Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-30
TO CAUCUS
Burton in Line With Foraker
Against Taft.
HARDING IN THE FIELD
Dark Horse" for the Ohio Senator.
ial Nomination.
CLAIMS OF VICTORY CONFLICT
Awaiting the Return of Wade n.
CLAIMS OF VICTORY CONFLICT
Awaiting the Return of Wade n.
Ellis From Augusta-Question
of Federal Patronage.

COLUMBUS. Ohio. December :;o-The
senatorial fight in which Representative
theodore 4. Burton, Charles p Taft and
senator Joseph Benson Foraker are the
central figures, is one of the most in
tereStinS political struggles the country
mas witnessed. Mr.. Taft and Mr. Burton
are doing the bulk of the fighting, while
senator Foraker is looking on with no
small degree of satisfaction over the hos
nHt.es between his two opponents Both
Foraker and Burton oppose A caucus
prior to January II. when the first ballot
for senator will be taken. but Mr. Taft is
still hopeful of bringing matters to an
early issue before a binding conference
of the republican state senators and
representatives. There are ninety-one re-
publican votes in the legislature on Joint
ballot, fifty-nine democrats and one in
dependent
The friends of both Mr. Burton and
Charles P. Taft are claiming that the
sympathy Of the next President. William
II. Taft. is with their cause. The Vorys-
Hitchcock incident Of the national cam
paign is by no means forgotten by the
opposing forces in the present fight. and.
in fact, no incident in state or national
politics of the past decade seems to have
been overlooked by the politicians in the
senatorial struggle.
Harding Now in the Field.
Claims of victory continued to issue to-
day from the headquarters of Messrs.
Taft and Burton, while there was much
discussion of the newcomer among the
candidates. former Lieut.. Gov. Warren G.
Harding of Marion. Mr.. Harding was
first brought forward as candidate last
night. and today was regarded as one OF
the fayorite dark horses The fact that
he had q number OF conferences with
Charles P. Taft before allowing his narne
to be used lent added interest to his can
didacy, and there was also report that
Mr.. Harding was not unfavorably re-
sarded at Foraker headquarters.
Mr.. Harding's friends are quite enthusi-
astc. and there are half a dozen other
candidates to be considered. Gov. Harris
Is one of these: Gen. J. Warren Keifer
is another. DR.. Charles A. L. Reed OF
Cincinnati. former president of the Amer
ican Medical Association. is one of the
most interesting of the candidates. Rob
ert Scott of Cadiz. capitalist and invent
or, and j. c. CluttS have been named. and
Gen. Charles H. Grosvenor has been men.
toned. but has not entered the race.
Awaiting Return of Ellis.
The expected return from Augusta.
Ga, today of Wade H. Ellis. who. 1t is
said, discussed the situation in this state
with the next President in detail, offered
wide range of speculation as to what
would be the fruits of his mission.
large contingent of workers from
Mr.. Burton's home city Of Cleveland are
here in his behalf. Most of the legis-
lators pledged to Mr. Burton also are in
town.
The question of federal patronage Is
playing its usual large share In the
fight. and it is here that the next Presi-
dents maine is constantly drawn into
the fray Mr.. Burton denies that there
has even been the suggestion of break
between him and w. Ii. Taft, and has let
1t be known that the withdrawal of the
offer to him Of the Treasury portfolio
in the Taft cabinet was the result of an
understanding whereby Mr. Taft would
not be placed In the attitude of Offering
high federal position to leading cam
didate against his brother, and whereby
Mr.. Burton would not be placed in the
position of relinquishing an avowed cam
didacy for the senatorShip to accept a
more easily obtained position in the cabi-
net.
Taft's Friends Blame Burton.
Charles P. Taft's friends say. how
ever. that 1t is all Mr.. Burton's fault that
the former has been placed in the atti-
tude of ungratefully opposing a man who
| rendered faithful and valiant service to
his brother in the contest for the presi-
Dental nomination and subsequently in
the campaign. They say that Charles +.
Taft had every reason to suppose before
entering the race that Mr.. Burton intend
ed accepting the tender of cabinet posi-
ton.
Interesting as the race would be II con-
fined to MessrS. Taft and Burton. tho
presence of Senator Foraker. who was the
center of such storm during the recent
campaign and who is fighting for his
political life, gives it added Importance.
and there remains to be considered as
we'll the effect of the outcome upon the
chances of Senator Charles Dick for re-
election in 1911. Mr.. Dick is anxious that
a man from southern Ohio should win, IN
order not to geographically imperil his
chances as a northern man Two years
from now. Senator Foraker's friends be
lieve he would develop unexpected
strength if the fight should be thrown into
the legislature and are hopeful that there
will not be a choice on first ballot.