The Washington herald., 1908-01-04
NAY GO TO LEGISLATURE
Will Demand Enforcement of
the Huffman Law.
Only Other Course to Overcome Oh
jectiOnnbIe Decision of Ohio Re
pubIicans Is TO Cali a Rump Con-
VentiOH-DeeIares Order faF 1000
able, Illegal, and Unnecessary.

| Cincinnati, Jan. 3.-Senator Foraker to-
day issued "a statement declaring that he
will not abide by the decision yesterday
Of the Republican State central commit
tee at Columbus, as voiced in the commit
tees call for State convention primaries.
It appears that two courses are now open
to him through this stand.
A rump convention can be called 10
name State delegates 10 the national con
vention, on the chance that the credentials
committee Of the national convention will
honor the credentials of the independent
Republicans
The other plan, and the most likely one,
will be to carry the fight to the floor Of
the legislature, in a contest on behalf of
the Huffman direct primary law, with an
amendment making this law effective at
once. II this bill is passed. ii will auto
matically rescind yesterdays action Of
the Republican central committee, and
give Foraker just what he wants.
/ fOrukerS objections.
While the RepubIean-Tan forces are
not likely 10 oppose so popular measure
as the direct primary. they will doubtless
fight to the last against making the bill
effective at once. In his statement to-day
Senator Foraker says
Il am not sure I understand the call.
although I have read 1t several times. II
l do, It is another case OF asking for
bread and getting stone Ny idea in re-
questing primaries was to have the cleo
ton Of Delegates brought home to the peo-
Iple, 50 that in each ward We could select
Jour immediate representatives.
This call makes All that impossible.
/ In addition, it prescribcs requirements
not authorized by the statute and not
within the power OF the State central
/ committee. Some Of these requirements
are in direct conflict with the statute
soTae Of them are very. burdcnsome. One
/ Ia particular is the require snent that be-
/ fore there can be a Taft ticket and a
/ Foraker ticket there must be- a petition
! signed by twenty times the number of
/ the candidates for delegates and alter
mates. That would mean in this county
about 4.000 signers OF petitioners.
Calls IL Unreasonable
/ THE unreas0nableness Of the require
ment that there shall be 400 petitioners
to authorize a ticket is shown not only by
the fact that the law makes no such re-
quirement, but that in case where the
law authorized county and city officers 10
be nominated by petition. only 3C0 names
( are necessary 10 nominate any county
officer. and only fifty names are necessary
TO nominate any municipal officer.
| If. in the contemplation Of the law. fifty
Isigners are enough to authorize placing a
mans name on the ticket for mayor Of
Cincinnati or Cleveland. certainly it is
beyond anything contemplated by the law
that 1900 signers should be necessary to
nominate a lot Of delegates and alter
mates 10 merely attend the State conven-
! ton. Such a condition is unnecessary. as
we'll as burdensome. II shOu!d be enough
/ for each party TO select his own ticket
and 10 let the people vote their prefer
| ence.
THE counties are not bound to follow
/ the order of the State central committee
/ but whether they will do so or not / am
not advised. SO far as l am personally
| concerned. / shall make no effort to COM
| ply with such unealled for Illegal and ar
bitrary conditions"