Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-01
Taft and Foraker With
draw From Contest
For Election as Republican
Senator From Ohio.
No Opposition Now and Burton
Is Sure Of Election.

having disappeared during the last "a
| hours, Rep. Theodore e. Burton Of
Cleveland, a prominent figure in the
| over branch of Congress for the last
| - years will be chosen by acclama-
! don for the United States Senate to
| succeed Joseph B. Foraker at Re-
I ntgbican caucus called for Saturday
| afternoon.
! tfter yesterdays midnight confer
ne, c. p Taft Of Cincinnati, brother
! f the President elect formally an
| ncunced his withdrawal from the race
iaday. Then Senator Foraker. learn
| ltir that the delegation from his home
! so lnty of Hamilton, pledged to Taft.
A",lld be turned over to Burton. adj
p:tted for the first time since the at
ta"ks We're made upon him during the
/ Presidential campaign that he could
nc ,onger hope for a reelection, With
n two hours all of the "Favorite sons
and Dark horses" had quit the field
ana Mr.. Burton was left alone.
fhe caucus of Saturday SO far as
IL has to 90 with the nomination for
senator will be a perfunctory affair.
ny. Burton's election Will come on
III, sday. Jan. IL. He will serve out
hs congressional term, ending March
T. AS he was reelected last fall, u
special election will be called in Cleve-
land soon after March to determine
his successor in the House of Repre-
sentatives.
The fight for the senatorship this
year was one of the most interesting
IN the history of the state, and its in
tluence upon national politics, it Is
said will be far-reaching. Today's de-
velopments marked the passing from
public life of one of the most notable
Of the older leaders in the Senate
Joseph Benson Foraker. Friends of
the senator today declared the belief
that he would so re-habilitate himself
during the next two years as to be
formidable candidate for senator
Dicks seat il 1911, but others among
the state leaders We're inclined to in
terpret Senator Foraker's statement of
withdrawal in the nature of a vale
dictory
There was talk today that c. p. Taft
might again be a candidate in 1911, but
Mr.. Taft declared that he had no thought
of what the future might hold for him.
If geographical precedent is followed, the
next senator to be elected will be from
the southern end of the state.
This led some of the politicians to de-
clare today that the choice of Mr.. Bur-
ton means the retirement of Senator
Dick in 1911. for, like the Cleveland con-
gresham, he halls from the northern
tier of counties.
Former State Attorney General Wade
Fl. Ellis returned yesterday from Angus
ia, Ga, where he went to advise Presi-
dent-elect Taft of the exact situation In
the state. Mr. Ellis brought reply from
the senatorial candidates brother. Adj
vices had been received at Augusta from
Washington that President Roosevelt
was Harmed lest the fight between Mr.
Taft and Mr.. Burton would give Senator
Foraker chance for reelection. Tho
interest of the President in the situation.
therefore. was intense. Despite this, how
ever it is said that President-elect Taft
sent word that SO long as the friends Of
his brother believed he could win tho
senatorship lie desired them to stand by
him. At the same time he advised that
if the cause seemed hopeless he would
not have anything done that might injure
the party in the state.
Mr.. Taft with the assurance, his friends
say. of 81 votes as against IS claimed for
Mr.. Burton. was reluctant to withdraw
and announced at noon yesterday that
the contest would be continued. Late yes
terday after having dismissed all Of tho
state leaders, he took a five-mile walk,
accompanied only by Joseph Garretson,
the managing editor of his Cincinnati pa
per- When he returned to the Neil house
he had determined to quit the race and
let the organization leaders have their
way. Mr.. Garretson sought conference
with Mr.. Burton. 1t lasted until mid
night. An agreement was reached but It
was not final until today. when George
b. Cox, the Cincinnati leader, promised to
deliver the votes Of Hamilton county to
Mr.. Burton.
-
Columbus. Ohio. Dec. 31.-Definite an.
nouncement was made from his head
quarters today that Charles p. Taft had
withdrawn from the United States sena-
torial race 'in the interest of party har.
mony.'' 1t was also stated that the Ham-
Continued on Page Two.)