The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-12-03
PARALYZED
Are Republican Machine
Leaders Over the
Entrance of
HARRIS FOR SENATOR


Harris furnishes the Republican poll
ticians with something to ruminate
upon with all their mental powers
The chief executive carefully felt his
way before he took this step. He
| is the embodiment of caution in all
| things. His game was fully made up
when, last night, following the depart
ure of Senator Joseph Benson Foraker
from this city, he promulgated his
| pronunciamento.
| There are three elements that may
enter into the solution of the puzzle
| of his candidacy. The first is that
he Is playing for position under the
| new national administration. AL
| though he affects to stand for the
| continuance in Office of Secretary of
| Agriculture James Wilson, yet 1t is
| known that he admires the possession
| of that particular cabinet portfolio.
He is familiar with the fact that the
Taft organization in Ohio is working
vigorously to clear the field of op-
| posing candidates in order that the
brother of the president-elect may be
chosen with but the nominal opposi-
| ton of Senator Joseph Benson For
|
sired rather than objected to.
He must know that the great stumb-
ling block in the way is the candidacy
Of Congressman Burton, for whom the
speakership of the house of represen-
tatives is being sought in order to take
care Of him. What is more natural
| han he should also make himself an
| object of attention along the same
line. 1t is certain that the future in
Ohio holds nothing more for him in
the way of political preferment and
he must make his hay before January
IL, when he will cease TO be the act
governor of the state.
Again it may be that his candidacy
is a part of the national temperance
movement. The leaders of this ele-
ment have a great battle before them
in Washington in the attempt to pro-
tect prohibition states through a mod
ifcation of the interstate commerce
law. Discouraged at the outset through
The defeat of General Harris for gov
9rnor, the Ohio leaders of the tenn
perance forces have been encouraged
by the tremendous victories won
through the medium of the local op-
lion elections in 81 counties.
Through these it is believed by
them that the old influence over indi-
Vidual members of the general assem-
bly, has been restored. If they can
deliver enough votes in the Republi-
can caucus to send a temperance SEN
ator from Ohio to congress they will
score an imposing advantage, which
will have a profound effect upon the
v,al, - HIrt fe II,
huence will be likewise felt in the
state two years from now, when the
Anti-Saloon League will return to the
assault and strive to elect chief ex-
ecutiye who will be in full sympathy
with it's aims. If Harris is chosen SEN
ator the example of his success can be
used upon the politicians, and the il
lustration will not be wasted, either.
The third element is the belief that
Harris has discovered that Taft can
not be elected and that the field is
open to be won by the next best man.
In his statement he was careful to
make it clear that he had not entered
into any combination, and that he was
not responsible for the conferences be-
tween himself and Senators Foraker
and Dick.
1t may be added, respectfully, that
he has also been careful not TO say
aught concerning what took place at
those meetings. 1t is a matter of COM
mon knowledge that his secretary,
Colonel Samuel j. F'lickinger, called
at the headquarters of Senator Dick
and escorted him to the private apart
ments of the governor at the Hartman
Hotel the night before he issued his
announcement. 1t is also known that
weeks ago Senator Dick declared that
Harris was the logical candidate next |
to Senator Foraker.
So, too. is it known that Foraker |
made two separate visits to the ex-
ecutive chambers, and that he talked |
concerning the senatorship while |
there.
The plan of the senatorial allies is |
well known. 1t is to defeat Taft, Bur-
ton or any other man for whom the |
administration Republicans express a
preference. No one now believes that
Foraker has any chance of reelection.
They also believe that all that remains
with him is the power to make it un~
pleasant for those who contributed to
his elimination. That he is agreeable
to this plan need not be supported by
parole testimony.
Governor Harris has hastened to
deny a coalition of which he is to be
the beneficiary, the accompanying i'm
preston being conveyed that this
rumor may have the effect of endan-
gering his chances. This will have
to be weighed separately and made up
in single package.
1t is evident that the governor
counts upon his official patronage. The
Republican senate finds itself COM
PEELED through the exigencies of the
situation to confirm whomsoeYer he
dominates for the various places with
in his gift. The Taft men, the Bur
ION men, the Daugherty men and all
the other representatives of the re-
candidates will have no voice
n this important matter. They must
AXE Governor Harris selections or
none. The recipients of this largesse
will owe their places to him and none
Else. Gratitude and the rules of the
political game will force them to re-
,iprocate. Thus, in one move, he will
iisembowel the state machine and
cave the leaders paralyzed.
State Oil Inspector VIM. H, Phipps |
md his corps of deputies, State Fire
MARSHAL Rogers and his legion of as
iistants, State Insurance Commission {