll of it's chief city. Therefore Roose-
Welt and Taft wish 10 stake everything
on getting control Of Cleveland this
wear. The contest - Mayor will be
= battle royal. This will make the
fourth time that Johnson and Burton
have beer rivals at the polls. Burton
was elected to the Fifty-first Congress
over Johnson by a majority o. SIG,
but was defeated for reelection by
Johnson by over 5000. In the Fifty
fourth Congress Burton defeated
Johnson by nearly 5000. owing to the
then hopeless condition Of the
Democratic party, not only in
Ohio. but throughout the country.
Democratic conditions in Ohio
have been STEADILY improving
since then. Johnson and Bur-
\ ton are both beg men, 1t will be a
battle of the giants. Johnson has
been Mayor half a dozen years and
has reduced street care fares from
I'VE -t AlEee CSIllS- Ut mas IIEIOO Ill
best Mayor in the history Of Clever
land. but, of course, he has not done
everything all his supporters wished,
But he has done more to end cor
p~oration control of municipal affairs
and for civic Improvement than any
Mayor. and if merit win with the
voters he will be elected by the big
gest majority he has yet received.
Some Democrats count that Johnson
will be helped because Foraker and
Dick will at heart wish for Burton's
defeat. They need not look for much
help there. Republicans have a habit
of forgetting or burying difference at
the ballot-box, Inc it is a habit that
Democrats ought to cultivate.
Aside from the fac that Cleveland
on National and State issues is usual
" Republican, and he help the Roose-
Welt Endorsement will give Burton,
here is his strength: the street car
companies, the gas companies, the
electric companies, the water compa-
MES. the railroad COMPANIES and every
other public service corporation in
America wish for Tom Johnson's po-
Ntical downfall. He has fought sue
cessfully the use of the public fran
chise for private enrichment and he
has shown all the big cities that they
can reduce street car fares to three
cents if hey will do so. He has Sc
the pace for cheapening all public
utilities until they all fear the example
of his teaching. The great traction
and other companies will be ready tc
put UP as big a campaign fund as car
be used to defeat Johnson-not be-
cause they care a rap for Burton-but
because they wish to defeat the ables1
champion of city control of the prices
Ct public utilities. In Ohio. as ir
other States. this weapon is not to be
Ccspised. for it will not be publicly
seen but will work under cover and
where least suspected.
The battle will be fought out in the
rational eye and stranger things a.
happened than that it may be the frs
conflict between the two candidates