Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-01
THE OHIO -SENATORSHIP.

The republican party, Ohio and the
nation are to be congratulated upon
the happy turn in political affairs
which assures the election of Theodore
h. Burton to succeed Joseph Benson
Foraker in the United States senate.
The withdrawal of Charles p. Taft, the
brother of the president-elect, makes
the selection of Mr.. Burton certain
and clears up a political situation in
the state that was sadly muddled and
threatened seriously to affect the party
harmony of the future.
The selection of Mr.. Burton as II
tor will go far toward restoring Ohio's
former prestige and standing in the
most de1iberative legislative body on
earthly Mr.. Burton is recognized as
one of the ablest men in public life.
He is not a particularly popular per-
sonality so far as the ingredients OF
personal magnetism is concerned.
Primarily, he is a student who has
given years of study and thought to
important public questions. AS chair
man of the house committee on rivers
and harbors, he is the best informed
man in America on the waterways OF
the country. He is also a recognized
authority on financial and currency
subjects and has a broad, definite and
comprehensive grasp of all of the
greater problems pressing for consid-
Grafton of the congress and may be
relied upon TO take an active and eff
~feetive part in the senate's delibera-
lions.
So far as party affairs in Ohio are
concerned, the selection of Mr.. Bur
ton should have a wholesome effect.
He has not been identified with any of
the factions, combining his political
activities largely to the affairs OF his
own congressional district, and he will
60 into the senate without inheriting
the troubles of a faction leader.
The present outcome has been
brought about by the self-effacement
of Charles p. Taft as a candidate for
senator. Irrespective of the merits or
advisability of Mr.. Taft's candidacy,
of which divergent opinions have been
expressed, his present action entities
him to credit and commentator for
it's manifestation of unsel1shness. Mr.,
Taft had won enviable esteem by his
devoted championship of his brother
in the presidential contest and, now,
in refusing to stand in the way of a
satisfactory solution of the senatorial
fight, again exhibits praisewoTthy
qualities that must put the party and
the people under additional obligation
to him.
The election of Mr.. Burton will
mark the at least temporary retire
ment from public life of Joseph Ben
son Foraker, prominent in state and
national politics for many years.
Twice governor of Ohio and twice de-
feated for that office, a leading figure
In republican national conventions for
twenty years, a candidate for the pres
idehtial nomination and a United
States senator for two terms, Mr.. For
aker has led a varied and checkered
public career. A born fighter, much
Of his political success and political
defeats have been due to his pug
Haeious disposition. He was a lieu
tenant of Sherman and of Mckinley,
but opposed both when they had been
elevated to high Office. He fought
Mark Hanna, then supported him and
finally came to open rupture with him.
He quarreled with his colleague, Sem
atOr Dick, a Hanna protege, made up
with him and then duarreled again
on the question of supporting Mr..
Roosevelt's policies. He tried to block
the presidents railway rate legislation
and e~ndeayored to make a national is
sue against him out of the Brownsville
incident. Right or wrong, even his
bitterest political adversaries have
given him credit for ability to make
a gallant fight, even in a hopeless
cause Whatever place history may
49, So -