The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-12-31
SENATORIAL FIGHT
4 NATIONAL AFFAIR
TAFT CAMPAIGN SEEMED AT A
sTANosTlLL, WHILE BURTON
FIGHT PROGRESSES SLOWLY.
ELLIS RETURNS FROM SOUTH
Varying Reports Are Afloat as 10 the
Result Of Gen. Ellis Mission--Tan
Annoyed by Story That He
Had Withdrawn.

Columbus, o., Dec 31.-Wade II. El.
lis, returning Wednesday from Angus.
ia, Ga, where he went to interview
President Taft In the interest of
the candidacy of his brother, Charles
p Taft for the Ohio senatorship and
plunging into a three-hour conference
with the latter and his chief support.
ers, gave "a decidedly interesting turn
to affairs on what would otherwise
have been an extremely dull day in the
progress of the contest for Senator
Foraker's seat in the upper house Of
congress.
Varying reports are afoat as TO the
result OF Gen Ellis mission. Presi.
dent-elect Taft has on every available
occasion announced that he would
keep hands on" the senatorial fight.
He announced this prior TO the entry
of his brother into the race and re-
iterated Il with emphasis afterward.
Whatever was the message which he
returned by MIR. Ellis, or whatever the
advice he gave, II found reflection only
in the announcement at the conclusion
Of the conference that the fight against
Congressman Burton of Cleveland, the
leading candidate in opposition, would
be carried forward with increased
vigor. II was also intimated that "a
new combination against Mr.. Burton
might be formed, but that this COM
bination in no way involved the with.
drawal of Charles r Taft from the
race.
'It was said Wednesday that Presi-
dent-elect Taft had made plain TO MIR.
Ellis all of the dealings which he had
had with Mr.. Burton regarding the of
fer of the treasury portfolio in his cab
met. II was also said that IL was pri-
marily TO get statement from the
president.elect on this matter that MIR.
Ellis was sent to Augusta. Many are
the stories that have been told over
the state regarding the interviews be-
tween Mr.. Burton and the future oc-
cupant of the White House, the oppos-
ing forces giving versions, it is said.
best suited to their own ideas of the
situation. II was said at Taft head
quarters Wednesday night that Presi-
dent-elect Taft would not be formally
drawn into the fight except as last
resort.
The Taft campaign seems practical
ly at a standstill Wednesday, while
the Burton campaign progressed but
slowly. Mr. Burton announced that he
had received one more pledged vote.
This brings the total claimed for him
through pledges up to 49, While this
is greater strength than is claimed for
any Of the other candidates, II is still
far short of the necessary 46 to con-
stitute a majority of the 81 Republican
votes in the legislature The fact that
the three leading candidates, Taft,
Burton and Foraker, are each so far
short Of the necessary number OF
votes, lends importance TO the favor
ite son" or dark horse" candidates
who are in the race with from two TO
~ votes to their credit, and who de-
cline at this time to even think OF
Withdrawing
Mr. Taft was greatly annoyed We'd
nesday by a repetition of the story
that he was about to withdraw from
the race and 1t was announced from
his headquarters that State Senator
Thorn Baker OF Cincinnati had been
chosen to present Mr. Taft's name to
the party caucus.