The San Francisco call., 1908-11-26
FORAKER OPPOSES
CHARLES P. TAFT
National Politics Involved in Un-
derground Fight for Sena=
torship in Ohio
Theodore E. Burton Wants
Place, Posing as Mouthpiece
of President Elect
Especial Dispatch to The CALI

WASHINGTON. Nov. 25.-National
ground fight for the Ohio senatorship.
in which Senator Foraker, Charles P.
Taft and Theodore E. Burton are the
leading figures Foraker and his col
league. Senator Dick. have joined
sumably preparing to support Harris
in case Foraker is unable to land the
prize. Harris halls from southern Ohio.
and is therefore available as an oppo-
nent to Charles P. Taft. The senator
ship is supposed to belong to the
southern end of the state, and Foraker
is determined TO beat Taft at all
hazards.
Ex-Governor Myron T. Herrick and
other stalwarts of the old Hanna ma
chine are lined up behind Charles p.
Taft, and il is admitted that if Taft
should win Herrick would be slated to
succeed Dick two years hence. Taft
is in very strong position, independ-
ent of the influence of his brother Will
liam His followers are wondering just
now whether brother William will take
hand in brother Charles campaign.
and every scrap of news from Hot
Springs is eagerly devoured. Taft's
followers fear Theodore Z. Burton
more than they fear the Foraker crowd.
BURTON's PECULIAR POSITION
Burton occupies a peculiar position
and is playing peculiar politics. He
was at Hot Springs the other day, and
after conference with the president
elect he issued formal statement pur-
porting to voice Taft's views and prac-
tically threatening warfare against
Speaker Cannon If any attempt were
made TO thwart the majority in max
ing a thorough revision of the tariff.
Burton was suggested as a suitable
opponent to Cannon for the speaker
ship. and. he did not sidestep the pro-
posal. Today, however. it was given
out that Burton was not a candidate
for speaker. but wanted TO be senator
from Ohio.
Charles P. Taft's friends are won
dering whether Burton has received
any encouragement from William II.
Taft They contend that he is going
too far when he assumes to be the
spokesman of the new president and
that he does so merely to impress Ohio
with the fact that he stands close TO
the president elect. But William II.
Taft has not discredited Burton's semi
official statement. and as matters stand
now Burton is really the spokesman of
the president elect, and presumably his
choice for senator from Ohio.
BROTHERS. ATTITUDE DOUBTFUL
1t is said here that Charles P. Taft
himself is in ignorance of his brother 5
attitude toward the senatorship. The
president elect is his own confidant
Sometimes be has struck out so sud-
denly and boldly as to make his friends
gasp. Some of them go so far as to
predict that he will refuse TO give any
aid or comfort to his brother. either
leaving the situation 10 work itself
out or openly supporting Burton.
Burton is extremely independent,
having opposed his party in the house
on many questions. Ee fought the
presidents naval program last year
and is opposed to a ship subsidy. which
Ohio republicans strongly favor.
President Roosevelt is said to look
with favor upon Charles P. Taft's can
didacy, and is known to nave adversely
criticised Burton's statement from Hot
Springs indicating that the new presi-
dent was preparing to lock horns with
Speaker Cannon.
The situation bristles with possibill-
ties of trouble for the new administra-
tion.