The Washington herald., 1908-06-28
OHIO FACTIONS IN
A BITTER FIGHT
Republicans Playing Game
for Party SpOils.
NEW CROWD CLAIMS ALL
Contest of More Pres
ent Concern Than Taft's Success i'm
Hope to Capture Chnirmnnsbip on
Which TO Build Up State Machine.

New York. June IA special to the
Evening Post from staff correspondent
in Cleveland, Ohio. says:
Whether or not Frank Hitchcock shall
be selected chairman of the Republican
National Committee by Secretary Taft Is
apparently giving many Republicans of
consequence in this State more present
concern than the success Of the national
ticket I'm the autumn elections.
Under the shadow Of James S. Sher-
mans illness a squalid game is being
played for party spoils Myron T, Her
rick. ex-governor Of Ohio. is a contender
against Hitchcock for the national com
mittee craftsmanship. sherman is his
hacker. Mr.. Taft favors Hitchcock. but it
was the protest Of the Ohio men that
caused the Secretary to postpone naming
a man for the place until July /.
"New Crowd" Is Hungry.
The new crowd in Ohio politics. who
have got control Of the State organization
since the Foraker-Dick machine was re-
solved into its constituent elements. seem
TO want everything in sight They are
hungry Tor party Offices
Not satisfied with having an Ohio man
/ as head Of the national ticket. they are
now asking for the national committee
Craftsmanship, the secretaryship. and the
{ treasurership Of the committee. and any
other post of party honor and profit not
p already occupied.
The conspicuous part played by Wade
! Ellis. attorney general Of the State. in
, the platform-framing conferences was re
sented by Republicans from other States
When Harry Dougherty. Of Columbus.
: demanded 10 be made chairman of the
{ credentials committee at the Chicago con-
vention, there was a general uproar OF
protest. Representative Of other States
I came 10 the Taft managers and protested
% against Ohioans "hogging everything In
e sight" Mr.. Hitchcock thought these pro-
tests were well based. Mr.. Dougherty's
e request was curtly denied
Resented by VOrys.
Arthur l. Vorys and his Ohio friends
d have always resented Hitchcock. Ever
y since the ex-Assistant Postmaster General
became associated with the Taft move
, ment the Ohio contingent has been suIky.
u This feeling increased in bitterness as
e the campaign for the nomination pro-
y Rressed, until. finally. the relations be
: tween the Washington and Columbus
: headquarters became almost formal and
perfunctory. Hitchcock's prominence at
! Chicago was the last straw. Norys
went unnotced among the throngs. and
even Charles p. Taft was a subsidiary
\ figure IN the estimation Of the delegates.
Hitchcock was the one man TO whom
I the Taft following looked for guidance
and direction They knew his telephone
wires ran direct 10 the White House.
e Vorys and Brother Charles Wade FL
" lis, Harry DOugherty. Herrick. and others
who had been working for Taft in Ohio.
G began to complain. They wanted 10 get
e into the llmelght.' They said Hitchcock
didn't pay sufficient attention 10 them.
d. Even Charles p. Taft Joined in this COM
plant. He had put up the money 70
nominate Brother VIII. and he felt that
he deserved more publicity and attention
than he was receiving.
Brother Charles Wanted IL.
+ The surprise came at Chicago on Fri
r day right. after Sherman had been nomi-
:, mated for the Vice Presidency. Charles
@ p. Taft was 70 leave Chicago that night
with Sherman. to meet the Secretary OF
b. War at Cincinnati Accompanying them
was the subcommittee appointed to con-
p fer with MIR. Taft about selecting a chair
man for the national committee. Before
leaving town. c. p. Taft came to Hitch
cock and suggested that he CTafO would
be good man for the Craftsmanship. He
- suggested giving Hitchcock a subordinate
position with the committee.
Just how absurd this suggestion was
n persons who do not know Charles z. Taf
will full .f.y.
n Mr.. Taft owns the Chicago National
. League baseball club. and II was as II he
. proposed 20 dismiss his baseball manager
- sit on the players bench. and direct eaCf
l. days game personally. telling the players
a when TO make a sacrifice hit. when e
q hit and run. when 10 make a squeeze play
8 and ali that sort OF thing. Mr. Taf
knowns just about as much about in
il side" politics as he does about inside
l. baseball.
Secretary Learns of Situation.
The reception Hitchcock gave the
suggestion rather staggered Brother
Charles" At the Cincinnati meeting be
n tween the candidate and his brother and
Sherman, the Secretary learned for IN,
= first time the fun measure Of the bitter
q ness existing among his Ohio friend.
against HITCHCOCK. MI. sherman aQNO
? Gated the selection Of Herrick. Secretary
:, Taft still inclined toward Hitchcock. be
cause of the excellent work he had don,
q in the precOnventiOn campaign. The Obi,
: contingent urged their views Secretary
: Root sent a telegram TO the canddat,
: urging him not 70 be in a hurry TO max,
: a decision, but 10 think the situation owe
: for awhile before making a choice
. To relieve the Secretarys embarrass
- ment, Frank Hitchcock sent the dispatch
which has been printed. saying that h,
was not a candidate for the chairman
II ship because of his shattered health. II,
has made it plain, however, that he il
II not pleased at the possibility of bein;
n shelved TO make way for Vorys or Her
II rick, ar any other Ohio man who ha!
III been no more conspicuous in the nationa
IN councils of the party than himself.
III Setback for OhiOans.
Mr. Shermans illness has been a blow
II to the Ohio faction. They had counted
II heavily upon the influence he would wielC
with the Secretary and the President anC
II other party leaders to be conferred will
II in the East. before the selection Of a ma
II tional chairman is made on July /
III Meanwhile frantic underground cam
II paign is in progress to wOEk upon Sec
II retary Taft and President Roosevelt Z