Albuquerque citizen., 1908-01-03
LET PEOPLE DECIDE
QUESTION IN PRIMARIES
Senator's Opposition Useless Any
way Is Asserted Burton Issues
Letter Which Does Not MinCe
WordS--W Would Help
Situation.

Cleveland, Ohio, Jan. 3.--Secretary
Tafts Ohio friends insist that the
way to settle the question of whether
Senator Foraker's opposition counts
for anything in Ohio is to hold ballot
primaries. In several districts pri-
maries have been already agreed up
on and the Taft people are now try
ing to force ballot primaries IN
Cleveland.
Cleveland is the largest city in
Ohio, the sixth largest in the United
States. Cuyahoga county, of which
Cleveland Is a part, comprises two
congressional districts, the Twentieth
and Twentyfirst. Representative T.
r. Burton is by all odds the most
influential republican in the county
and is a strong Taft supporter. He
has issued a statement addressed to
the republicans of Cuyahoga county
that has more fight in IL than is
usual in the very calm, cautious ut
terances that are Characteristic of the
chairman of the rivers and harbors
committee of the house of represen-
tauYes, Mr.. Burton, in his letter,
says: -s--r-~
IL am very much interested in the
candidacy OF Secretary Taft. Thus
far, he IL the only one named for the
republican presidential nomination
who has developed any appreciable
strength outside of MS own state.
Only IA Scmblance of a Contest.
There is a semblance of a contest
here between him and Senator For-
aker The most ardent admirer OF
the senator has not claimed that he
has any chance of obtaining the
nomination. This being the case, his
candidacy does not appeal, or should
not appeal to republican voters and
| am confident the result at the
Cuyahoga county primaries will be
most emphatic.
Both parties alike have united in
asking for an expression by primaries
which shall as nearly as possible rec
cord the popular preference. 1 would
suggest that this means not only the
selection of delegates to the state
convention by primaries, but the Sc
lection in the respective congresslon-
al districts OF delegates TO the ma
tional republican convention, by the
same method.
what Is fair in one case Is equally
fair i'm the other, and such move
ments as those suggested in the
Tenth congressional district by the
opponents Of Secretary Taft. for the
nomination of delegates by the coun-
~ committees, are to be condemned.
TUT ihrtTuCttu DtPSdtcS.
Here in Cuyahoga county, l trust
that both tickets will be headed by
the name of the presidential candi-
date, one William II. Taft; the other,
Joseph b. Foraker; so that the dele
gates will be mere agents to carry
out the will OF the elector. I would
also suggest that the delegates on
either side be elected for the whole
county, sixty-two or whatever the
number may be.
In this contest, which Is OF su-
preme Importance to the republicans
of Cuyahoga county l hope that all
those who are entitled to vote, may
appear at the primaries without urg-
ing so that the popular choice may
find expression, and that the result
may not be determined by organiza-
ton merely, or be Influenced by the
use of money.
THE question Is, whether a repre-
sentative of the progressive policies
Of the present administration shall
be rejected in favor of another resi-"
dent of the state. whose candidcy is
really not taken seriously, except as
a means to hamper or defeat the
candidacy Of Secretary Taft"