The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-17
FIGHT FOR SENATE
PUTS BURTON OUT
Taft WithdrawS Cabinet Of
fer Because of Ohio Com
plicationS.

President-elect Taft has withdrawn
his tender Of a Cabinet position TO Rep
resentative Theodore l. Burton Of
Ohio. and Mr.. Burton, heretofore looked
upon as the cornerstone of the new Cab
inets structure, viii not be a member
Of the official family after March l.
The offer Of a Cabinet position was
Z withdrawn several days ago, and the
withdrawal explains the chaotic condi-
ton which has since surrounded the
whole Cabinet situation.
1t Is understood that complications Of
the Ohio senatorial situation were re-
sponsibIe for the decision OF Mr.. Taft
Mr.. Burton is a candidate for the Sen
ate from Ohio. MI Taft did not want
10 Interfere with his pursuit OF that
ambition by seeming to buy him on
from the Senatorial fight with the ten
der Of a Cabinet post.
Senatorial Fight Embarrassing.
The fact that Charles p. Taft is also
candidate for the Senate made the
position OF the President-elect delicate
and embarrassing. Unwilling on the one
hand to put himself in a position where
he would seem disloyaI 10 his brother,
and on the other being anxious TO have
Mr.. Burton IN the Cabinet if he should
not be elected to the Senate, Mr. Taft
gave assurance to Mr. Burton that ne
was entirely at liberty TO make The
senatorial tight. and then. if he should
not Wins to accept a Cabinet post IL he
pes red. The arrangement involved pos
sibllities Of uncomfortable complications.
put seemed in the circumstances Lhe
pest that could be made.
Situation Ic Ir,,noocTb1a
Tho complications presently produced
Rn impossible situation The impression
got abroad in some Ohio quarters lnat
the President-eIect was DESTROYS Of fore
ing his brother out of the senatorial
race It was nOised abroad that the ten
der OF the Treasury portfolio to Burton
amounted to an advance assurance that
he would have the vast Treasury pat
ronago at his disposal, and would thus
be able 10 reward the friends who
should support him in the senatorial
contest, even though he should not win.
Thus Burton appeared 10 have two
patronage strings to his bow If he
should be elected Senator he would have
the senatorial patronage; il ne should
be defeated, he would have the Treas
ury jobs 10 give out and thus would
DC dbLt 70 care lot lllc lLlellS WHO
had gone down TO defeat with him
In this situation, with complications
growing more serious all the time
Judge Taft was compelled to end them
by Withdrawing the tender. This is
stated on The best authority TO be the
substance OF the facts regarding the
situation.
Taft Much Perplexed.
With Mr. BurtOns retirement from
Cabinet consideration, it will be read
Ply understood that the whole Cabinet
business. as was pointed out In The
Times yesterday. IS in the air. Judge
Taft is casting about for the right men
for the State and Treasury portfolios,
which represent in his view the founda-
ton Of the Cabinet edifice. His require
ments are by no means easy TO meet
1t need be no surprise If he shall
finally make selections of men who have
been given little or no consideration in
this connection, so far as has been pub
licly known. Everything now indicates
that the real business of Cabinet MAX
ing will be utterly uncertain till after
the holiday recess OF Congress.