New-York tribune., 1908-01-14
BELITTLED BY TAFT MEN
Not alarmed by Published attack
on Ohio Primary Call.
from The Tribune Bureau.I

Washington Jan, 13.-The friends of Secretary
Taft insist that despite the letter of Secretary
Dover giving the decision of two members of the
Republican National Committee concerning the
Bronson law the programme of the Taft leaders In
Ohio has received no serious setback and affords
them occasion for anxiety.
The primaries which to be held all over the
state on February II for the selection of delegates
to the state convention of course, in no way
affected by the decision of members of the ma
tional committee, which has nothing TO 40 with
delegates to that convention. Judge Tafts friends
are insisting that the Secretary will have a walk
over in the primaries. The decision of Ma
tional Committeeman Yerkes and Streeter does
somewhat compicate the situation in the 18th Con-
gress District of Ohio, where Foraker managers
appear be in control of the election machinery
but inasmuch the call of the Republican State
Committee calls for county and not district prl-
mares the decision of the committeeman that dis
trict primaries not in accord with the call OF
the national committee does not materially affect
the result in the large majority of districts
Representative Burton. who returned to Wash
irgton from Cleveland to-day, minimizes the I'M
portance of the situation in his district and de-
ciares his absolute. confidence that Taft delegates
will be sent 10 both the state and national con-
ventions from Cleveland.
Senator Foraker will leave Washington to-nlor-
row for Ohio. to remain there until after the pri-
maries on February H. He had expected to
leave Washington soon, but some of the Tart
papers in Ohio assert that during the Brownsville
inquiry which covered several months last spring
MI Foraker charged the Senate with hotel eX-
penses for himself at the rate of Sc a day. al
though he was living in his own home and are
nal king capital out of the fact. and it is under
stood that the Senator hopes by his presence to
head off any possible injury done him.
Secretary Taft the guest at dinner this
evening of the members of the Ohio delegation
in the House including Representative Bannon.
who has been the member of the delegation
who has hitherto remained loyal to Senator Fora
ker.
REPRESENTATIVE Nicholas LOngworth, of ONO,
commenting to-day the statement issued yester-
day by Secretary Dover, said:
The decision declaring the Bronson law illegal
does not affect in the slightest degree the call for
the, Ohio State convention. from which Senator
Foraker diSSented. The Bronson law does not af-
feet Congressional districts but applies to county
districts only. Mr. Dover's statement is in respect
to character of the election to be held for the
district delegates, and il affects only one or two
districts of the state. where such primary cleo
tion was intended 10 be held. and had been so held
in the past. AS a matter of fact. there has been
no such primary election eXCept in the 18th DIS
trict. and possibly in Cleveland Even conced1ng
the accuracy of Mr.. Dower's statement as 10 the
iegaty of the proposed election Of delegates by
direct vote at the primaries the decision could have
but an insignificant effect upon the procedure II
ii had any effect at all.